Ryan Holiday’s acclaimed trilogy—The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key—captivated a diverse audience, from professional athletes and CEOs to politicians and entrepreneurs, while also introducing Stoicism to millions of readers. Now, embarking on a new series exploring the cardinal virtues of ancient philosophy, Holiday delves into the foundational virtue of Courage.
Fear is a universal experience, grappled with by nearly every religion, spiritual tradition, philosophical school, and individual. The most common refrain in the Bible is “Be not afraid,” while the ancient Greeks spoke of phobos, panic, and terror. Stoic philosophy acknowledges the inevitability of fear but emphasizes that it should not dominate one’s actions. Courage, therefore, emerges as the ability to transcend fear, to act rightly, to fulfill duty, and to embody truth. It lies at the core of the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, CS Lewis, and other luminaries, alongside temperance, justice, and wisdom.
In Courage Is Calling, Holiday dissects the components of fear—a manifestation of cowardice—alongside the elements of courage, an expression of bravery, and ultimately, the qualities of heroism, exemplifying valor. Through compelling narratives of historical and contemporary leaders such as Charles De Gaulle, Florence Nightingale, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday illuminates strategies for conquering fear and cultivating courage in everyday life.
The book also delves into the moral quandaries and courageous deeds of lesser-known yet equally significant individuals from ancient and modern history. Examples include Helvidius Priscus, a Roman Senator who defied Emperor Vespasian at the risk of his life; Frank Serpico, a former NYPD Detective who exposed police corruption; and Frederick Douglass, whose encounter with a defiant slave named Nelly fueled his crusade against slavery.
In a world gripped by fear, where many prefer conformity to conviction and silence to speaking out against injustice, courage is more crucial than ever. We need the bravery of whistleblowers, the daring of activists, and the honesty of truth-telling writers. We need leaders willing to listen and individuals prepared to step into the arena and confront the challenges of our time.
