“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield – Book Review
“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield exposed my mortal enemy (hint: it’s been me all along), gave me a battle plan to defeat her, and showed me who to enlist along the way.
Check it out on Amazon, or my personal favorite, Bookshop.org!
Table of contents
Why did I read “The War of Art”?
As a listener of the podcast, “Joe Rogan Experience” (JRE), I’ve heard Joe mention “The War of Art” several times about how it’s helped him fight through his inner creative battles when developing his comedy sketches. I’ve also read Steven Pressfield’s classic, “Gates of Fire“, and seen the movie it was based on “300“, so I was already a massive fan of the author. But it wasn’t until I heard Steven Pressfield speak about this book on an episode of the JRE that I finally went ahead and purchased it. And boy am I glad I did. It was a tour de force of introspection that I never expected to have.
General Overview
“The War of Art” explores the concept of resistance and how it can prevent individuals from realizing their full creative potential. In the book, Pressfield argues that resistance is an internal force that arises in response to the pursuit of any goal that threatens to challenge our comfort zone and self-image. He explains that this resistance can manifest in various forms, such as procrastination, self-doubt, and fear, and that it is the enemy of creativity and personal growth.
Pressfield encourages readers to recognize and overcome their resistance to achieve their goals and unlock their true potential. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, focus, and persistence, and provides practical strategies for defeating resistance, such as setting clear goals, creating a routine, and developing a strong work ethic.
“The War of Art” has been widely praised for its powerful and inspiring message, and has become a staple in the creative and business communities. Whether you are an artist, writer, entrepreneur, or simply someone who is looking to overcome obstacles and achieve success in your personal or professional life, this book is an essential read.
My Instant Reaction
I finished Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art” last night, and I’m still shaking. The book seems to have revealed my mortal enemy. It’s me. Or as Steven calls her, Resistance. She has been seeking my demise all my life and has won by a wide margin. I have only won in vain; getting my degree, graduating from various schools, being promoted to higher ranks in the military, and receiving good to sometimes great evaluations. She won, by convincing me, deceiving me, distracting me, subverting me, devouring me from getting my degree with honors, graduating at the top of my various schoolings, from receiving the highest ratings in my valuations. And I saw it happening right in front of my eyes every, single, time. And I let her have her away with me. Disgusting.
After years of not knowing who she was, I now find myself standing face-to-face with her. It’s blinding, for I’m not just seeing the enemy at the gate, I’m seeing everything that it could have been. It’s pitiful. It sears my eyes and makes my heart weep. But if I clear the shame away and try to focus on what’s behind her, I can see a small shimmer of light. I realize I am at a crossroads.
I have these grand visions of my life, of my goals, this ideal self I’ve created. I found my calling, to deindustrialize the minds of the world. But will all that remain as it is? Just visions, ideas, goals, callings? Or will I finally have the courage to stand up to her, to Resistance, to my self-destructive, self, each, and every day of the rest of my life, and say, NO, NOT ANYMORE. And actually, become who I am destined to be. Become Greg Cello to his fullest. Finally, start putting in the work, day in and day out, and let God be the judge of the rest.
3 Main Takeaways
- Resistance is a universal force that affects everyone: Pressfield argues that resistance is a common and universal force that affects everyone who wants to achieve something worthwhile. He explains that resistance is the enemy of creativity, growth, and success and can manifest in various forms such as procrastination, self-doubt, fear, and indecision.
- Overcoming resistance requires discipline and persistence: To overcome resistance, Pressfield encourages readers to be disciplined and persistent in their efforts. He emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, developing a routine, and maintaining focus and discipline. By being consistent and persistent in the face of resistance, individuals can overcome their obstacles and achieve their goals.
- The creative process requires sacrifice: According to Pressfield, the creative process requires sacrifice and hard work. He argues that pursuing creativity and success requires individuals to be willing to make sacrifices, such as putting in the time and effort needed to develop their skills and facing the fear and uncertainty that comes with pursuing something meaningful. By embracing the sacrifice required by the creative process, individuals can unlock their full potential and achieve greatness.
Who Should Read “The War of Art”?
“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield is a book that can benefit anyone who wants to overcome creative or professional obstacles and achieve their goals. It is particularly relevant for:
- Artists and creatives: If you are a writer, painter, musician, or any other type of creative, this book can help you overcome the internal resistance that can prevent you from realizing your full potential.
- Entrepreneurs: If you are an entrepreneur, “The War of Art” can help you overcome the obstacles that can hold you back from achieving your goals. The strategies outlined in the book can help you stay focused and disciplined in the pursuit of your dreams.
- Anyone looking to overcome personal obstacles: Whether you are looking to overcome fear, self-doubt, or any other internal obstacles, “The War of Art” can help you unlock your full potential and achieve your goals.
In short, anyone who is looking to overcome obstacles and achieve success in their personal or professional life can benefit from reading “The War of Art.” The insights and strategies outlined in the book can help you overcome resistance and unlock your full potential.
My Top 3 Quotes
1. “Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. resistance is the enemy within.”
Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
2. “Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you’re feeling massive Resistance, the good news is that it means there’s tremendous love there too.”
Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
3. “The paradox seems to be, as Socrates demonstrated long ago, that the truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery. While those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them.”
Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Final Thoughts on “The War of Art”
The book is a short but powerful read. If you’ve ever felt that you’ve been stifled in life, unable to achieve success than you have probably been succumbing to Resistence. Pick this book up and figure it out for yourself. It’ll save you from a lifetime of being limited. I know it just saved me.
Interested in more book reviews or seeing what I’m currently reading or planning to read in the future? Check out my page on Books!
You can find “The War of Art” on Amazon, or my favorite, Bookshop.org!
