The Obstacle is the Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller The Obstacle is the Way has become a cult classic, beloved by men and women around the world who apply its wisdom to become more successful at whatever they do.
Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men's basketball team. The book draws its inspiration from stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring pain or adversity with perseverance and resilience. Stoics focus on the things they can control, let go of everything else, and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, tougher. As Marcus Aurelius put it nearly 2000 years ago: "The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." Ryan Holiday shows us how some of the most successful people in history--from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs--have applied stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. Their embrace of these principles ultimately mattered more than their natural intelligence, talents, or luck. If you're feeling frustrated, demoralized, or stuck in a rut, this book can help you turn your problems into your biggest advantages. And along the way it will inspire you with dozens of true stories of the greats from every age and era.
Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men's basketball team. The book draws its inspiration from stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring pain or adversity with perseverance and resilience. Stoics focus on the things they can control, let go of everything else, and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, tougher. As Marcus Aurelius put it nearly 2000 years ago: "The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." Ryan Holiday shows us how some of the most successful people in history--from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs--have applied stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. Their embrace of these principles ultimately mattered more than their natural intelligence, talents, or luck. If you're feeling frustrated, demoralized, or stuck in a rut, this book can help you turn your problems into your biggest advantages. And along the way it will inspire you with dozens of true stories of the greats from every age and era.
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Community Reviews
Life is tough so get used to it is the basic premise of this book. I think the ramones said it best “get tough or die” but the writer feels that it takes several pages of repetition to get his point across.
This is a great book for those who need motivation in their lives or examples of the ancients who persevered.
The long and short of it is that life is pain so get tough or it’s going to be lot more painful
This is a great book for those who need motivation in their lives or examples of the ancients who persevered.
The long and short of it is that life is pain so get tough or it’s going to be lot more painful
It has many real life examples , it suggests how to see a obstacle . But one thing that's missing is , it tells what to do but not how to do it (philosophically)
I have long been a fan of Ryan Holiday’s “The Daily Stoic.” Having read it consistently every day since January of 2020. I did not realize how pivotal it would be in helping me navigate the Pandemic. That book I thought was enough but then I was gifted this book and of course I have had so much more to learn.
It reminds me of an updated version of Robert Greene’s “48 Laws of Power.” More concise and to the point. Grouped neatly into three key sections that build neatly on each other. Its brevity is what helps make it sticky. Strong historical anecdotes set the scene and deep analysis give you actionable summaries. Holiday’s style is to move you to act not just be inspired.
This is a compelling book in the motivational category that is not burdened by the cliche and kitschy language of similar entries in this genre. Slowly, over the course of reading it the mantra will creep into and settle deep into your brain; The Obstacle is the Way! Or put another way, this is the way. The stoic, measured view on the world. I am looking forward to reading more by Holiday.
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