I took Ryan Holiday MasterClass Series (Review)

The Ryan Holiday MasterClass, Using Ancient Wisdom To Solve Modern Problems, caught my attention because I was curious to find out if something as boring as Philosophy could solve the problems faced in this digital age.

My review will reveal whether this Masterclass met my expectations, and if it did, how well the lessons help in solving our issues. Ready whenever you are. Read on to find out more about the class.

Who is Ryan Holiday and why should you learn from him?

Ryan Holiday is the founder of The Daily Stoic, a popular platform with a variety of resources (the podcast is the best), that helps people integrate the Stoic philosophy in their lives.

He is also the author of several bestselling books, the most popular one being ‘The Obstacles In The Way’. It deals with turning obstacles into opportunities.

All that is great. But why should you learn from him?

Regardless of whether you are a cynic like me thinking philosophy is good for nothing or an ardent lover of philosophy, you are one among the thousands desperately trying to find a way to navigate life.

Why not take a chance and learn from Ryan who offers to teach us the wisdom gained from the various schools of philosophy?

What Do We Learn?

If you have watched his TED talks, you probably know that Ryan Holiday, the podcaster, is brilliant at making his points. So, what do we learn from him in this class?

As explained in the Ryan Holiday MasterClass trailer, he teaches us the various ideas and techniques from four schools of philosophy – Stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism, and Socrates – to resolve the major problems in our lives.

The 1 hour and 36-minute series consists of 4 episodes: communication, love & relationships, resilience, and growth.

As I admitted before, I was a bit skeptical at the beginning, but the things I learned slowly shifted my perception. Let’s see what these episodes can teach us.

Finding Common Ground

To be truthful, the thing most people struggle with in their mundane lives is communication.

Why do discussions escalate into debates and, in turn, become heated arguments? It is baffling how we the humans who found so many means of communication lack the tact and nuance required to convey our point without raising people’s hackles.

The first episode helps us understand why this happens and explains the ways to deal with it.

The first thing we learn about is the Socratic method. The gist?

Be empathetic and try to discern the other person’s perspective. We don’t know everything. So, why not let curiosity reign and try to understand what the other person is trying to convey?

I loved hearing about the Steel Man technique (this is the first time I came across the term), and to quote Spock, I found it fascinating.

Another way to avoid a catfight is to remain in control of your emotions. Don’t let those pesky emotions influence your discussion.

Seriously, the experts Ryan brought in provided several tips. But, perhaps because of my deep affection for Spock, all I heard was ‘Gain control over your emotions and be logical like a Vulcan’.

You will undoubtedly interpret their tips differently. And, I am looking forward to discussing them with you civilly.

We also learn to criticize using Socrates’ framework, which is awesome. But more importantly, Ryan and the other experts help us understand how to deal with bullies, meanies, and haters. So, I would say, the first episode is a success.

Navigating Relationships

The episode ‘Love & Connections’ deals with romantic relations, friendships, and parental relationships.

Building and navigating a romantic relationship is straightforward. Be honest and truthful right from the start. That’s it. But, the concept is explained in a far more engaging way.

I am still reeling a bit from the story though. Who even does that? (You will know what I am rambling about once you watch the episode.)

The section about strained parental relationships is excellent, too. Parents can be a stick in the mud. And, sometimes estrangement and separation are warranted.

However, other times, both the parent and adult kid have the responsibility to try to reconnect and see what’s possible. Dr. Solomon provides a powerful tip for parenting; don’t miss it.

I saved my thoughts about the section on friendship for the last because I loved it so much. Who knew philosophers (especially Epicureans) valued friendship more than romantic love? (Thank you, Dr. Baker.)

The power and importance of friendships were discussed, and you have no idea how it warmed the depths of my heart when I heard that. Even having a frenemy is good? That is wild! Also, the suggestions for building meaningful friendships as an adult are practical.

Become Bitter Or Better?

Things don’t always go the way we want them to. Sometimes, we even go through harrowing things.

But how do we face that? Do we break down or endure? Do we become bitter or better? That’s what this episode is about. We learn about personal, professional, and existential resilience here.

