Hardcover, 224 pages
English language
Published June 4, 2002 by Rugged Land.
A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, "The War of Art" is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor-be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. "The War of Art" emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline. Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself. Whether an artist, writer or business person, this simple, personal, and …
A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, "The War of Art" is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor-be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. "The War of Art" emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline. Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself. Whether an artist, writer or business person, this simple, personal, and no-nonsense book will inspire you to seize the potential of your life.
I was able to read this in 1 day, short and crisp. But seems harsh at certain points in the book. The writing seems dated at some points.
I understand his point of view and the times he struggled, till he succeeded; made him the way he talks. Though the same principles still apply, some point of views of the author were not timeless.
Here's why to read this book: it gives hope to those of us who've been slogging away for what seems like an eternity at our publishing goal—selling a novel to a publisher, getting the memoir noticed, publishing the poetry chapbook. The author took ten years to get his first paycheck for something he wrote; another ten to see his novel in print; and his first produced screenplay was a total bomb of a movie. This is the kind of timeline I—who began writing in 2003 with much early success and in 2015 turned to really, really trying to sell a novel—need to hear. Not just the timeline. Also the admonition not to identify too closely with this "failure." The book convincingly argues writing is what I've been giving to work with in this world, which is a lot bigger than a "yay, I sold a novel!" moment. In the meantime, …
Here's why to read this book: it gives hope to those of us who've been slogging away for what seems like an eternity at our publishing goal—selling a novel to a publisher, getting the memoir noticed, publishing the poetry chapbook. The author took ten years to get his first paycheck for something he wrote; another ten to see his novel in print; and his first produced screenplay was a total bomb of a movie. This is the kind of timeline I—who began writing in 2003 with much early success and in 2015 turned to really, really trying to sell a novel—need to hear. Not just the timeline. Also the admonition not to identify too closely with this "failure." The book convincingly argues writing is what I've been giving to work with in this world, which is a lot bigger than a "yay, I sold a novel!" moment. In the meantime, I've adopted his terminology: I'm writing novels on spec.
Here's why not to read the book: there are lots of jarring anachronisms. And lots of male assumption (sculptress??) And lots of time devoted to arguing in religious terms for the reality of inspiration (and I'm about as religious as you can get.) And lots of jutted-jaw utterances.
If you can get through all that, you might find some hopeful advice in here for yourself. (And it's a low time investment--you can read it in an hour.)
If you ignore the stuff sbout god, and divinity and so on, you can learn a quite a few useful things from this book. I would recommend it, if you can overlook the references to god and divinity.
If someone needs a kick-in-the-ass primer, I may recommend it as an initial leap into action for aspiring artists and/or entrepreneurs.
Even reading this book though, someone still may not fully learn until their actions reflect that they truly want their wishes to be reality (the book emphasizes this, like most other similar ones).
There is no magic bullet.
A potential gift for the uncertain, the procrastinators, and those of unspent potential.
Usual story: Want to know how to do things? Start by doing it.
Resistance comes from within. Triumph, and bring forth your authentic self.
The Art of War is about doing what you feel you need to do.
Creating
And why it is so hard to create.
I loved the first part, in which is explained why it is so hard to create and why we procrastinate (like I'm doing now as I should actually write something else). After explaining this, and acknowledging the reader that it's completely normal. The writer fails to really explain how to overcome it, or how he overcomes it. He just states that the "real" artists are succeeding ... so good luck with that.
The book started out strong, but lost momentum in the second part and became quite boring in the last part.
This is the kind of book that can help solve you creative problems when you’re stuck in not being able to produce that work of art you are trying to.
Steven Pressfield provides you with a lot of ways to overcome your limitations, be they fear, bad habits, lousy excuses, low self-esteem, or whatever hold you back from doing what you have to do. For this is the book that does not teach you how to make the thing in itself, but how to overcome the major obstacle in getting this done: yourself.
With a lot of short chapters that cover pretty much everything you can think of as an excuse, being this a short book in itself, you can’t even try to excuse yourself from not reading it. Try it. It will be worthy.
I'm a big Pressfield fan, but I'm reading his collection somewhat backwards. I was introduced to Turning Pro first. Then I read The Authentic Swing. Both amazing and has a permanent place on my desk. I got War of Art on e-book (got it free through Pressfield's website) but my husband found a special limited edition he was given from a friend in his storage and I started reading it on paper.
Most of the stuff he writes are also written in Turning Pro and The Authentic Swing, but I particularly found the concept of thinking hierarchically and territorially spot on and really fascinating.
The good thing: you can read this book in about one hour. The bad thing: it's still to long, because basically it's an extended version of 'fail early, fail often', Beckett's 'Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.' and Pasteur's 'In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared'.
You will work hard, you will fail, you keep learning from it and go on. Now you know everything you could possibly learn by reading this book. I just saved you from all that bullshit about how God (and his angels!) direct our creative urges and procrastination is from Satan, the bullying against amateurs and all the Greek mythology.
An okay, but very quick read.
