31: Ryan Holiday - Conspiracy, Manipulation & other Pastimes: Difference between revisions

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After a few words from our sponsors. I'll be back to introduce today's guest, author Ryan Holiday.  
After a few words from our sponsors. I'll be back to introduce today's guest, author Ryan Holiday.  


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Returning sponsor Blinkist has solved the problem many book people know too well There seemed to be an ever-increasing number of important nonfiction titles, and yet with modern attention spans we seem to be able to get to very few of them. So how do you figure out which ones to invest in? Well, Blinkist has a team of expert readers who digest these books into summaries that they call blinks. They last about 15 minutes and can be either read, or listened to as audio. Right now, I'm eyeing India After  Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha. And I think it's an excellent way to decide whether this is the book that I wish to invest in. But Blinkist does this for thousands of titles. So remember, with Blinkist, you get unlimited access to read or listen to a massive library of condensed nonfiction books-all the books you want, and all for one low price. And right now for a limited time, Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to Blinkist.com/Portal and you can try it free for seven days, and you'll also save 25% off your new subscription. That's Blinkist, spelled B L I N K I S T, Blinkist.com/Portal to start your free seven day trial, and you'll also save 25% off-but only when you sign up at Blinkist.com/Portal.
 
Returning sponsor Four Sigmatic is that crazy and plucky Finnish company that smuggles the mushrooms with the greatest potential health benefits into the beverages that we all love. And this is the key point-it’s true even for those of us who hate mushrooms. But just where could such a crazy idea come from? Well, Finland, obviously. You see, Finland was once invaded by the mighty Soviet Army in late November of 1939. And yet, they prevailed as the tiny David against the Soviet Goliath; but just how could they do it? Well, some say it was because the Soviets forgot to wear white fatigues to blend in with the snow (Nice going, Vladimir). Others said it was because the extroverted Finns were able to use their dominance of slapstick stand-up comedy to keep their morale up. But in fact, I believe it was the Lion’s Mane Mushrooms that the Finns put into their coffee which allowed them to clear their minds and out-think the shivering Russians, when even they couldn't take the Finnish cold; so if,like me, you feel about mornings the way Finns feel about unwanted invaders, go to Foursigmatic.com/Portal and you'll get 15% off your order of coffee with 100% organic Arabica beans mixed with Lion's Mane Mushrooms; it doesn't taste like mushrooms! You'll find it delicious and I think it'll clear your head. Foursigmatic.com/portal.  


In this episode, I get to sit down with author and social analyst Ryan Holiday. I wouldn't say that I know Ryan enough to consider him a close friend. But I have enjoyed every conversation I've had with him for the unique metacognitive perspective that he brings to all things on which he thinks speaks or writes. There are two things in particular that Ryan does that make him one of the most incisive analysts and best conversationalist in the public eye working today. In many ways, the overarching lens that I feel is missing from today's hyper partisan world is that of expecting conflicting truths to lie in Super positions. After all, why would anyone imagine that the simplified childlike positions of activists would be appropriate for those who issue hyper partisanship in favor of nuance? Well, I can't pretend to answer that question. I can't say that Ryan's ability to fully consider the validity of two or more evident truths that are at least nominally in conflict is all too rare in today's world of public intellectuals. Well, that itself is reason enough for me to tune into Ryan's perspective. There's something deeper that draws me towards his voice and way of thinking. All too often in my experience, the minority of social analysts who in the internet era can still properly entertain the dialectic in public, without bending to the activist mob, tend to stop there prematurely at a point of detachment. They frequently appear to be disinterested in reframing natural tensions for others so as to facilitate progress through synthesis and reconciliation. Instead, they often prefer the entertainment value of a continuing battle to a satisfying conclusion without Victor or vanquished. In particular, I've increasingly noticed a move towards studied in difference in the projection of personal apathy on the part of several metacognitive pundits and what seems to be a mechanism of self protection. I find that Ryan, by contrast is fairly open and sharing that he cares about the future deeply, but always in a thoughtful and measured way informed in an interesting fashion by his relationship to stoicism. That combination of caring without sanctimony makes him one of my favorite conversationalist in private, and I am glad that we got a chance to try to translate this into a public forum.  
In this episode, I get to sit down with author and social analyst Ryan Holiday. I wouldn't say that I know Ryan enough to consider him a close friend. But I have enjoyed every conversation I've had with him for the unique metacognitive perspective that he brings to all things on which he thinks speaks or writes. There are two things in particular that Ryan does that make him one of the most incisive analysts and best conversationalist in the public eye working today. In many ways, the overarching lens that I feel is missing from today's hyper partisan world is that of expecting conflicting truths to lie in Super positions. After all, why would anyone imagine that the simplified childlike positions of activists would be appropriate for those who issue hyper partisanship in favor of nuance? Well, I can't pretend to answer that question. I can't say that Ryan's ability to fully consider the validity of two or more evident truths that are at least nominally in conflict is all too rare in today's world of public intellectuals. Well, that itself is reason enough for me to tune into Ryan's perspective. There's something deeper that draws me towards his voice and way of thinking. All too often in my experience, the minority of social analysts who in the internet era can still properly entertain the dialectic in public, without bending to the activist mob, tend to stop there prematurely at a point of detachment. They frequently appear to be disinterested in reframing natural tensions for others so as to facilitate progress through synthesis and reconciliation. Instead, they often prefer the entertainment value of a continuing battle to a satisfying conclusion without Victor or vanquished. In particular, I've increasingly noticed a move towards studied in difference in the projection of personal apathy on the part of several metacognitive pundits and what seems to be a mechanism of self protection. I find that Ryan, by contrast is fairly open and sharing that he cares about the future deeply, but always in a thoughtful and measured way informed in an interesting fashion by his relationship to stoicism. That combination of caring without sanctimony makes him one of my favorite conversationalist in private, and I am glad that we got a chance to try to translate this into a public forum.  
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