The War of Art | Steven Pressfield | Cliff Note Books
“The War of Art” is a book written by Steven Pressfield, published in 2002. The book explores the idea of resistance and how it prevents people from achieving their creative potential. Pressfield argues that resistance is a universal force that operates within us all and that it is the biggest obstacle to achieving our goals and fulfilling our potential.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part defines resistance and explains how it manifests itself in our lives. The second part discusses the characteristics of a professional, and how adopting a professional mindset can help overcome resistance. The third part explores the concept of the Muse, which Pressfield describes as a source of inspiration that comes to those who are open to it.
Throughout the book, Pressfield provides numerous examples and anecdotes from his own life and from the lives of other successful artists and writers. He argues that the key to overcoming resistance is to adopt a professional mindset, which involves treating creative work as a job and showing up every day to do the work, regardless of whether or not one feels inspired.
Overall, “The War of Art” is a motivational and practical guide for anyone who wants to pursue a creative endeavor, whether it be writing, painting, or starting a business. It provides insights into the nature of resistance and offers strategies for overcoming it in order to achieve success and fulfillment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Resistance is the biggest obstacle to creative work: Resistance is a powerful force that prevents us from doing the work that we know we should be doing. It can manifest itself in many ways, including procrastination, self-doubt, and fear.
Adopt a professional mindset: To overcome resistance, we need to approach our creative work as a professional. This means showing up every day to do the work, regardless of whether or not we feel inspired. It also means taking responsibility for our own success and treating creative work as a job.
Create a daily routine: Establishing a daily routine is essential for overcoming resistance. By setting aside a specific time and place for creative work, we can develop a habit of showing up and doing the work.
Focus on the process, not the outcome: To overcome resistance, we need to focus on the process of creating, rather than the outcome. This means letting go of our attachment to success or failure, and simply enjoying the act of creating.
Embrace failure: Failure is an inevitable part of the creative process. Instead of fearing failure, we should embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Find your inner Muse: The Muse is a source of inspiration that comes to those who are open to it. By developing a relationship with our inner Muse, we can tap into a source of creative energy and inspiration.
AUTHOR
Steven Pressfield is an American author, screenwriter, and former U.S. Marine. He was born on September 1943 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He grew up in a family of writers and artists and studied at Duke University and the University of California, where he earned a degree in English Literature.
After college, Pressfield worked as a copywriter and continued to write fiction in his spare time. His first novel, “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” was published in 1995 and was later adapted into a movie starring Will Smith and Matt Damon.
Pressfield has written several other novels, including “Gates of Fire,” which tells the story of the Spartan defense at Thermopylae, and “The Afghan Campaign,” which is set during Alexander the Great’s invasion of Afghanistan. He has also written non-fiction books on creativity and writing, including “The War of Art” and “Turning Pro.”
In addition to his writing, Pressfield has worked as a screenwriter and has written the screenplays for several movies, including “Kingdom of Heaven” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance.”
Pressfield is known for his focus on the creative process and the importance of overcoming resistance in order to achieve success. He has been called a “guru” of creativity by many writers and artists, and his books have been widely praised for their practical advice and inspiring insights.
Pressfield currently lives in Los Angeles, California, where he continues to write and work as a consultant for writers and artists.
QUOTES
“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”
“The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do.”
“The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like.”
“The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”
“To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.”
“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”
“The truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery. Those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them.”
“Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
CRITICISMS
While “The War of Art” has been widely praised for its motivational and practical advice, it has also faced some criticisms. Here are a few common criticisms of the book:
Oversimplification: Some critics argue that Pressfield oversimplifies the creative process and the role of Resistance. They suggest that the book’s focus on discipline and willpower may be helpful for some people, but does not take into account the complexity of the creative process or the individuality of each artist’s experience.
Lack of diversity: Some critics argue that the book’s examples and anecdotes are too heavily focused on white male artists and writers, and that it fails to address the unique challenges faced by women, people of color, and other marginalized groups in the creative world.
