The War of Art

May 22nd 2011

Author: Steven Pressfield
Publisher: Rugged Land
Value Rating: 10/10
Entertainment Rating: 8/10

Read If: You have any talent, ambition or dream.

Do Not Read If: You don’t want to risk ruining your next pity party.

Review: I read this book on the recommendation of Joe Rogan and it has been one of the most influential books in my life.  You ever wonder why its so much easier to sit down on Facebook than write a blog?  Its called resistance.   You ever wonder why you can get something almost done but never quite finish?  Its called resistance.  This book unmasks the treacherous aforementioned beast, and gives you the vision to spot it.  Once you learn to see resistance, you can make it bleed.  And in the famous words of Arnold from Predator, “If it bleeds, you can kill it.”

Once you can go toe to toe with resistance and it least maim it on the reg, you may be able to call yourself a professional.  And that is another important concept from this book.  A professional doesn’t talk about writing, he writes.  A professional doesn’t talk about how much ass he can kick, he just kicks ass.  These two concepts alone are worth the read, but the book is packed with the tools to turn your life around, or improve what you already have going.

Pressfield, being a brilliant fiction writer, weaves this book together wittily and concisely.  You can finish it in 2-3 hours if you hustle, but better perhaps to read it slow and let it simmer.  If you don’t go get this book right now, you just let resistance dunk on your ass.

Posted in Book Review

9 Comments

  • Saul

    Great review on a great book. I’m a big fan of the Joe Rogan podcast and Rogan constantly mentions this book and rants and raves on how great the book is. After seeing you on the podcast I decided to check out your website and came to realize that you’re a pretty interesting dude and I like your perspective on things. You have a masculine perspective but not in a meathead way, more like an intelligent manly man way (with fingernail polish added to it).. I read your reviews and I have to tell you that your reviews are great and now I want to read several of the books you have on here. The War of Art has been the first book I have chosen to read after reading your review, and I am glad I did so. I could not put the book down after I began reading it. Once I was done reading it I felt inspired to say the least. Great book! Definitely gave me a new perspective and I see how I am in a constant battle with myself. It never ends but I think I will be able to manage it a little better now that I read the book.

  • WP

    That book is a game changer for sure… I find myself referencing his definition of a ‘professional’ constantly. Thanks for the support, I’ll try to keep the good stuff comin.

  • Angela

    I definitely agree with Saul. You and Rogan alone have opened my mind to SO much I never knew existed in this world. I’ve always craved learning but have never had people to bring along on the journey. There’s so much this world has to offer and just as much bullshit to cover it. But being able to stumble upon and discover dudes like you and Rogan is clearly a gift from the universe. I grew up in an abusive household and started perpetuating that life at a very young age. But I always knew deep down there was more to my life than being married to an asshole and raising a son at 17. I refused to conform. Granted I wandered and wasted the majority of my 20s making mistake after mistake but I kept moving. Hearing your stories, your experiences… hell, even discovering that all men aren’t assholes… has helped me so much this past year. You’re an amazing dude and you definitely have a fan down here in Houston. Take care.

  • WP

    @Angelakane I truly appreciate your kind words and am touched by your story. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity that my voice and my words could reach people like yourself. I have been dealing with a lot of negativity on the Forums lately, which is a crazy thing for me since I cultivate positivity in my life with ruthless endeavor, but reading this and messages like it reminds me why its all worth it… Reminds me why I follow the warrior’s path. Your thread is added to the banner I carry, and for that it will be ever stronger–so I thank you. Thanks for all the RT’s as well, haha!

  • angelanakane

    Remember it’s so easy to be negative, so easy to let yourself be carried downward by that stream… and that much MORE effort to have the ability to stand stronger in your journey. Not every person discovers their gift as you, but you are definitely helping those trying to find their own. (Oh, and to add to my story, when I started reading your blog/meditating/marijuana/jiu jitsu, I was taking five medications – Adderall, Zoloft, Trazadone, Klonopin, and Robaxin – to simply make it through the day. That number is now zero.)

  • WP

    Enlightening words and an inspirational story… Thank you for you support and spreading the light!

  • http://www.worldhiphopbeats.com Warrior

    Powerful recommendation. I read this book while simultaneously compiling the past 8 years of my craft into a completed project. I still have about 30 pages left, but as somebody already said; this book is a game changer.

    Destroy All Resistance. Fear Nothing.

  • Anthony

    Just finished this book. I believe I will read through this again to let it sink in, as it wasn’t long at all.  It’s good to have a name to call the devil Resistance. Resistance took me from training- running a lot, and working up to a half marathon, to where I almost broke through to a new body (I’ve been a heavy guy my whole life). Then, Resistance. The part that just killed me, is when Pressfield explains how the closer you are to the finish, the more cunning Resistance becomes.  Right now, I feel like Odysseus, having to start all over again after the winds were released, grinding through all the miles and muscle aches again.

    I want to thank you, and Joe Rogan, who’s podcast led me to this page. I listened to your description of the Iboga experience.  I’m certainly interested taking that path.

    As for the next book on your list, it looks like it will be Carlos Castaneda. I’ve read a couple of his other works, and I like his style.  I’ll let you know when I finish it.

    Regards from Seoul

  • aubreymarcus

    Resistance is a wiley beast, this time when you kill it, kick it to make sure its dead. And then drive a sword through its heart where it lay, just in case it tries to get up. Good luck and happy journeys brother