Book SummaryCourage Is Calling, by Ryan Holiday

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Courage Is Calling

Ryan Holiday’s Courage Is Calling teaches us the meaning of courage through the lens of the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism. Holiday argues that every person has the innate ability to be courageous. When you overcome fear and choose to do the right thing every day, you can effect positive change in the world.

(Shortform note: Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches people to live a good life by developing their personal virtues. This school of philosophy was founded in third-century BCE Greece and was later adopted by influential Roman philosophers, including Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Stoicism has endured in Western thought for centuries, and its practice continues...

Courage Is Calling Summary What Is Courage?

Holiday defines courage as doing the right thing even though you’re scared. We’re all afraid of getting hurt and losing what’s precious to us, but being brave means pushing that fear aside and following your life’s path regardless. This could mean anything from maintaining a difficult personal boundary with a loved one to standing up for a stranger who’s being harassed on the street.

Courage as Defined in Western Philosophy

For thousands of years, philosophers around the world have discussed courage’s role as a central virtue. The Greek philosopher Aristotle identified courage as the virtue between the extremes of cowardice—not having the fortitude to do what should be done—and foolhardiness—taking action when you shouldn’t. Aristotle also introduced the idea that courage is a moral habit that must be developed through practice.

Later on, the Stoics named courage as one of their four primary virtues. In Stoicism, courage involves freeing yourself from fear so you can do what needs to be done. The Roman philosopher Cicero also identified courage as a way to combat excessive desire, pain, grief, excessive pleasure, and anger. [Someone who has a great and courageous...

Courage Is Calling Summary How Do You Know What the “Right Thing” Is?

In the last section, we defined courage as overcoming fear to do the right thing. But how do you identify the right thing to do? In this section, we’ll discuss Holiday’s advice on how to distinguish the courageous choice.

The Right Thing Is the Thing You Fear

According to Holiday, the right thing to do is that which helps good to overcome evil. He also argues that the right thing to do in any situation is almost always the hardest choice or the choice you fear. This is because doing the right thing often requires you to disrupt the status quo, which leads to consequences and pushback. Faced with these consequences, you’ll likely feel some fear and hesitation.

(Shortform note: Holiday states that the choice you fear is almost always the right thing to do, but in some situations, fear exists to guide you away from real danger. Ask yourself: Are you really trying to do something good or overcome evil? If not, don’t put yourself in potentially harmful...

Courage Is Calling Summary Deconstruct Your Fear to Take Away Its Power

In the last section, we discussed Holiday’s assertion that fear can point you toward the right thing to do in almost every dilemma. In this section, you’ll learn how to overcome your fear by taking away its power.

Deconstruct Your Fears

Holiday suggests you take away power from your fears by logically deconstructing them. We tend to imagine the worst-case scenario related to our fears, but the truth is often a lot less frightening than we presume it is.

(Shortform note: Rather than facing and rationalizing our fears as Holiday advises, many of us choose to handle worry and anxiety through avoidance. This is counterproductive—the more we avoid our fears, the more we reinforce the idea that they’re dangerous even when they’re not. Avoidance also becomes addictive. Each time we avoid the thing we fear, we experience a sense of relief that our brains interpret as a reward, and we seek the feeling again by continuing the pattern of avoidance. The best way to conquer anxiety is to do what you’re...

Courage Is Calling Summary Fight External Pressures

In the last section, you learned how to conquer fear by defining it and preparing for it. In this section, we’ll learn why it’s important not to let external pressures prevent you from doing what’s right for yourself and others.

Break Free From Convention

Holiday argues that one of the main forces preventing us from being courageous is fear of the possible negative consequences of breaking societal expectations. We often make choices based on our fear of what others will think of us: for example, not wearing a certain outfit because we’re afraid people will stare.

It can be difficult to resist the power of convention, but courageous people continue to follow their purpose even when every external force tells them to stop. Don’t let anything stop you from following your own path—you might miss your chance for greatness.

How to Stop Caring What Other People Think

Though Holiday emphasizes the importance of being your authentic self even if doing so leads to shock or backlash from others, he doesn’t give much concrete advice about how to do this. In You Are A Badass, Jen Sincero offers some [tips for how...

Courage Is Calling Summary Make Courageous Action Your Responsibility

As we discussed in the last section, part of being courageous is following your own path and speaking up for what you believe in, even in the face of extreme opposition. In keeping with that idea, Holiday argues that we must all recognize our agency and make courageous action our responsibility.

In this section, we’ll explore how the first step to making a difference is believing that you’re able to do it. Once you do, your courage can inspire others to do the same. Furthermore, we’ll explain why you must be prepared to take responsibility for your actions, even when your decisions lead to negative outcomes.

Believe That You Can Make Change

According to Holiday, the first step toward making a positive difference is believing that you can do so. This belief in your own agency allows you to make brave choices that lead to bigger changes. This kind of bravery doesn’t just happen in situations where your life and livelihood are at risk—it’s also in the small choices you make every day.

(Shortform note: You can make brave choices every day by doing things that take you out of your comfort zone. As we’ve noted, when you establish a pattern of brave actions, you prepare...

Courage Is Calling Summary Don’t Be Afraid to Make Difficult Choices

In the last section, we discussed the importance of taking responsibility for your actions and recognizing your ability to make positive changes. Now, we’ll examine Holiday’s advice on accepting uncertainty and being bold in decision-making.

Embrace Uncertainty

Holiday argues that courage requires you to be decisive. You can’t predict the future, so deliberating about a decision for a long time won’t help. To move forward, you’ll eventually have to accept uncertainty and have faith that your choice will work out.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to quit your desk job to run your own business, or you’ve always wanted to live in another country. You may or may not succeed, but Holiday says to do it anyway. Simple, everyday existence brings many risks, so it’s pointless to always prioritize safety. Sometimes you need to sacrifice your security so you can evolve and grow.

(Shortform note: Changing your life sometimes requires a leap of faith. Maybe parts of your life are no longer fulfilling, or your current circumstances are no longer meeting your needs. To start down a different path, [you have to believe in yourself and trust your vision of who, what, and where you want...

Courage Is Calling Summary Choose Love

Now that we’ve touched on the value of courageous decisiveness, in this final section, we’ll discuss Holiday’s assertion that love is the driving force behind heroic acts of courage. Additionally, we’ll conclude with his warning that courageous acts done for the wrong reasons aren’t virtuous at all.

Love as the Opposite of Fear

According to Holiday, courage isn’t the opposite of fear. Rather, love is fear’s natural opposite. Love—for other people, for one’s country, for one’s religion, and so on—is what leads people to sacrifice their comfort, their safety, their well-being, and even their lives for a higher purpose. For example, love drives parents to place themselves in physical jeopardy to protect their children. It drives soldiers to sacrifice their lives in a conflict to keep their people safe back home.

Love is strong enough to break through our sense of self-preservation and help us transcend from everyday acts of courage to selfless acts of heroism. When faced with a situation where the right thing to do requires you to overcome your fear for your own safety and act against your self-interest, Holiday encourages you to draw strength from your love for the...

Shortform Exercise: Start Making Courageous Choices in Your Everyday Life

Holiday asserts that the path to a courageous life starts with making small, brave decisions every day. Reflect on how you can start incorporating courageous actions into your everyday life.

Describe an action or a decision you’ve been avoiding because you’re afraid. (For example, you might fear having a difficult conversation with a friend, visiting a new country for the first time, or asking for a raise.)