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Stoic Empathy

The Road Map to a Life of Influence, Self-Leadership, and Integrity

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Stoic Empathy

By: Shermin Kruse
Narrated by: Shermin Kruse
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About this listen

Correct the power imbalances in your work and life with a science-backed practice that combines the rigor of Stoic philosophy with the relational impact of empathy.

This audiobook contains Nine Exclusive Bonus Guided Meditations and Exercises!


Stoicism combined with empathy may sound like a contradiction in terms. But when these seemingly opposing forces are harnessed together, they have the power to change your life.

From surviving missile attacks and political oppression in Iran to leading high-stakes legal teams and negotiations in corporate America, Shermin Kruse's journey fuels her mission to merge empathy and stoicism as tools for navigating power, justice, and human connection in every facet of life. In this eye-opening audiobook, she offers you this radical perspective shift—anchored in up-to-the-minute research—to help you navigate life's challenges with power and principles.

We often think of empathy as an emotional stance: we feel what someone else is feeling. But Kruse outlines a form of empathy that’s based in cognition, not emotion—a way for us to understand what the other person is thinking and feeling while keeping a distance from their feeling state—and shows us how we can strategically maneuver our level of engagement from “emotional empathy” to “cognitive empathy” in different circumstances. Then she utilizes Stoic philosophy and modern science to outline the how of emotional regulation and control. The bridge she builds between Stoicism and empathy gives us the knowledge and discipline we need to:

  • Calmly assess the power dynamics of any situation
  • Understand and manage our own emotions as well as the emotions of others
  • Defuse danger and turn conflict into connection
  • Skillfully steer a challenging conversation toward the result we want

Whether you're a leader striving to succeed in your role with integrity, an educator seeking to guide curious minds with compassion, a parent nurturing resilience in your children, or simply facing a personal or professional crossroads, Stoic Empathy is an essential toolkit for negotiating success in every area of your life.

This audio product contains a PDF with supporting material, and the PDF is available to download.

2025 Shermin Kruse (P)2025 Hay House Business

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

©2025 Shermin Kruse (P)2025 Hay House Business
Career Success Management & Leadership Motivation & Self-Improvement Negotiating Personal Development Personal Success Inspiring

Critic Reviews

“A radical approach to influence rooted in ethical strength. Kruse’s synthesis of stoicism and empathy offers a road map for anyone navigating complex power dynamics. This book is a profound blend of philosophy, personal story, and actionable insights that will inspire readers to lead with both heart and mind.”—Dr. Mike Dow, New York Times best-selling author of The Brain Fog Fix

“Kruse encapsulates so many of the lessons that I teach my teenage children in this book. Two things can be true at the same time in that you can be both disciplined and tough and care for the people and the world around you. The resilience she has shown throughout her life supplemented by her ability to show empathy and compassion for the world around her is a great example for us all to live by.”—Pete Kadens, former CEO of Green Thumb Industries

“Shermin Kruse offers a master class of what Stoic Empathy is and how to harness this soft skill into something that translates across public and private sectors. Her ability to explain the manner in which leadership is born of compartmentalizing thoughts and actions based on what others need to achieve best outcomes is insightful. Kruse’s book spoke to me as a leader, a woman, and a change agent. For those who lead people and value leading change, this is a must-read.”—Amrith Aakre, director of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Chicago District

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