Payment for this pre-order will be taken when the item becomes available
Flat rate of $10.00 for shipping anywhere in Australia
You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. Please sign in or create an account
An exploration of the issues around the Stoic ideal of a well-lived life, and how anyone can learn to define and realize a modern version of it for themselves.
The Stoic Capitalist explains how stoic philosophy combined with focused ambition can lead to great accomplishment, written by someone who has, by any measure, been successful in multiple realms of business, culture, and politics.
Bestsellers about Stoicism have proliferated in recent years, led by titles such as Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle is the Way and Donald Robertson's How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. The Stoic Capitalist takes a different approach, with a structure inspired by Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture – a series of short chapters intended to help readers achieve their childhood dreams and live a more fulfilling life. Rosenkranz presents a unique fusion of practical advice, street smarts, and frank reflection, spanning topics as diverse as high finance, political and moral debate, parenting, hiring and firing, hobbies, anger management, longevity and more.
Rosenkranz was present at the creation of such revolutionary developments in finance as junk bonds, private equity, and hedge funds, but his interests are far broader. His story encompasses a lively global cast of RAND Corporation geniuses, artists pioneering new media, and scientist-entrepreneurs racing to reshape human longevity. In his personal life, he recounts his struggles and stumbles leading to acceptance and grace in marriage and parenthood; as well as secrets and challenges of reconciling the unruly psyche with rationalist psychology. He populates his narrative with iconic figures in the Wall Street boom years, such as his early mentor Leon Levy; iconoclasts and mavericks like his friends Michael Bloomberg and Mike Milken; unsung heroes and quiet leaders who build and run great companies and foundations; and corporate frauds including Bernie Madoff.
Robert Rosenkranz's voice come across clearly and insightfully on the page: unafraid to learn, tirelessly curious and inquiring, he personifies an openness to all viewpoints that is increasingly rare. Importantly, The Stoic Capitalist is not about coping with corporate life or using professional hacks to winning a promotion – it is an in-depth exploration of the ancient ideal of the well lived life and shows how anyone can define and realize a modern version of it for themselves.
Published | 02 Sep 2025 |
---|---|
Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 272 |
ISBN | 9781399423236 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Business |
Dimensions | 234 x 153 mm |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
The Stoic Capitalist is as much about life as career, as much about personal growth as professional development, and as much about giving back as getting ahead. It's an inspiring story of a life well lived.
Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Mayor of New York, 2002–2013
A truly fascinating story of one of the most powerful titans on Wall Street that you probably haven't heard of. In this engaging memoir Robert Rosenkranz tells the story of how he spotted opportunities that no one else saw and acted on them to rise from a modest middle-class family in New York to one of the most successful private equity investors of our time. In the process he also candidly shares his philosophy on how to navigate the world in ways many of us haven't thought about. A very worthwhile read and thoroughly enjoyable.
Bill Browder, human rights activist and author of Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice
An extraordinary mixture of philosophical, psychological and business insights, The Stoic Capitalist is the culmination of a lifetime's thought and experience by one of America's most successful men. Part memoir, part how-to book for anyone who wants to make it really big, part warning of life's potential pitfalls, it cogently and wittily explains how to live a good, fulfilling life that is both enjoyable for oneself and valuable to society at large. Robert Rosenkranz has many remarkable legacies to bequeath, and this book is definitely one of them.
Lord Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking With Destiny
The remarkable story of Robert Rosenkranz's life, and the principles that helped shape its course, are explained in this unique book. The Stoic Capitalist, a blend of biography and self-improvement philosophy, draws on the ancient wisdom of Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. The book makes a new contribution by showing how Stoic philosophy can be applied to living a life both virtuous and highly ambitious.
Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
This book is a fascinating account of a startling life, which not only epitomizes the American dream, but also highlights the little-known power of Stoic ideas and the way that they can guide a career. Anyone interested in finance, philosophy or the ability to forge a career in a mindful manner should read this – not just to understand how to achieve your goals, but how to do so with focus and consistency. The wisdom from the ancient Greek stoic thinkers does not often get taught in business schools – but it clearly should, and deserves far wider attention and recognition, since it is so relevant in our hyper-emotional world of non-stop distractions.
Gillian Tett, Columnist and Editorial Board at Financial Times; Provost at King's College, Cambridge
This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.
Get 30% off in the May sale - for one week only
Your School account is not valid for the Australia site. You have been logged out of your account.
You are on the Australia site. Would you like to go to the United States site?
Error message.