Wisdom requires effort

Which path will you choose – the easy one, or the right one? Every single day of our lives, we stand at a crossroads. We choose between vice and virtue. Will you be selfish or considerate? Will you practise a good habit or a bad one? Will you be cowardly or brave? Will you enjoy blissful ignorance or the challenge of new ideas? All these decisions could be summed up in a single question: When you choose your path, will you pick the easy one, or the right one? Let wisdom guide you – the highest of all the stoic virtues. And it's also the one we need more than ever. We live in a time that rewards quick reactions and empty talk, while restraint and deliberation are considered unfashionable. But the great statesmen and philosophers of our past would not have been fooled by newspaper headlines or flashy effects as we are. They knew too much about history, their own shortcomings, and the necessity of cooperation. This book is the culmination of Ryan Holiday's life's work. Based on fascinating stories of ancient and modern figures, it will show you how to develop wisdom, curiosity and prudence through reading, self-education and experience. At the same time, it diagnoses the biggest problem of our time and offers a solution for moving forward. Wisdom requires effort – but it's worth it.