The Best Books Of The 21st Century (Ryan Holiday's Picks For The New York Times List)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their personal list of 10 favorite books published in the 21st century, reflecting on each one’s unique impact. From Isabella Wilkerson's *Caste* to Clint Smith's *How the Word is Passed*, the speaker highlights a mix of narrative non-fiction, philosophy, and fiction. The list includes deeply moving works like *The Road* and *The Choice*, as well as practical reads like *Deep Work* and *Mastery*. The speaker also reflects on the significance of reading in their life, emphasizing books that challenge and inspire, with an invitation to join their monthly reading list newsletter.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker was asked by The New York Times to pick their 10 favorite books published in the 21st century, which they found challenging.
• 🤔 The speaker aimed to select books that others might not typically choose.
• 📖 They highlighted Isabella Wilkerson's "Caste" (2010) as an incredible book, along with her earlier work "Warmth of Other Sons."
• 📝 Clint Smith's "How the Word is Passed" was recommended as another standout work.
• 🌍 "Tunnel 29" is praised as one of the best narrative non-fiction books about an escape under the Berlin Wall.
• 💻 Cal Newport's "Deep Work" and "Digital Minimalism" are suggested for anyone distracted by social media, focusing on meaningful, deep work.
• 🏆 Robert Greene's "Mastery" is highly recommended for learning how to tackle difficult tasks and achieve mastery.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 "The Road" is described as a beautiful, haunting novel about parenthood and facing a collapsing world.
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• 🕊️ "The Choice" by Edith Eger is highlighted as a wise, sobering reflection on human behavior during extreme hardship, following Victor Frankl's legacy.
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• 🌊 Narrative non-fiction dominates much of the speaker’s list, including works like John Valance's "The Tiger" and Candace Millard's "River of Doubt," which explore epic stories of exploration and human resilience.
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• ✉️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading for writing, sharing a monthly email with favorite book recommendations at ryanholiday.net/readinglist.

Q & A

Why did the speaker find choosing their 10 favorite books from the 21st century difficult?

The speaker found it difficult because it felt like an impossible task. They were unsure which books to choose and wanted to pick books that might not be the typical selections others would make.

What is the significance of Isabella Wilkerson's book 'Caste' in the speaker's list?

The speaker finds 'Caste' to be an incredible book, highlighting its importance along with Wilkerson's previous book, 'Warmth of Other Sons,' even though the latter was published in 1999. 'Caste' was published in 2010 and is a powerful analysis of social structures and inequality.

How does Clint Smith's book 'How the Word is Passed' contribute to the speaker’s list?

The speaker includes Clint Smith's 'How the Word is Passed' as an important work, reflecting on the history of slavery and its lasting effects. The book provides a narrative exploration of historical memory and its legacy.

Why does the speaker recommend the book 'Tunnel 29'?

The speaker recommends 'Tunnel 29' because it is a remarkable narrative non-fiction book about the escape under the Berlin Wall. The speaker's wife raved about it, and the book is described as one of the best non-fiction narratives the speaker has read.

What is the speaker's view on the concept of mob culture and social media?

The speaker expresses a strong opinion on mob culture, wishing they had written a book like 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' instead of their own book 'Trust Man Lying.' The speaker quotes a line from the philosopher Isipus, highlighting how social media is a distraction and can pull people into mob-like behavior.

How does Cal Newport's book 'Deep Work' relate to the speaker’s list?

The speaker suggests 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport as a must-read for those trying to focus in a world filled with distractions. They also mention Newport’s other book, 'Digital Minimalism,' as a relevant addition to the list, emphasizing the importance of focus in the digital age.

Why is Robert Greene’s 'Mastery' recommended by the speaker?

The speaker recommends 'Mastery' because it is seen as one of the best books about achieving mastery in a particular field, especially in the context of deep work. The speaker has personal experience with the book, having worked as a research assistant on it, and believes it is an essential guide for mastering hard tasks.

What emotional impact did 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy have on the speaker?

The speaker describes 'The Road' as a haunting and dark novel, which they read before becoming a parent. After having children, the book impacted them differently. They also mention rereading it during the pandemic, where it emotionally affected them in a profound way.

How does 'The Choice' by Edith Eger relate to Viktor Frankl’s work?

The speaker highlights 'The Choice' as a beautiful and wise book that mirrors the themes of Viktor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning.' Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor who studied under Frankl, writes about the human capacity for resilience and choice even in the face of extreme suffering.

What is the speaker’s bias towards narrative non-fiction, and how is it reflected in their list?

The speaker admits a bias towards narrative non-fiction, as evidenced by their inclusion of books like 'Tunnel 29' and 'River of Doubt.' They note that 30% of their list consists of narrative non-fiction, reflecting their preference for real-life stories and historical accounts.