165 pages
English language
Published April 2, 2003 by Warner Books.
Basically, a crazy guy writing paragraphs.
Still, I found it helpful--I could relate a lot to Pressfield, and I do think it's worth visiting.
Basically, a crazy guy writing paragraphs.
Still, I found it helpful--I could relate a lot to Pressfield, and I do think it's worth visiting.
TL;DR: Get out of your own way.
That said, unlike many other people who say the above phrase until they're blue in the face while the rest of us throw up our own hands or smack them in their smug faces with a heavy frying pan, Pressfield does a good job of pointing out ways you might succeed in actually following through on this age-old annoying piece of crinkly advice.
TL;DR: Get out of your own way.
That said, unlike many other people who say the above phrase until they're blue in the face while the rest of us throw up our own hands or smack them in their smug faces with a heavy frying pan, Pressfield does a good job of pointing out ways you might succeed in actually following through on this age-old annoying piece of crinkly advice.
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.
This was the most actually motivating motivational book I have ever read. It really lit a fire under me. And that is quite remarkable; normally anything remotely motivational makes me vomit. But this book, this book.
The author names and defines Resistance. The thing that holds you back from writing. The thing that is endlessly creative, endlessly stubborn, that wants nothing more than for you to not write. Or not to whatever the great important thing is that you are meant to do.
In fact, while this book is superficially about writing, this book really has nothing to do with writing, and everything to do with the fact that anything worth doing is hard. If you don’t have resistance, then that means what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Only things that really matter have resistance. For you it could be painting, founding a non-profit, raising whole and healthy children, overcoming an …
This was the most actually motivating motivational book I have ever read. It really lit a fire under me. And that is quite remarkable; normally anything remotely motivational makes me vomit. But this book, this book.
The author names and defines Resistance. The thing that holds you back from writing. The thing that is endlessly creative, endlessly stubborn, that wants nothing more than for you to not write. Or not to whatever the great important thing is that you are meant to do.
In fact, while this book is superficially about writing, this book really has nothing to do with writing, and everything to do with the fact that anything worth doing is hard. If you don’t have resistance, then that means what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Only things that really matter have resistance. For you it could be painting, founding a non-profit, raising whole and healthy children, overcoming an addiction, engineering an invention, any number of things, but one thing is certain: it will be hard.
This book is written in many chapters and each chapter is one single page. The chapters are topics or vignettes or examples, each bite-sized but powerful. It’s perfect to read one chapter a day and get yourself motivated to go write! Put your butt in the seat and do it!
I feel like this book is actually, in my experience, the single most important book for a writer. You have to name the problem and visualize the enemy in order to get focused and intentional and overcome that enemy. Before reading this book and naming that enemy, I constantly floundered with procrastinating writing. After, everything changed. Not saying I don’t have my days, but…really. It was a huge mindset shift. I plan to re-read this book every year. I also bought an extra copy and gave it to an aspiring writer friend of mine who’s going through a hard time.
Don’t do it because it’s easy, my friend…do it because it’s hard.
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.
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.
First two parts of the book really connected with me and I really liked it. But the last part (book #3) is a frustrating read. I can understand why many friends of mine were infuriated by this. Despite all that, I rate 5-stars mainly for the first two parts. I really liked the narrative of Resistance and Pro.
Very good book on being a professional - whatever your profession is. This is geared towards creatives and writers but applies to anyone.
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.
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.
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.
