Bob Dylan and the Stoics
The idea of the Daily Dylan
Some of you might have already read about it on our website, which we’ve launched just a week ago or so, but in this e-mail I want to explain shortly about the idea of this Daily Dylan project.
“I’m sayin’ it plain”: One short piece of Dylan-related content every day.
Currently, this idea of “daily” is executed through our Daily Dylan Instagram account, but rather sooner than later we will deliver one piece of somehow Dylan-related content with this newsletter straight into your inbox.
Those mostly short essays won’t be long blog articles, but rather a short piece of Dylan that you can read through on your way to work, in the gym or on your couch. Depending on the season, it can also be about Bob’s setlist from the previous evening, interesting reviews or footage, or news about a new Daily Dylan podcast which is currently in the planning stages.
Since the whole idea comes from the great author Ryan Holiday and his Daily Stoic format, which inspired me a lot, there will also be content from time to time that touches the parallels between Bob Dylan and the stoic philosophy.
Bob Dylan might seem an unlikely candidate for an exploration of Stoic philosophy. Yet, his life and work offer intriguing parallels to Stoic principles. Dylan’s lyrics often reflect themes of resilience, acceptance of fate, and the impermanence of life—central tenets of Stoicism.
Bob’s ability to adapt to shifting circumstances echoes the Stoic emphasis on living in accordance with nature’s flow. In essence, while Dylan may not have explicitly studied Stoic philosophy, his art and life offer a compelling reflection of its timeless wisdom, making him an unexpected but fascinating figure in the ongoing dialogue about Stoicism’s relevance in the modern world.