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Summary: Don't start this book unless you can finish it all at once
Review: ...because once you crack it, you will end up reading the whole thing, cover to cover. Never have I read a book that I felt was written *for me* the way this one was. Many books on this subject tend to be flowery, fluffy drivel that implores you to "find your inner child" or some other pretentious [stuff]. This book is the opposite. It's about shutting up, sitting down and doing the work that is your art, whatever that is.I was in tears more than once. Absolutely amazing book that should be read by anyone who ever wants to do *anything*.
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Summary: Will knock writer's block to pieces & get you back to work
Review: Are you creative, yet are facing writer's block? Read this book and it'll shake your block loose and help set you free!
In this slim volume Stephen Pressfield discusses the inner naysayer we all have within us, also referred to as an inner critic by most writers.This book helps you identify and defeat the negative self talk any creative person must deal with. It does so in a serious tone, sprinkled with lots of humor. For example, the heading of one of his essays is "How To Be Miserable" - it was an essay that had me chuckling. It also had me nodding my head as I recognized myself in what he wrote.
Written using a variety of short essays, this book is easy to pick up and read at any point. I read it from the first page to the last, in order. You don't necessarily need to do that to benefit from Stephen Pressfield's wisdom about the inner struggle creative people face from day to day. Read from beginning to end does have it's advantages though -- the author takes aim at resistance, procrastination, rationalization, and finally at the end winning the war. When we win the war of art we are free to create, free to be truly happy.
This is one of the best books I've read on the subject. It helped me identify my own foibles then smash the blocks holding me back. I saw myself in each page and triumphed along with the author. This is an excellent book for any creative person. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: The best book for getting you to get yourself in your studio
Review: As a full time artist and past art professor, I recommend this book more than any other. My students agree that it is the BEST book to get us into our studios when we are in a slump and the best info around for keeping our attitude up and our art authentic. It is a winner. I've recommended it or given it to every artist I care about.
Rating:
Summary: The best book for getting you to get yourself in your studio
Review: As a full time artist and past art professor, I recommend this book more than any other. My students agree that it is the BEST book to get us into our studios when we are in a slump and the best info around for keeping our attitude up and our art authentic. It is a winner. I've recommended it or given it to every artist I care about.
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Summary: First Class, There's No Better Book On Writing
Review: Awesome. It is one of the best books on writing I have read and I have read many. He pounds the area that I have so much difficulty with: Resistance, which is the thing that everyday strives to keep me from writing my stories. Pressfield offers many helps here.
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Summary: Inspiration from a new perspective
Review: I picked up a copy of The War of Art after spying it on the shelf and bought it out of admiration for the author's previous works and out of curiosity about his angle on this subject. The War of Art seems akin to the likes of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. This is very good company to be in, in my opinion. The War of Art is a quick read and, for me, held some measure of inspiration on every page. The book's central theme is a look at the artist's (writer, painter, anyone's inner creative self) constant battle with the evil of what Pressfield personifies as Resistance. I found this particular perspective on a very familiar problem (packaged and addressed in other ways in the works I mentioned above) to be one that I could identify with and while in the course of reading it I found myself making adjustments to my thinking about my work. That's what we all hope for from books, I think, and only a few deliver on that. Pressfield designs an entertaining reading experience with this book, too. A great for instance is his use of a line from John Wayne in the classic western film The Searchers. I knew I'd met a kindred spirit.
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Summary: War of Art is a Work of Art
Review: I was blown away. I was awed. I was inspired. It's poetry, and if you're an artist, this book could speak to you like no other book you've ever read. I'm not a culty, joiner type person. I don't jump on a bandwagon easily. But I am now a huge fan of Steven Pressfield's book. As a writer who went through EVERYTHING Pressfield describes in this manual for self-defence against self-destruction, I can't recommend it more highly to anyone who wants to "be all that they can be."
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Summary: Platform For Today's Business & Living
Review: Platform For Today's Business and Living The $13 billion firm, Accenture, is currently telling us through its television ads "Because It's Not How Many Ideas You Have -- It's How Many You Make happen." "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield gives us the key -- on a day-to-day basis, for making those ideas happen -- whether you be writer, artist, high-tech entrepreneur, salesperson, school teacher, medical researcher, or investment banker-- whatever it is you do or want to do. Mr. Pressfield, author of "The Legend of Bagger Vance" gives us the wisdom of putting one foot in front of the other every single day and outlining the traits of a real professional -- and a complete individual who lives up to his or her potential. It is so simple that it is profound. This book should be /could be the platform for sound training and development in the business community -- especially as we continue to look for ways to increase productivity and nurture the most precious resource of any serious business --its people. If you are a parent, student, professional, artist, or retired person, this book is worth reading -- and not just once. I learned a number of years ago that if you want to create a habit or eliminate an undesirable one, it takes about six weeks of consistent, habitual behavior. If you want to jump start a positive direction for your life or endeavor I recommend setting aside 2 hours each week for six weeks to read Mr. Pressfield's gem cover-to-cover. Six weeks. 2 hours. 12 hours total to get out of whatever rut you are in and become excellent. If you are not in a rut -- read it anyway. You just might learn that you have not tapped your own potential --opening new doors of opportunity and fulfillment. It is not hard for me to envision firms like Nike, Accenture and others, once they discover "The War of Art," to begin using the book as one component in their training and development programs. Owners of entreprenuerial firms and individuals who round up a copy of this book will actually be enhancing the investment they have already made in themselves. Just as the act of breathing does not belong to any particular brand of religion or faith, the wisdom Mr. Pressfield conscisely arranges for us in "The War of Art" belongs to all of us, regardless of our personal faith or religious beliefs. All of us --with no exceptions. Like Accenture rightly says, . . . Its Not How Many Ideas You Have -- It's How Many You Make Happen. Greg Ford
Houston, Texas
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Summary: Brilliant and Deep
Review: Steven Pressfield's Book the "War of Art" is hands down, absolutely the best book of its kind in the self-improvement genre. This first class book should be required reading for everyone in Hollywood and any body who has to follow there own path. Mr. Pressfield has the uncanny and brilliant ability to simplify and comprehend a complex subject and distill it down to its finer points. The Subject? Combating the resistance of others and continuing on your own journey successfully, regardless of the obstacle. In other words he explains how to stay on your own heroes journey and live the life we need to live. Mr. Pressfield asks the reader what would you do if you knew you could not fail. From the mirrors on the cover to its last page you will find the book funny, insightful, deep, griping, forthright, and kind; just fantastic and outstanding in every way. This is an important book and you will not be disappointed.
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Summary: Engaging and Concise
Review: The beauty of this book is that it can be applied to a variety of endeavors in life. It is meant to be read many times for reflection and inspiration. Described as a self-help book, it isn't a sales brochure or rah-rah type of motivational book. Just a down to earth and qualtity read. I highly recommend.
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