:: entering 2013 I set myself a personal challenge: read 52 books this year. why? if you read well you write well. read the book list here ::
“The War of Art: Break Through the Block and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” (TWOA) by Steven Pressfield is an absolute favourite of mine (previously shared some quotes from it here and here). Having originally read it last year, I decided it was time to pick it up and read it again.
TWOA is a book for not just the creative, but for people in general. Why? Because Pressfield deals with Resistance – something all of us face in life, no matter what it is we’re graced with. Broken into three books, Pressfield explores:
+ Book One: Resistance – Defining the Enemy;
+ Book Two: Combating Resistance – Turning Pro;
+ Book Three: Beyond Resistance – The Higher Realm
More than Resistance it looks at ego, self, and so much more. There are also historic examples used:
“You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. At eighteen he took his inheritance…and moved to Vienna to study…Ever seen one of his paintings? Neither have I. Resistance beat him. Call it overstatement but I’ll say it anyway: it was easier for Hitler to start World War II than it was for him to face a blank square canvas.”
Wow.
TWOA is not for the light hearted. Sure, it’s inspiration to the core and you’ll find many creatives listing it as their ‘must read’ and highly prized book. But truth be told, this book will kick your butt bigtime as he illuminates the lies behind your procrastination.
And if that wasn’t enough, to end Pressfield pens the below quote:
“Are you a born writer? Were you put on earth to be a painter, a scientist, an apostle of peace? In the end the question can only be answered by action. Do it or don’t do it. It may help to think of it this way. If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don’t do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet.
You shame the angels who watch over you and you spite the Almighty, who created you and only you with your unique gifts, for the sole purpose of nudging the human race one millimeter farther along its path back to God.
Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution.
Give us what you’ve got.”
If that doesn’t inspire and move you to action, I’m not really sure what will. Ha.
// Purchase The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles here
