The Boy Who Would Be King Audiobook By Ryan Holiday cover art

The Boy Who Would Be King

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The Boy Who Would Be King

By: Ryan Holiday
Narrated by: Ryan Holiday, Siri Ellis, Alan Blazek
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About this listen

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author and creator of The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday...

...comes one of the most incredible stories in all of history. A young boy, out of nowhere, is chosen to be the emperor of most of the known world.

What he learns, what he does, who he is, will echo in eternity.

In 138 AD, Hadrian, the emperor of Rome, chooses Marcus Aurelius to succeed him. He knows no one was born ready for the job, so he arranges for the young boy's education. The greatest philosophers of the day are assigned to teach him, and all throw themselves into crafting him into a great leader.

It's a parable for life: The gods choose something for us, call us to something. Will we answer? Will we step up? Will we achieve the greatness within us?

Marcus Aurelius did. Absolute power not only didn't corrupt, it made him better.

And now, a story for the ages is illustrated and told for all ages in The Boy Who Would Be King.

This book is written by best-selling author Ryan Holiday and illustrated by the illustrious Victor Juhasz.

Ryan Holiday is one of the world's foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life. He is a sought-after speaker and strategist and the author of many best-selling books including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and The Daily Stoic. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and sold over three million copies worldwide. He lives outside Austin, Texas, with his family. You can follow him @ryanholiday or subscribe to his writing at ryanholiday.net and dailystoic.com.

Victor Juhasz is an award-winning illustrator and visual reporter. His work has been published in Sports Illustrated, Esquire, the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and elsewhere. Visit juhaszillustration.com for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Ryan Holiday (P)2021 Ryan Holiday
Ancient Civilizations Biographical Fiction Fiction Stoicism Ancient History Royalty
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What listeners say about The Boy Who Would Be King

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

7-9 minute story read differently by various narrators

I was pretty surprised that this was a very short children’s story. I was expecting more. What’s there is delightful, but it’s so little.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Terrible

I don’t understand why he would wast his or anyone else’s time with this. I like his books, this one is not one of them.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A 7 minute story read 20 times

WTF?!?! A 7 minute story read over, and over, and over again. This is NOT a 2 hour audiobook.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Do not purchase this as an audiobook.

It is a good story, but purchase it as a physical book to read it with your child. It is not good as an audiobook.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Super short

Not worth it. Very very very very very very very very very very short. Please return credit

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

9 minutes, not 2 hours.

The same story is looped over and over. Deceptive and most of
It would be read in the sample.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

5 minute story

Would not recommend this book. Was expecting a book and received a pamphlet. Way too short for $5

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

It’s one short fable written by RH that is read multiple times

Honestly, I thought the file was broken when the same thing started for the 3rd time. I didn’t do my research. This is one 7 minute story/fable read multiple times differently. I am just glad I didn’t order the book but I still feel this should have been either free or money offered for charity. I really like RH’s work but I don’t get this format, even if I think about this was to tell kids one story.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Disappointed

Love Ryan Holiday but this is one credit and 20 minutes of my life I’ll never get back

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Audible and Ryan Holiday duped me.

Audible and Ryan Holiday duped me and I don’t like it. I should have read the reviews because if I did I would have seen all the one star reviews. Looping this short short fable and then interviewing the illustrator is not my idea of a book. Make it a podcast not offer as a book. I would like to have my credit returned. Audible you have disappointed me and Ryan what would Marcus Aurelius say about this.

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