“Most of us have 2 lives, ‘the life we live’ and the ‘un-lived life within us’!”
Steven Pressfield
My goodness does this small book pack a powerful punch!!
Do you have creative ideas and projects that never surfaced into reality!?
I am so grateful that the hard-hitting book ‘The War of Art’ by Steven Pressfield has helped me to make a creative idea that I have procrastinated on for years to ‘become a reality’!
This is in the shape of a video series I have been working on called “The Keys to Fulfilment!” which I am pleased to say will be officially launched next month!
Sometimes we all need a good kick up the backside to get ourselves moving in the direction of our dreams! This book was the kick I needed – thank you Steven Pressfield!
By the way, Pressfield, was already a hero of mine before I read this book, because as an accomplished fictional writer he wrote the wonderful book ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’ which is a play on words for the ancient Hindu spiritual book known as ‘The Bhagavad Gita’.
The book was a huge success, however, Pressfield initially struggled to translate his idea into a written book, until he applied the mindset and the practical steps that he outlines in this book!!
Before I continue with summarising the main book, on a very interesting side note on ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’ written by Pressfield was so successful that it was made into a movie starring 2 Hollywood superstars Matt Damon and Will Smith.
The film is set in the 1940s after world war 2, presents the same characters that feature in the ancient spiritual text ‘The Bhagavad Gita’.
Matt Damon plays Juna (Arjuna) who has lost his way on the battlefield of life, in the film he is a former top amateur golfer who was the sole survivor of a squadron of soldiers, the central heroic character that we can all relate to as he struggles to overcome the traumas of ‘being human’. And Will Smith plays his guide the divine Krishna in the form of a golf caddy.
PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING GREAT SHORT VIDEO CLIPS from the film ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’.
For anyone who likes golf and spiritual growth these 3 short clips are profound metaphors…..
Clip 1 Authentic Swing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=git61nISYK8
Clip 2 – Seeing ‘The Field’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0vZrrnmyYE
Clip 3 – I can’t do this! (War Memories – PTSD). Time to let go of your old identity and be your authentic self – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWhPLnu4Wg4
Now back to the main book “The War of Art’! …
I was recommended it by a musician I know who after reading it was able break out of procrastination to transform a creative idea (where most ideas stay) into REALITY. Subsequently the book has helped me in the same way and I would heartily recommend the book to anyone who is inspired to do something authentic and meaningful that they believe in.
Book Review Summary:
At just over 150 pages, it can be read in a single sitting, yet the ideas stay with you far longer.
This review provides a summary of the book’s arguments, an exploration of its central themes, an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses, and reflections on its relevance to contemporary readers.
Structure and Overview
The book is divided into three main sections:
- Book One: Resistance – Defining the Enemy
- Book Two: Combating Resistance – Turning Pro
- Book Three: Beyond Resistance – The Higher Realm
Each section consists of short, aphoristic chapters, often just a page or two long, giving the text a rhythmic and almost martial cadence. This format mirrors the author’s intention: to speak directly, without ornamentation, to the heart of the creative struggle.
Part One: Resistance – Defining the Enemy
At the core of *The War of Art* is the idea of Resistance. Pressfield personifies it as a universal, invisible force that rises up whenever we attempt to pursue meaningful, creative, or growth-oriented work. Resistance manifests as procrastination, self-doubt, fear, perfectionism, distraction, or rationalisation.
Importantly, Resistance is:
- Insidious: It will take any form to derail us.
- Impersonal: It is not unique to one person; everyone faces it.
- Infallible: Resistance unfailingly points to what we most need to do.
- Strongest near the finish line: The closer we come to completing meaningful work, the more intense Resistance becomes.
Pressfield likens Resistance to an enemy in battle — relentless, cunning, and merciless. But he also suggests that by learning to recognize it, we can use its presence as a compass. If we feel strong Resistance toward an activity, that may be the very thing we are most called to pursue.
Part Two: Combating Resistance – Turning Pro
If Part One diagnoses the problem, Part Two prescribes the cure: professionalism.
Pressfield contrasts the “amateur” with the “professional.”
The amateur is inconsistent, waits for inspiration, and crumbles under criticism or failure.
The professional shows up every day, does the work regardless of mood, and separates their identity from their output.
