This is the reason interview with Nick Kalespi, and I've got a question for you.

Are you a stoic?

That ancient Roman philosophy, stoicism, is built on virtue, reason, and self-control,

and it's been gaining popularity in a world that just seems to get crazier and crazier.

My guest today is a self-declared stoic. He's Robert Rosencrantz, the author

of The Stoic Capitalist, Advice for the Exceptionally Ambitious. This book takes a deep dive into how

Stoic principles can lead to personal financial and social success. It charts his path from

a small cramped family apartment in

post-war New York City to becoming a billionaire dealmaker and founder of Open to Debate,

a nonprofit that hosts nationally broadcast debates about the toughest issues of the day.

Through a mix of memoir and philosophy from the likes of Seneca and Marcus Aurelius,

the Stoic capitalist illustrates the power of rational thinking and purposeful action in all

parts of life. We talk about Rosencrantz's political journey from a new frontier liberal

to more of a libertarian-leaning Reagan Republican, to a philanthropist deeply committed

to promoting intense but civil debate.

We also talk about how the innovation that undergirds capitalism displaces people not just

economically but culturally, and how to make it easier for people to adapt to the creative

destruction that's necessary for improvement in living standards.

This interview was recorded live at an event in New York City.

Go to reason.com slash events to get information about our future events.

Here is the reason interview with Robert Rosencretz.

Let's start with the kind of obvious question. Why this book at this time?

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