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Courage Is Calling

Fortune Favors the Brave

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Courage Is Calling

Written by: Ryan Holiday
Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
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About this listen

The instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Best Seller!

Ryan Holiday’s best-selling trilogy - The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key - captivated professional athletes, CEOs, politicians, and entrepreneurs and helped bring Stoicism to millions of readers. Now, in the first book of an exciting new series on the cardinal virtues of ancient philosophy, Holiday explores the most foundational virtue of all: Courage.

Almost every religion, spiritual practice, philosophy and person grapples with fear. The most repeated phrase in the Bible is “Be not afraid.” The ancient Greeks spoke of phobos, panic and terror. It is natural to feel fear, the Stoics believed, but it cannot rule you. Courage, then, is the ability to rise above fear, to do what’s right, to do what’s needed, to do what is true. And so it rests at the heart of the works of Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, and CS Lewis, alongside temperance, justice, and wisdom.

In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday breaks down the elements of fear, an expression of cowardice, the elements of courage, an expression of bravery, and lastly, the elements of heroism, an expression of valor. Through engaging stories about historic and contemporary leaders, including Charles De Gaulle, Florence Nightingale, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday shows you how to conquer fear and practice courage in your daily life.

You’ll also delve deep into the moral dilemmas and courageous acts of lesser-known, but equally as important, figures from ancient and modern history, such as Helvidius Priscus, a Roman Senator who stood his ground against emperor Vespasian, even in the face of death; Frank Serpico, a former New York City Police Department Detective who exposed police corruption; and Frederick Douglass and a slave named Nelly, whose fierce resistance against her captors inspired his own crusade to end slavery.

In a world in which fear runs rampant - when people would rather stand on the sidelines than speak out against injustice, go along with convention than bet on themselves, and turn a blind eye to the ugly realities of modern life - we need courage more than ever. We need the courage of whistleblowers and risk takers. We need the courage of activists and adventurers. We need the courage of writers who speak the truth - and the courage of leaders to listen.

We need you to step into the arena and fight.

©2021 Ryan Holiday (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Greek & Roman Personal Success Philosophy Stoicism Career Ancient History
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What the critics say

"In a world full of people riddled with fears and deeply afraid of sticking their necks out, our salvation lies in cultivating courage in all arenas of life. In this book Ryan Holiday has provided a clear and inspiring guide for how to develop this highest of human virtues."
--Robert Greene, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power

"Ryan Holiday’s Courage is Calling traces the history of courage and its many faces through the ages and arrives at the present day with an urgent call to arms for each and all of us. As we battle our enemies within and without, will we choose to rise-up to the call of our courage or blush and bow down to the whispers of our cowardice? Our answer to this question is about more than our sense of duty, it’s about our freedom. It’s about more than wins and losses, it’s about our survival. It’s on me, it’s on you, it’s on us. Take the dare we may.\" --Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award Winning Actor and New York Times #1 best-selling author

“Ryan Holiday shows his own courage in this book to not toe the line, to speak truth to power, and show us all why we must not defer to fear if we are to go forward together with grace and humanity. Drawing on examples across history--from the ancient Greek and Roman world to Florence Nightingale to his own critique of ‘hollow courage’ in our own times, Holiday shows why virtue matters now more than ever.” --Nancy Sherman, Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University

What listeners say about Courage Is Calling

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An Inspiring Read!

one of my favorite Ryan Holliday books to date. provides stirring examples and a compelling call to action!

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Great writing

Was a good story, always love Ryan’s work. I think the pattern of the voice recording wasn’t as good as others, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless

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Take Courage

Many of the chapters are absolute gems.
Learned a lot, very good read. Ultimately bought a hard cover and have been going through with a highlighter. So many great excerpts I've been using in discussion with coworkers, family, and youth groups. Truly great in depth study on Courage and its importance in holding to virtues.

Thank you Ryan.

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Inspirational

I enjoyed the case studies that showcased real people that had to rise to the occasion when no one else would. I was inspired to be that person.

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Good but a bit biased

The book gives you what you want and I'm grateful.
it's kinda too white, it is a book written by a western and it really shows.

Bringing up Greece vs Persia war is 18 century traditionalism at its best, it really wasn't the war that decided the wests fate, Greeks got so much from Persians already that they're distinguishable from each other, west is east, Alexander used the roads that Persians made to attack them, they went with the Persian infrastructure, romans copied, there was no division like there's now, I suggest writer reads the book Persian Empire from the great courses.
But for sure the 300 example works with the title of the book, I just wanted him not to go crazy with "it saved the west Zack Snyder style" but he really went that way.

And he briefly mentioned people who close their store for the C19 have courage, but forgot to mentioned store owners HAD to close them, it was by force.

All and all, good book, it's not that long, worth it, gives you a better perspective and approves what you already know.

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Will you answer the call?

Ryan concisely explains why courage is the foundation of virtue and necessary in life.

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Inspiring

I found this book very inspiring which is very appropriate since courage is much more a matter of the heart than the mind.

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Great message for the times we live in.

I really enjoy Ryans writing. Found this book to be very encouraging and challenging at the same time. I would highly recommend.

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Ryan Holiday is the best

I've listened to all his books on Audible. I highly recommend! Also if you are into Stoicism this book is for you. It's for anyone really. Keep up the great work Ryan!
I listen to you while I groom doggos.

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Pure Heart!

Ryan Holiday has brought back a way of thinking that saves one’s soul! Perfection meets Connection!

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