We understand using obstacles as a learning experience, defining success, and how to avoid burnout through Ryan’s insightful discussions with the other experts.

Dr. Solomon discusses the importance of regulating our nervous system. And, you learn the techniques to do that. The Choir metaphor she used to explain them is awesome. 

Three Factors Affecting Personal Growth

So, what are these three factors? Solitude, perfectionism, and lifelong learning.

Solitude is different from loneliness. It’s necessary for reflection and critical thinking. We all have experienced that moment when we think and think, nothing comes, and bam the answer presents itself when we are not thinking about it. You don’t have to agonize so much if you seek solitude. 

Having ‘me time’ is good, but plan what interests to pursue to avoid falling back to doing chores. It’s preferable to pursue an interest that lets you enter the ‘Zone’. If you don’t understand her explanation of the Zone, I recommend watching Kuroku’s Basketball. It’s surreal to see the Generation of Miracles and Kagami enter it.

Do not seek perfection. Just try to get better and better. One technique to help with that is journaling.  It’s not just writing down your day. It’s a way to analyze what you did well and where you went wrong. It is also a tool for positive reinforcement.

Finally, why should you want to keep learning throughout your life? Socrates is considered the wisest man because of his awareness that he is ignorant (that is, he doesn’t know everything) and his desire to continue learning. Learning is different for each person. Your methods will differ from mine.

But, everybody can learn from philosophy. How come? Because the philosophers of the bygone days faced the same problems we struggle with now, and their philosophies are still relevant. But, remember to add all the things you learned throughout the years to the wisdom they provide.

So these are all the things that I learned from Ryan Holiday’s MasterClass series.

My Key Takeaways from Ryan’s Class

• People are not wrong on purpose.
• Feedback and criticism should be honest and devoid of hypocrisy.
• Friends who resist our point of view are good.
• Focus on the parts you can control in your life.
• Pursue the ‘Zone’ or as psychologists call it the ‘Flow’.

Ryan Holiday MasterClass Cost

MasterClass has three subscription plans.

The Standard plan costs $10/month, the Plus plan costs $15/month, and the Premium plan costs $20/month. However, they are all charged annually.

You have to subscribe in order to access the Ryan Holiday MasterClass and the 200+ classes available on the platform.

The perk? One subscription for all classes.

The plans are available at a discounted rate now (50% off); so, this is a great time to subscribe.

MasterClass offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. But I doubt you will request a refund when splendid classes like Esther Perel’s Rational Intelligence, George Stephanopoulos’ Purposeful Communication, and Amy Poehler’s Prepare To Be Unprepared are available.

Final Verdict: Is Ryan Holiday MasterClass Series Worth It?

It is a marvelous series for gaining wonderful insights into facing and resolving the greatest issues we face in our lives. So, yes, the Ryan Holiday MasterClass series is worth watching and even bingeing.

I am convinced that the old dudes (I call them that fondly) have already thought of everything under the sun and how to tackle them. So, start your learning journey with this class and continue it by acquainting yourself with further works of these philosophers. Your life will be better for it.

FAQs

1. Is Ryan Holiday MasterClass free?

Unfortunately, no class on MasterClass is available for free. You have to subscribe to one of the membership plans (Standard, Plus, or Premium) to gain access to the content. Check out the sample video and the class trailer to gauge whether the series has what you’re looking for. You can always request a refund within 30 days of subscribing if you find it unsatisfactory.

2. Can I download Ryan Holiday MasterClass?

Standard plan subscribers don’t have offline access to the course content. The Plus and Premium subscribers can download the content and watch it offline. The downloaded classes can be accessed through the ‘My Downloads’ section.

3. What’s special about the Ryan Holiday MasterClass series?

Ryan brings in Dr. Jennifer Baker,  Dr. Alexandra Solomon, and Remi Adeleke to teach us: the wisdom found in philosophies and how it can be incorporated into our lives. A professor of philosophy, a clinical psychologist, and a former Navy SEAL coming together to discuss philosophy is unprecedented and unique. That makes the series worth exploring in my book.