For Pressfield, turning pro is less about career status and more about mindset. It means:
- Committing to the work as a lifelong practice.
- Developing discipline and routine.
- Accepting delayed gratification and repeated failure.
- Treating the creative calling with seriousness and respect.
He writes that the professional is patient, resilient, and humble. By demystifying creativity, Pressfield strips away romantic notions of waiting for the muse and instead emphasises persistence, grit, and craft.
Part Three: Beyond Resistance – The Higher Realm
In the final section, Pressfield shifts gears from practical advice to a more spiritual or metaphysical exploration of creativity. He invokes the **Muse**, angels, and higher powers as sources of inspiration.
Here, the argument is that creativity is not merely self-expression but participation in something transcendent. By doing the work and showing up with discipline, we align ourselves with these higher forces. The act of creation thus becomes both an individual duty and a spiritual calling.
This section draws on classical ideas of divine inspiration, as well as Pressfield’s own mystical convictions. For some readers, this spiritual language is deeply moving; for others, it may feel esoteric or less persuasive. Nevertheless, it underscores Pressfield’s belief that creativity matters not just personally but cosmically.
Key Themes
- Resistance as Universal and Interna
The most enduring idea in the book is that Resistance is not a sign of weakness or lack of talent but a fundamental part of the creative process. Everyone encounters it; what matters is how we respond. - Discipline Over Inspiration
By redefining creativity as a practice rather than a mystery, Pressfield empowers readers. Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, we must show up consistently, much like a soldier reporting for duty. - Identity Shift: Amateur to Professional
The metaphor of “turning pro” resonates widely because it reframes creative work as a serious vocation rather than a hobby. It calls for responsibility, courage, and persistence. - The Spiritual Dimension of Creativity
Pressfield insists that the creative act is not solely personal but part of a larger, even divine, order. This theme elevates artmaking from a private indulgence to a contribution to humanity.
The reason the book works so well is BECAUSE it lives up to the message within it which is to be steadily relentless in the face of the inevitable resistance that you will face when attempting to do anything meaningful in your life!
- Clarity and Directness
The short chapters and forceful prose make the book highly readable.
Its brevity ensures that every page delivers an insight. - Universal Relevance
While aimed at artists and writers, the ideas apply to entrepreneurs, athletes, students, or anyone striving toward meaningful goals. - Empowering Framework
By naming and personifying Resistance, Pressfield gives readers a way to externalize and confront their inner struggles. - Balance of Pragmatic and Inspirational
The middle section grounds the book in discipline and routine, while the final section uplifts with a sense of higher purpose.
Relevance and Applications
More than two decades since its publication, ‘The War of Art’ continues to resonate because its core insights remain timeless: the hardest part of meaningful work is not the work itself but overcoming the resistance to begin and persist.
In an age of digital distraction, instant gratification, and endless entertainment options, Resistance has more weapons than ever. The book’s call to discipline, professionalism, and higher purpose feels especially urgent today.
For anyone trying to CREATE ANYTHING MEANINGFUL, this book is a great reminder that talent is secondary to persistence. For entrepreneurs, it reframes innovation as a battle against inertia. For anyone seeking personal growth, it names the invisible force that keeps us stuck and offers a way forward.
Personal and Practical Takeaways
- Recognise that the urge to procrastinate or avoid meaningful work is universal and predictable.
- Use Resistance as a compass: the greater the fear or avoidance, the more important the task likely is.
- Commit to daily practice — treat creative work like a job, not a hobby.
- Separate identity from output: you are not your work; you are the one who shows up to do the work.
- See creativity as service, not just self-expression. Aligning with a higher purpose can reduce ego-driven fears.
Conclusion
‘The War of Art’ endures because it captures a simple but profound truth: the hardest war we fight is the one within ourselves. By naming Resistance and prescribing professionalism, Pressfield gives readers both a diagnosis and a cure. The book does not provide a detailed roadmap but instead offers a rallying cry — a manifesto to show up, sit down, and do the work.
Ultimately, ‘The War of Art’ is less a manual and more a mirror.
It confronts readers with the reality of their own avoidance and dares them to step into their true creative potential. Its brevity makes it a book to return to repeatedly, each time discovering a new edge in the fight against Resistance.