Self-help style: Some critics have criticized the book’s self-help style, arguing that it relies too heavily on motivational clichés and simplistic advice. They suggest that the book may be more appropriate for a general audience seeking inspiration rather than for serious artists and writers seeking more nuanced guidance.
Despite these criticisms, “The War of Art” has remained a popular and influential book, inspiring many people to overcome their own Resistance and pursue their creative goals.
SUMMARIES
Chapter 1: Resistance: The Enemy Within Pressfield introduces the concept of Resistance as the force that prevents us from doing the work we need to do. He argues that Resistance is the greatest enemy of creative work and that we must learn to identify and overcome it if we want to achieve success.
Chapter 2: Resistance and Procrastination Pressfield explores the relationship between Resistance and procrastination, arguing that procrastination is a form of Resistance. He offers strategies for overcoming procrastination and getting started on creative work.
Chapter 3: Resistance and Fear Pressfield discusses the role of fear in Resistance, arguing that fear is often the underlying cause of our resistance to creative work. He offers strategies for confronting and overcoming fear.
Chapter 4: Resistance and Self-Doubt Pressfield examines the role of self-doubt in Resistance, arguing that it is a natural part of the creative process but can also be a form of Resistance. He offers strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building self-confidence.
Chapter 5: Resistance and Victimhood Pressfield explores the role of victimhood in Resistance, arguing that it is a mindset that allows us to avoid taking responsibility for our own lives. He offers strategies for overcoming victimhood and taking control of our own lives.
Chapter 6: Resistance and Criticism Pressfield discusses the role of criticism in Resistance, arguing that we often use criticism as a way to avoid doing the work we need to do. He offers strategies for overcoming the fear of criticism and dealing with negative feedback.
Chapter 7: Resistance and Failure Pressfield examines the role of failure in Resistance, arguing that it is an inevitable part of the creative process. He offers strategies for embracing failure and using it as a learning experience.
Overall, Part One of “The War of Art” provides an introduction to the concept of Resistance and examines its various forms. Pressfield offers practical advice and strategies for identifying and overcoming Resistance in order to achieve success and fulfillment in our creative endeavors.
Chapter 8: The Amateur vs. The Professional Pressfield contrasts the mindset of the amateur with that of the professional, arguing that the professional treats their creative work as a job and shows up every day to do the work, regardless of whether or not they feel inspired.
Chapter 9: The Professional Mindset Pressfield provides a more detailed exploration of the professional mindset, including characteristics such as patience, perseverance, and the ability to handle criticism.
Chapter 10: The Territorial Orientation Pressfield discusses the idea of the artist as a warrior, guarding their creative territory against the forces of Resistance. He argues that we must establish boundaries and defend our creative work in order to overcome Resistance.
Chapter 11: The Hierarchical Orientation Pressfield examines the idea of the artist as a servant, using their creative work to serve a higher purpose. He argues that we must let go of our ego and our attachment to success in order to fully embrace the creative process.
Overall, Part Two of “The War of Art” offers strategies for adopting a professional mindset and overcoming Resistance through discipline, perseverance, and a willingness to serve a higher purpose.
Chapter 12: The Muse Pressfield explores the idea of the Muse, which he defines as a source of inspiration that comes to those who are open to it. He argues that we must cultivate a relationship with our inner Muse in order to tap into our creative potential.
Chapter 13: The Artist’s Life Pressfield offers a series of reflections on the life of the artist, including the need for discipline, the importance of embracing failure, and the role of the artist in society. He argues that the artist’s life is a journey of self-discovery and self-expression, and that we must embrace the challenges and rewards of this journey in order to fulfill our creative potential.
Overall, Part Three of “The War of Art” offers a more philosophical reflection on the nature of creativity and the artist’s role in society. Pressfield encourages us to embrace our creative potential and to cultivate a relationship with our inner Muse in order to overcome Resistance and achieve our creative goals.