Stephen Hanselman is an American author, translator, and literary agent. He is best known for co-authoring The Daily Stoic (2017) with Ryan Holiday, a collection of 366 Stoic meditations which has been translated into several languages and read by a broad international audience. He has also spent more than three decades in the publishing industry, working as a bookseller, publisher, and agent.
Stephen Hanselman studied Philosophy and History as an undergraduate at Fresno Pacific University. During this time, he was introduced to Stoicism by faculty member Delbert Wiens, who had written his dissertation on Musonius Rufus.
“During those years I read a lot about the Stoics,” Hanselman later explained, “but it was only later that I started reading the late Stoics directly.”
He continued his studies at Harvard Divinity School, where he earned a Master’s degree while also taking courses in the philosophy department. He encountered translations of Epictetus by Thomas Wentworth Higginson and later read the Loeb volumes of Epictetus, which inspired a deeper interest.
Hanselman worked at HarperCollins for thirteen years, editing and publishing authors including Jack Canfield. In 2005, he founded LevelFiveMedia LLC, a literary agency that provides representation, media development, and marketing consultation. His clients have included Tim Ferriss, Jack Canfield, and Ryan Holiday. Stephen described his work as connecting authors with readers, “focusing as much as possible on things that I find interesting and truly helpful for improving people’s lives.”
Together with Ryan Holiday, he published The Daily Stoic (2017). The book presents one meditation for each day of the year, drawing on writings from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and earlier Stoics, including Zeno and Cleanthes.
Hanselman’s role was to translate and curate the passages into accessible English while preserving the distinctive voices of each philosopher. “In Seneca, you find the urbane style of a political insider. With Epictetus, you encounter the spirited challenges of a former slave who has become a teacher. In Marcus, you get very beautiful and often elliptical language,” he explained.
The Daily Stoic has been widely used by readers seeking resilience and clarity. Its themes include the Stoic practice of focusing on what is within one’s control, the acceptance of fate, and the importance of gratitude. Hanselman described translation as “re-creation or re-imagination,” noting that the aim was to offer consistency while respecting the individuality of each thinker.
Stephen Hanselman lives in South Orange, New Jersey, with his family.
Photo credit: X @SteveHanselman
