The Daily Stoic — BONUS | Charles Duhigg's Reading List (From Ryan Holiday)

Podcast: The Daily Stoic
Host: Ryan Holiday
Episode Date: March 22, 2026
Special Guest: (Implied) Charles Duhigg (Pulitzer-winning author and journalist)
Episode Theme: A candid, book-filled conversation between Ryan Holiday and a bookstore owner or historian (possibly Charles Duhigg), covering their favorite books, research methods, the building of thematic bookstores, and insights into narrative non-fiction writing.

Episode Overview

This special "bonus" episode invites listeners into a vibrant discussion between Ryan Holiday and a guest (implied to be Charles Duhigg), centering on recommended books, unique stories behind literary works, and the behind-the-scenes processes that go into writing and researching substantial non-fiction works. The conversation also touches upon the construction of meaningful bookstore spaces, the surprising backstories of certain classics, and how both guest and host organize their work for maximum creativity and productivity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Place and Bookstores

• The guest and Ryan tour a unique bookstore, discussing its history and the physical alterations made to embody literary culture.
• Memorable moment: The guest reveals a fireplace made from nearly 2,000 books, 4,000 screws, and six gallons of glue.
  • "We just wanted something that kind of makes a statement... People just come in, the first thing they want to do is take a picture in front of it." (Guest, 08:07)
• Discussed the appeal of distinct, Instagram-worthy bookstore features that feel authentic rather than generic (08:35–08:44).

2. Books about LA, “Chinatown,” and Lost Literary Classics

• They explore the literary and historical layers behind movies like "Chinatown" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," highlighting how these films have deeper themes rooted in LA's history.
  • "It's also insane that you would, like, make a hit movie about, like, stealing water. It doesn't make any sense." (Guest, 03:45)
• Story about "Ask the Dust" by John Fante, its initial obscurity due to the publisher's bankruptcy after an ill-fated publication of “Mein Kampf,” and its subsequent rediscovery by Bukowski and Robert Towne.
  • "The book is lost to history until Bukowski discovers it in the Los Angeles Public Library." (Guest, 05:21)
  • "And Robert Towne discovers it, and he's the one... he makes a movie of it, like all these years later." (Guest, 05:21–05:29)

3. Texas, Regional History, and Literary Tastes

• They discuss the appeal and popularity of regionally rooted works, such as biographies about Lyndon B. Johnson, and how Texas history often intersects with broader narratives (06:05–06:25).

4. The Art of Bookstore Renovation

• Fascinating details on how the physical structure of the bookstore was adapted, with found objects and reclaimed elements such as moving an 1800s bar to a ghost town (06:31–07:29).

5. Reading Lists and Hidden Gems

• Conversation about Cal Newport’s latest book, Slow Productivity, and the difference between productivity as a personal project versus something you write about (09:19–09:48).
• The guest mentions a rare Tolstoy “page a day” book:
  • "Tolstoy wrote a page a day book... just a collection of his favorite quotes and sort of meditations on them. Then was suppressed by the Soviets... until the '80s or '90s." (Guest, 10:03–10:31)
• The challenge and fun of championing little-known books in the digital age (10:40–10:51).

6. The Research and Writing Process

• A behind-the-scenes look at how both authors approach non-fiction:
  • Ryan prefers building themes and then anchoring stories around compelling figures—Lou Gehrig for discipline, Queen Elizabeth for temperament, Marcus Aurelius for power.
  • "I'm doing a series now on the cardinal virtues. I did Courage, discipline... Justice comes up next. And then I just started wisdom." (Guest, 11:33–11:39)
• Duhigg uses in-depth interviews to know when he’s "ready to write" but notes the shift when you're writing about historical figures who can't be interviewed (11:04).
• Both use note cards for organizing research:
  • "I use like four by six note cards... a table upstairs and they're all laid out..." (Guest/Ryan, 11:30)

7. The Creative Struggle

• Honest reflections about the reality of working through the “messy middle” of big writing projects:

  • "It's the best... Solving the puzzle part is fun and then finishing is fun. It's the middle part." (Guest, 14:23)
  • "It's literally like the Middle part of the middle where you're just like... you feel like you're like turning the crank every single day. And you're like, am I getting closer?" (Interviewer/Host, 14:29)

• Both discuss tricks to gain traction, from writing explanatory letters to editors to laying out and grouping note cards for visual clarity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On discovering and reviving forgotten books (Ask the Dust):
  "The book is Lost to history until Bukowski discovers it in the Los Angeles Public Library." — Guest, 05:21
• On the appeal of a unique bookstore feature:
  "We just wanted something that kind of makes a statement. It's funny. People just come in, the first thing they want to do is take a picture in front of it." — Guest, 08:07
• On the reality of building discipline-focused narratives:
  "No one wants to read a book about a thing that they're not inclined to do. So I made that book about self discipline, which is a rendering of temperance, self control." — Guest, 12:51

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:09–05:39]: LA fiction and Chinatown, story of John Fante’s “Ask the Dust”
• [06:25–07:29]: Texas literary tastes and bookstore building
• [07:37–09:17]: Instagram, design, and unique bookstore features
• [09:19–10:51]: Current reading lists and bookselling surprises (Cal Newport, Tolstoy)
• [11:02–12:29]: Research routines; writing about historical subjects
• [12:51–14:29]: The challenge of making philosophical virtues accessible
• [14:48–15:31]: Tricks and strategies for breaking through writing slumps

Summary

This bonus episode offers a rare window into the reading, writing, and thinking patterns of top non-fiction authors, wrapped in a lively tour of a thoughtfully curated bookstore. Both host and guest provide actionable insights for writers, readers, and bookstore enthusiasts, combining the literary with the practical and philosophical. The episode is also a mini-masterclass in the art of narrative construction, creativity, and the preservation of book culture.