A review by alphareads
Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

 

“While the history books are filled with tales of obsessive, visionary geniuses who remade the world in their image with sheer, almost irrational force, I’ve found that history is also made by individuals who fought their egos at every turn, who eschewed the spotlight, and who put their higher goals above their desire for recognition.” – from the Prologue

I have experienced a rollercoaster of wonderful news throughout the latter half of 2022 and the beginning of this year; I have attained some kinds of triumphs that feel unreal. And despite the fact that there are times when I get the feeling that I don't deserve them, there are other times when I am able to take a step back and bask in the grandeur of everything that I have accomplished up to this point. Although while the constant ups and downs of my feelings can be stressful at times, there are moments when I am grateful that I have former feeling in my life to keep my ego in check.

As Ryan Holiday puts it, 

“Ego is the enemy of what you want and of what you have: Of mastering a craft. Of real creative insight. Of working well with others. Of building loyalty and support. Of longevity. Of repeating and retaining your success. It repulses advantages and opportunities. It’s a magnet for enemies and errors. It is Scylla and Charybdis.”

"Ego Is the Enemy" is a book by Ryan Holiday that explores the negative effects of ego on individuals, businesses, and societies. Holiday argues that ego is the enemy of success and that it is important to be aware of its presence in our lives.

"Ego Is the Enemy" makes a strong case for how dangerous ego is and how important humility, self-awareness, and perseverance are for success.

Here are some of the lessons that can be gleaned from this book:

Ego is the Enemy: According to the author, ego is the enemy of success and achievement. It can cause us to become complacent, arrogant, and overconfident. In order to achieve true success, we need to keep our egos in check and focus on the work that needs to be done.

Be humble: Humility is an essential trait for success. It helps us to learn from our mistakes, seek feedback, and remain open to new ideas. The author argues that humility is the antidote to ego and is necessary for personal growth.

Failure is not the end: Failure is a natural part of the journey to success. The author encourages readers to embrace failure, learn from it, and move on. He argues that failure is not the end but a necessary step towards success.

This is a book that everyone should read in my opinion. It contains the author's extremely perceptive opinions about the topic, which can be helpful to you in your academic pursuits, in your professional life, or in any other path that you are pursuing in life. He uses examples from real life incidents that occurred throughout history of people who were unable to keep their egos in check and consequently lost everything they owned as a result. It also teaches great lessons on how to keep your ego in check, which is an important skill to have.