Thread by @RyanHoliday

7 Books To Read When It Feels Like The World Is Falling Apart:

This is the best new book I’ve read in some time. The Stoics–who are quoted liberally in this book–believed that character was destiny. They believed that accomplishments and power mattered little if a person could not be trusted and did not hold themselves to high standards.

Depending on where you live or what you do, things may seem relatively calm or even sunny. But the world was also just rocked by a pandemic that killed millions–what did you do to help? Stop complaining about the world and do something. Be useful.

We are living in times of immense anger. An era defined by internal divisions and discourse filled with epithets and takedowns and rage posts on social media. People are obnoxious and they are going to piss you off…on purpose. But can you keep your cool anyway?

I loved this book so much that I bought all of its available stock to carry at my bookstore. Montaigne is truly one of humanity’s greatest treasures—a wise and insightful thinker who never takes himself too seriously.

The original subtitle was “An answer to the conflicts in our lives.” In 1955, Lindbergh was referring to the challenging demands of what was then the newly modern world, the changing roles of women in that world and workplace, the looming Cold War, and the timeless need for rest, relaxation, and perspective.

When the world feels like it’s falling apart, when you’re not sure you can get through something, I always recommend spending some time with someone who really went through something. I always recommend history.

You can tell yourself you’re a good person, but when you pull up the ladder behind you because you like ‘the way things are now,’ you are depriving people of a better future. The future doesn't have to be worse because it will be different. It can be better. And we can MAKE it better by doing things.

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