The War of Art

Deceptively simple, profoundly comprehensive and decidedly effective.

Resistance...oh, boy. A killer...of manifesting so many plans, dreams, hopes. Immediately attracted to The War of Art when I came across it, I was then so frustratingly resistant to overcoming my Resistance that I kept avoiding reading it. I kept it on my night table so I wouldn't forget it was there. Then I forced myself to read a little at a time. I began to recognize how Resistance does its work in so many aspects of my life, and the harder I tried to avoid reading further, the more I knew I had found a true ally in my battle to come to terms with the force of Resistance that stood in my way. Steven Pressfield's style in laying out the battle plans for the War of Art is straightforward, clear, respectful, hopeful and truly effective. I am sincerely grateful for his willingness to share his experience and insight with the rest of us poor slobs who struggle to express our art, whatever that art might be. "Just do it" sounds so easy, but we all know how difficult it is to do just that. This powerful little book illuminates the Enemy and teaches us strategies in how to set free our individual ability to meet Resistance on a daily basis and kick its ass. I'm not only painting again, I've started writing the novel that's been living in my head for years. The best part, though, is that I finally realize that it is not the end result that is important...it really is the day-to-day doing of the work that matters and is so satisfying. If you don't read any other "motivational" book in your life, read this one.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Help for the self-destructive

Steven Pressfield's historical novels are well-researched, vividly imagined, and satisfyingly dramatic. Having read THE WAR OF ART, I now understand why. Pressfield has learned how to defeat (or at least to battle to a stand-still) what he calls "resistance," that self-defeating, self-destructive negative energy residing within all of us, the negative energy that defeats would-be writers, dieters, addicts, students, artists, entrepreneurs, heroes, and change-agents many times. "Resistance," says Pressfield, "cannot be reasoned with. It understands nothing but power. It is an engine of destruction, programmed from the factory with one object only: to prevent us from doing our work. Resistance is implacable, intractable, indefatigable. Reduce it to a single cell and that cell will continue to attack." Worse, "The more important a call or action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it."

This is more than mere writer's block; it is the fear we experience when we strive to reach a high plane of being. If you go low, decide to end your work as an artist and go into a career in advertising, Pressfield says you have nothing to worry about, resistance will not hinder you.

Pressfield's book reminds me a bit of Emerson's "Self-Reliance." Emerson said that our desire to conform and be one of the gang combined with our desire for consistency of self to prevent us from realizing our potential. Pressfield recognizes the power of social pressure: losers want to hang with other losers, so they sabotage anyone who tries to rise above.

He also gives us advice--avoid trouble, whether it arrives in the guise of consumerism or intoxicants: "The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing her work. The working artist banishes from her world all sources of trouble. She harnesses the urge for trouble and transforms it in her work." So, don't smoke dope, don't get drunk, don't allow the world to be too much with you, getting and spending, lest you lay waste your powers.

But even when you understand the power of resistance, it does not die easily. The way to kill it is with work, hard work, sometimes unrewarded hard work, the work done for its own sake, the work the artist must do to achieve his vision. That sounds about right.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic!

With most books I would recommend, I am glad to have learned something new but with this book, I almost want to write the author and thank him for writing this wonderful book that has changed so many lives. There are a few books which qualify as a game-changer and this is one of them. The author gets down to the very core of why we don't achieve success and what we can do to ultimately triumph. Also, I have to compliment the author for a book that is totally lacking in fluff. The book is short and sweet and a person could read it in one evening if necessary.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I am probably the last person on Earth to read, let alone praise a 'you can do it', 'just try your best' self-help book. But this one surprised me. The author clearly has faced down the demons of doubt and distraction that plague most aspiring writers. I was shocked by how much of the book rang true for me. This is an excellent work that just might help get you off your feet and on your butt so you can finally get some writing done. It certainly helped me. I'm a published author now and I have to give a little bit of the credit to this fine book that I might have arrogantly condemned 'without reading' once upon a time. The text is tight so it's a quick read. At times the author gets a bit too hocus pocus for my tastes, but that's okay. He makes strong points and offers invaluable advice. Read it and start writing, today! Guy P. Harrison, author of 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God 'Prometheus Books'

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended

I've recommended this book to every writer I know and bought multiple copies for gifts. Pressfield's book will nail your inner procrastinator. You'll cringe as you recognize yourself on his pages. But best of all...you'll be a better writer (and person) for having read his book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good read

A strong read. Every lazy person should read this.

Highly Recommended!

A buddy at the gym- a writer - suggested this book to me since I had been working on a book project and was treading water. It changed my life. A cliché perhaps, but no less true. This book got my hand moving and turned me into a 'professional'. I am so grateful that I've sent 5 copies to friends. This book isn't just for writers. If you have anything important you want to accomplish, this book will show you how to get it done. It's the real deal.

