A meaningful Christmas gift for riders, thinkers, and anyone searching for courage, clarity and purpose. Time is precious. Don’t waste the ride. What if the road in front of you could teach you how to live? In The Stoic Rider , Louisa Swaden – motorcyclist, land-speed racer and powerlifting record holder – blends the hard-won lessons of the road with timeless Stoic philosophy. Through stories of fear, grit, failure, speed, strength, and unexpected beauty, she explores how we can meet life with more intention, resilience and heart. From first rides to Pendine Sands and the Bonneville Salt Flats, Louisa shares what motorcycling taught her about courage, focus, and finding meaning at any age. Each chapter pairs a powerful Stoic principle with a real moment from the road – sometimes funny, sometimes raw, always deeply human. For readers who love: • motorcycling and adventure • philosophy that’s practical, not preachy • Ryan Holiday and Marcus Aurelius • books that make you pause, breathe, and rethink your life • heartfelt gifts with depth and soul Inside you’ll find: • “Stillness in Motion” – how presence can be found even while going fast • “Memento Mori” – why remembering death brings us back to life • “Choose Your Line” – clarity, intention, and the art of direction • “Amor Fati” – loving your fate, even the messy parts • “The Road as Teacher” – reflections on growth, purpose, and meaning Whether you ride a motorcycle or not, this book is about something we all share: the road of a life you don’t want to waste. A thoughtful, inspiring gift for Christmas – for friends, partners, riders, and anyone standing at a crossroads. "Louisa Swaden's book is a warm, wise and at times laugh out loud life manual that delivers clarity and insight without ever being preachy. With relatable stories and personal lessons from a life lived with extraordinary gumption, she walks beside the reader like a modern-day Yoda - calm, clever and deeply human. Her signature humour and heartfelt wisdom make this an unputdownable read. A brilliant, contemporary companion to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance— I devoured it in one sitting and loved every page." —Claire Elsdon, Global Director for Capital Markets at CDP and Founder of Pikilily, A social enterprise in Tanzania focused on community motorcycle safety and empowering women through Africa's first female-led motorcycle workshop. "In The Stoic Rider , Louisa Swaden has created an intriguing, original book that effortlessly blends the thrills of a wide open throttle with life lessons from the great minds of our time. Honest and thought-provoking, it will inspire you to hit the road—and squeeze the most out of life." —Lois Pryce: Travel Writer (Guardian, Observer & Telegraph) and Author of Revolutionary Ride , A National Geographic , Traveller 'Books of the Year' "Who would have thought that ancient philosophy could be applied to motorcycling? In The Stoic Rider , Louisa Swaden uses her own examples and experiences to illustrate that Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca are just as relevant now as they were in their day. How can philosophy be applied to riding a missle on wheels on the salt flats at Bonneville? What did men of hundreds of years ago with beards and wearing togas know about social media and chat-bots? How can stoicism stop you from riding over that pothole you're trying to avoid? Louisa accepts that they didn't have to contend with life as we know it now but, with insight and great humour, applies their wisdom to modern situations. And she knows what she's talking about where motorcycling is concerned. Fastest on Pendine Sands in Wales; a blood biker; a motorcycle traveller of note; a volunteer helping people who thought they couldn't ride, ride again; a tour guide and a multitude of other skills. Philosophy was never this funny! Robert M. Pirsig of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance would be proud of her. You might not think that you need to read a book on stoicism to be a good motorcyclist but believe me you do!" —Jacqui Furneaux: Motorcycle Traveller and Author of Hit the Road, Jac! Louisa Swaden is a writer, speaker, and lifelong questioner known as The Existential Biker. A former corporate executive turned motorcycling tour guide, she holds a motorcycle land speed record on sand, is a member of the 200mph Club and a Welsh powerlifting record holder-all achieved in her sixth decade. Her journey from burnout to courage, discipline, and clarity now fuels her work. In The Stoic Rider, she blends ancient philosophy with real-world grit to explore how to live-and ride-with purpose. When she's not riding, she's writing, reading, or walking her dog somewhere quiet-always listening for the next question worth following. Visit: www.existentialbiker.com