Naval Academy Cancels Ryan Holiday’s Speech Over Book Ban Reference

BALTIMORE — The U.S. Naval Academy canceled a scheduled speech by author Ryan Holiday after he refused to omit references to 381 books recently removed from its library. The incident occurred on April 14, just an hour before he was to address midshipmen on the theme of wisdom.

In an opinion piece for The New York Times, Holiday detailed how academy officials contacted him and expressed concerns about potential “reprisals” stemming from parts of his presentation. The books removed cover topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.

Holiday recalled, “When I declined, my lecture — as well as a planned speech before the Navy football team, with whom my books on Stoicism are popular — was canceled.”

The decision to pull the books was made following a federal executive order aimed at eliminating DEI content from educational institutions, including military academies. Among the banned titles are Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi.

Holiday expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the importance of discussing challenging subjects in leadership. “As I explained repeatedly to my hosts, I had no interest in embarrassing anyone or discussing politics directly,” he wrote.

In a broader context, the Naval Academy’s move reflects ongoing national debates about censorship and book bans. Holiday, who has spoken to midshipmen multiple times in the past, argued that being open to uncomfortable ideas is essential for cultivating wisdom.

“If you can’t be trusted around Stacey Abrams’ memoir or Maya Angelou, you probably have no business being a Navy SEAL,” he stated.

The Naval Academy declined to comment on the incident when contacted by media representatives.