A blueprint for us to create a genuine masterpiece!

Replace the word Art with life and you have a book that anyone can use to create greatness in whatever medium they choose. For me, this book is like the bible for creating anything in this world. A great read!

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

We were introducing ourselves to new members in my writers group and I spontaneously introduced myself as a writer of many genres who knows my work is good but has an inner sabateur that won't let me take my work to the next level and send it out to publishers. Someone in the group said, "You know, there's a wonderful book that addresses that," and recommended this book to me. I was skeptical, with my full-time job and full-plate life, that I'd even find the time to read the book, but lo and behold, a friend in the group purchased it for me as a gift. I had to take my son somewhere and kill some time, so I started reading it in the car. Every word seemed to have been written directly to me. I was able to put it down and pick it up again whenever I could, but I found it near impossible to put down. And when I finished it, everyone in my writers group wanted to read it and so it is currently being passed from writer to writer.

This book is like a Bible for creative souls. Because it is written in concise, easy-to-digest chapters, even readers with ADD or busy schedules can tackle it. I highly recommend that anyone who has ever encountered resistence to anything that they have wanted to do in their life read this book!

What's stopping you?

Whether you've got writers' block or just have trouble staying on a diet (I have both of these problems,) this book's for you. Steven Pressfield's book is concise with teeny, tiny chapters, but he covers the concept of resistance with the details that can only come from having been there himself. He is absolutely correct in stating procrastination is an act of victimhood and passive agressiveness. The answers are so simple: show up every day no matter what, stay committed for the long haul, take the task seriously, master techniques, have a sense of humor. Simple yet simply brilliant.

Engage your creative blocks

This book is not a panacea. It won't make you happy, successful, and fit in five days or less. You may not even agree with everything in it---I certainly didn't. But it's short, tough-minded, and it'll make you think. What, and who, do you want to be? Where do you stand with your unlived potential? What can you do about it? What are you *willing* to do about it? While Steven Pressfield focuses a bit more on answering these questions in an artist's life, he leaves them open for exploration in a variety of situations. And they're the kind of questions that everyone would benefit from asking themselves at least once, and perhaps several times, in the course of their lives.

A genuine kick in the butt

Fabulous and inspiring - Pressfield dissects the countless ways we run away from our true calling in life. He labels this "resistance" and tells us how to beat it. If you're an expert procrastinator, this book is for you.

Stumped? Read this.

What a surprising and helpful book! It is an irreverent, funny, interesting, thoughtful and touching guide to getting in touch with and removing our obstacles to achievement. Whether you are an artist seeking your muse or just trying to improve the quality of your life there are many lessons that will serve you. Pressfield's occasional use of vulgar language and examples may make some readers abandon the book and I urge you to stick with it and go for the wisdom. This is a book you want to own, write notes in and go back to for reminders about recognizing resistance and working through it. I have recommended it to friends, family and students and will continue to do so.

Not for general public

If you are looking for a book on general procrastination, it is not the book for you. Book focuses on procrastination issue for writers and artists only.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

My favorite all time book about creative-thinking is 'Thinkertoys' by Michael Michalko which opens each chapter with a Sun Tzu quote, so when I came across this book with my old friend Sun Tzu referenced, I bought it, and I'm glad I did. It's terrific

Awesome book, a kick in the pants!

One of the best books I have ever read on the subject of procrastination and creativity. It was recommended by none other than the Rich Dad himself, Robert Kiyosaki. He said it was just what he needed to get himself moving at the time. I found it to be the kick in the pants I needed to get the job done. Thank you for taking the time to write this book and allowing yourself to be an instrument of the Gods!

Ignore the negatives

this is a great pep talk that's hits home at almost every line. If you like J. Cameron's often airy-fairy approach fine, but this is earthy gold.

I recommend this book to everyone.

This is a book I recommend to nearly everyone I meet. I must be responsible for a pyramid of Pressfield's book sales. Whether a mechanic, a cook, a lawyer, an artist, all said it improved their life and business activity. Essential reading even if you've read other self-help/metaphysical books.

A book for all human beings!

I have read many books on writing, the most influential being Bob McKee's STORY, but I had a hard time mustering my courage and inspiration. THE WAR OF ART changed all that. With the rish of sounding cliche, but this little book turned my life around! He is intricate and yet straightforward with the questions and answers. It goes beyond writing and art. There is deep psychological, sociological, spiritual, and metaphysic analysis going on here. Pressfield is a genius and he has produced the one book we have all been waiting for. If the book won't teach you how to be inspired, the book does it on its own.

Don't waste your money on this one

Pressfield's information feels like rehashed material from better books by authors who have a far more impressive list of books to their name. I recommend the Sol Stein books, or the Cameron books on creativity, any of the solid writing books out there over this. This is simply a clever title with little behind it.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.