226 pages
English language
Published Jan. 17, 2016
Many of us insist the main impediment to a full, successful life is the outside world. In fact, the most common enemy lies within: our ego. Early in our careers, it impedes learning and the cultivation of talent. With success, it can blind us to our faults and sow future problems. In failure, it magnifies each blow and makes recovery more difficult. At every stage, ego holds us back. Ego Is the Enemy draws on a vast array of stories and examples, from literature to philosophy to history. We meet fascinating figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who all reached the highest levels of power and success by conquering their own egos. Their strategies and tactics can be ours as well. In an era that glorifies social media, reality TV, and other forms of shameless self-promotion, the battle against ego must be …
Many of us insist the main impediment to a full, successful life is the outside world. In fact, the most common enemy lies within: our ego. Early in our careers, it impedes learning and the cultivation of talent. With success, it can blind us to our faults and sow future problems. In failure, it magnifies each blow and makes recovery more difficult. At every stage, ego holds us back. Ego Is the Enemy draws on a vast array of stories and examples, from literature to philosophy to history. We meet fascinating figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who all reached the highest levels of power and success by conquering their own egos. Their strategies and tactics can be ours as well. In an era that glorifies social media, reality TV, and other forms of shameless self-promotion, the battle against ego must be fought on many fronts. Armed with the lessons in this book, as Holiday writes, "you will be less invested in the story you tell about your own specialness, and as a result, you will be liberated to accomplish the world-changing work you've set out to achieve."--
Personally this book is too superficial and I am clearly not the target audience for it. Ego is the enemy is mostly for upper middle class people or in general rich people that seek out self help and want to feel humbled or people who want to become successful business people or politicians.
Personally this book is too superficial and I am clearly not the target audience for it. Ego is the enemy is mostly for upper middle class people or in general rich people that seek out self help and want to feel humbled or people who want to become successful business people or politicians.
While the book is interesting, it doesn't feel too original. Whereas books like Stolen Focus by Johann Hari include new nad interesting interviews with world-leading experts, this is mostly based on anecdotal stories which makes it less interesting (why would I want to be told about Kirk Hammet from a subjective viewpoint when I could have a journalist ask though-provoking questions to a world-leading scientist) and also less informative; it feels more like one is trying to repeat the same idea enough times for someone to believe that it is the objective truth.
However, this book is still a book worth reading and far from the worst of the self-help genre. There are many small notes I've made myself while reading this book, and I do have some main takeaways unlike other books where I struggle to find more than one minor takeaway.
I'd give it 3.5 but I can't …
While the book is interesting, it doesn't feel too original. Whereas books like Stolen Focus by Johann Hari include new nad interesting interviews with world-leading experts, this is mostly based on anecdotal stories which makes it less interesting (why would I want to be told about Kirk Hammet from a subjective viewpoint when I could have a journalist ask though-provoking questions to a world-leading scientist) and also less informative; it feels more like one is trying to repeat the same idea enough times for someone to believe that it is the objective truth.
However, this book is still a book worth reading and far from the worst of the self-help genre. There are many small notes I've made myself while reading this book, and I do have some main takeaways unlike other books where I struggle to find more than one minor takeaway.
I'd give it 3.5 but I can't seem to figure out how, so 3 it is.
This book was good. Some books change your life. I wouldn't say this is one such book.
We are instilled and taught to be humble, to be respectful, to be kind. We don't even come across unbearably egoistic people.
Nevertheless, this book has lots of interesting and inspiring anecdotes from accomplished people from across the world.
The advice or suggestion that this book gives is not for everyone, especially not for those working on improving their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Like everything else, balance is the key. Not too proud to the extent that you are a jerk. Not too humble to the extent that everyone walks over you.
Something about this book just did not seem authentic. It wasn't as deep as the source material, so to me it came off as a a self-help book for privileged tech entrepreneurs, chock full of platitudes and recycled stoic philosophy, mixed with some quotes from “Great Men” and Wikipedia-sourced historical analogues. It is certainly positioned for the “late-modern achievement-subject,” which I cannot take seriously anymore, especially after reading Byung-Chul Han's [b:The Burnout Society|25490360|The Burnout Society|Byung-Chul Han|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448470013s/25490360.jpg|14750674].
So, why 2 stars instead of 1? Well, a stopped clock is right twice a day. There are some good bits in here, but it is pretty spotty.
I could go on and on, but I won't. At least it is short, so you won't be wasting much of your time if you want to read it and judge for yourself.
