Ego Is the Enemy

This book by Ryan Holiday has come up 2 times across 2 different shows: Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss. 2 of those mentions were genuine on-air recommendations, not just passing references. The people who brought it up: Manolis Kellis, Michael Phelps. The earliest mention we indexed is from 2021-01-25 and the most recent from 2023-04-21. Every occurrence below links to the episode page and to the exact second it was said on YouTube.

Many of us insist the main impediment to a full, successful life is the outside world. In fact, the most common enemy lies within: our ego. Early in our careers, it impedes learning and the cultivation of talent. With success, it can blind us to our faults and sow future problems. In failure, it magnifies each blow and makes recovery more difficult. At every stage, ego holds us back. Ego Is the Enemy draws on a vast array of stories and examples, from literature to philosophy to history.