Book Review: The War of Art

Book: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Size: 190 pages
Publisher: Black Irish Entertainment LLC (January 11, 2012)
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Category:  Non-Fiction, creativity and success

Summary: Mr. Pressfield describes resistance as any act that rejects immediate gratification for long-term growth.  Resistance is a dragon that seeks to destroy. Learn to recognize the many forms it takes, learn tips and tricks to choose to defeat it every day. Do the work – accept no excuses and be the person you were meant to be.

My Review: Chandler Bolt from Self-Publishing School  recently hosted an event with 44 authors.   When one author after another recommends the same book, The War of Art –  I listen. This book did not disappoint. I’ve added it to my top ten books on writing   – right up there with Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Steven King.

 

What I liked

• The layout of the book.  It’s broken into three sections. The first section defines resistance.  The second talks about how to beat it, and the third how to live now that you’ve beat it.
• Instead of long chapters, each page or so has a topic relating to resistance. It made the book a quick read. But don’t let that fool you  – there are so many nuggets I intend to read it every year for the foreseeable future.

What I didn’t like

• There is some swearing. Not a lot, and it didn’t bother me. But, something to be aware of.
• His spiritual views don’t align with mine. Like a buffet, I took what was helpful for me and left the rest.

Quotes: It’s hard to choose just a few!

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”

“…as we give birth to ourselves, to that person we were born to be, to the one whose destiny was encoded in our soul.”

“The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing her work.”

“If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don’t do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet.”

“Be happy. You’re where you wanted to be, aren’t you? So you’re taking a few blows. That’s the price for being in the arena and not on the sidelines. Stop complaining and be grateful.”

I would recommend this book to: Any writer needing motivation or inspiration.  The concepts would transfer to anyone who wants change or has unfulfilled dreams.

Sum it up: “Steven Pressfield shows readers how to identify, defeat, and unlock the inner barriers to creativity.  The War of Art is an inspirational, funny, well-aimed kick in the pants guaranteed to galvanize every would-be artist, visionary, or entrepreneur.” (back cover)