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931 reviews for:
The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
Ryan Holiday
3.86 AVERAGE
931 reviews for:
The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
Ryan Holiday
3.86 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I started to gather some of Ryan Holiday's books, not because I was interested in Stoicism, but because he showed up on my feed a few times under "personal transformation".
The Obstacle is The Way wasn't the first book I picked up; however, when a video announced that a tenth-anniversary revision of this book was coming out and that there was going to be a limited run of first edition, I decided it was worth the investment for something that seems to have changed a lot of people's mind, even though when it was first released, not many people gave it the time of day (a la Goodreads Choice Awards, where Girlboss won, but the book became irrelevant to today's standards).
What I got from this book was something I practiced many years ago, but I felt on the sidelines because I became "comfortable" with what I was doing or because my goals have shifted, so I don't feel like the path that I'm on isn't as obstacle-heavy as it once was. What the revised version of the book does is to pull in some recent events that occurred and apply the author's thoughts about how to overcome obstacles. (A quick example, using Taylor Swift and her re-recording of her own Master's, which created the Eras tours.)
Now, I never did pick up the original edition (even though it was tempted to do so), so I don't know the differences between that one and this revised one. Still, I am glad to have this in my personal library and would love to re-read this every year, to remind myself that obstacles aren't necessarily a bad thing. I do enjoy that the author laid out the facts, without inserting himself or his personal experiences into this, but to provide public examples of what he's trying to do.
I'm excited to read the rest of Ryan Holdiay's books.
The Obstacle is The Way wasn't the first book I picked up; however, when a video announced that a tenth-anniversary revision of this book was coming out and that there was going to be a limited run of first edition, I decided it was worth the investment for something that seems to have changed a lot of people's mind, even though when it was first released, not many people gave it the time of day (a la Goodreads Choice Awards, where Girlboss won, but the book became irrelevant to today's standards).
What I got from this book was something I practiced many years ago, but I felt on the sidelines because I became "comfortable" with what I was doing or because my goals have shifted, so I don't feel like the path that I'm on isn't as obstacle-heavy as it once was. What the revised version of the book does is to pull in some recent events that occurred and apply the author's thoughts about how to overcome obstacles. (A quick example, using Taylor Swift and her re-recording of her own Master's, which created the Eras tours.)
Now, I never did pick up the original edition (even though it was tempted to do so), so I don't know the differences between that one and this revised one. Still, I am glad to have this in my personal library and would love to re-read this every year, to remind myself that obstacles aren't necessarily a bad thing. I do enjoy that the author laid out the facts, without inserting himself or his personal experiences into this, but to provide public examples of what he's trying to do.
I'm excited to read the rest of Ryan Holdiay's books.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Boring and too slow, seemed as a research book by that I mean: the author made a statement and then gave an “example” but didn’t explain what to do about it. I didn’t hate it thought because it kinda made sense, and it made me think but it’s too heavy to go thru, it took me longer than it should have.
Pretty good. Had some really good chapters, some not so good ones. Pretty average, but did get some good stuff out of it.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
A pretty good introductory text on what amounts to Stoicism
The author doesn't really claim this is a book of Stoicism, but the philosophy and practice it sets forth amounts to Stoicism. This is a fairly good introduction to Stoicism. Worth reading as an introduction, but not really breaking any new ground . . .
The author doesn't really claim this is a book of Stoicism, but the philosophy and practice it sets forth amounts to Stoicism. This is a fairly good introduction to Stoicism. Worth reading as an introduction, but not really breaking any new ground . . .
This book carries an important message. Speaking from my own experiences, some of my greatest breakthroughs in life have come from facing obstacles, sometimes major ones, and recognizing the opportunities that they provide.
The Obstacle Is the Way invites us to see these obstacles as opportunities for growth and has prompted me to continue to look critically at challenges that I encounter in my life so that I can see the gifts that they carry more clearly.
I thought the book was well written and I enjoyed learning more about how famous historical figures thrived when confronted with seemingly impossible obstacles. Though, the book wasn't as well-rounded as I would have liked. I would have liked to have seen a wider range of people represented in the examples, most notably women.
While the philosophical aspects came through loud and clear, The Obstacle Is the Way wasn't quite as practical as I would have liked. I think I would have been able to relate to its message in a more practical way if it focused more on the stories of lesser-known heroes living lives more similar to my own.
Overall it was a solid read that shifted my perspective in a positive way.
The Obstacle Is the Way invites us to see these obstacles as opportunities for growth and has prompted me to continue to look critically at challenges that I encounter in my life so that I can see the gifts that they carry more clearly.
I thought the book was well written and I enjoyed learning more about how famous historical figures thrived when confronted with seemingly impossible obstacles. Though, the book wasn't as well-rounded as I would have liked. I would have liked to have seen a wider range of people represented in the examples, most notably women.
While the philosophical aspects came through loud and clear, The Obstacle Is the Way wasn't quite as practical as I would have liked. I think I would have been able to relate to its message in a more practical way if it focused more on the stories of lesser-known heroes living lives more similar to my own.
Overall it was a solid read that shifted my perspective in a positive way.
Company book club pick.
This book serves as a good introduction to Stoicism, and it contains some memorable quotes and examples from history. That said, this book didn’t feel very actionable, which is what I primarily look for in self-help books. It merely shared vague clichés such as “live in the present” and “think differently.” I kept catching myself thinking, “Okay, cool. How do I go about that?”
This book serves as a good introduction to Stoicism, and it contains some memorable quotes and examples from history. That said, this book didn’t feel very actionable, which is what I primarily look for in self-help books. It merely shared vague clichés such as “live in the present” and “think differently.” I kept catching myself thinking, “Okay, cool. How do I go about that?”
Looking for a bit of motivation to get the year started the right way.