Steven Pressfield's The War Of Art
The War of Art
Steven Pressfield has a colorful background. I believe that’s why I’m drawn to him and his book, The WAR of ART. He has worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout [I like that word, roustabout, reminds me of Elvis], attendant in a mental hospital, fruit-picker in Washington State, author and screenwriter.
As author he has written many fiction and non-fiction books, but the non-fiction book I want to talk about is, The War of Art. In this book Pressfield discusses the many patterns of resistance or lack of enthusiasm an ‘artist’ faces as they chase their dreams and goals.
I use the word artist to define anyone in pursuit of their life’s passion. It could be an entrepreneur, athlete, or anyone else trying to overcome hurdles, obstacles or challenges that appear to be holding them back or holding them down. …show more content…
I’ve read the book multiple times and each time it has delivered a different message at different level of intensity to me. I’d like to share three of these messages with you.
The last time I read the book, right out of the gate on page 16 he asked, “Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture?” When I read that, for maybe the fourth time, I realized he was speaking directly to me on so many levels. I was a writer, who was not writing. You are reading a by-product of part of what Pressfield’s book help bring to reality.
Later in the book on the bottom of page 61 he makes a most brilliant observation. “It is commonplace among artists and children at play that they're not aware of time or solitude while they're chasing their vision. The hours fly.” When I write the day passes and the sunsets. I’ve gone from morning coffee to needing to eat dinner. “The hours
Steven Pressfield has a colorful background. I believe that’s why I’m drawn to him and his book, The WAR of ART. He has worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout [I like that word, roustabout, reminds me of Elvis], attendant in a mental hospital, fruit-picker in Washington State, author and screenwriter.
As author he has written many fiction and non-fiction books, but the non-fiction book I want to talk about is, The War of Art. In this book Pressfield discusses the many patterns of resistance or lack of enthusiasm an ‘artist’ faces as they chase their dreams and goals.
I use the word artist to define anyone in pursuit of their life’s passion. It could be an entrepreneur, athlete, or anyone else trying to overcome hurdles, obstacles or challenges that appear to be holding them back or holding them down. …show more content…
I’ve read the book multiple times and each time it has delivered a different message at different level of intensity to me. I’d like to share three of these messages with you.
The last time I read the book, right out of the gate on page 16 he asked, “Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture?” When I read that, for maybe the fourth time, I realized he was speaking directly to me on so many levels. I was a writer, who was not writing. You are reading a by-product of part of what Pressfield’s book help bring to reality.
Later in the book on the bottom of page 61 he makes a most brilliant observation. “It is commonplace among artists and children at play that they're not aware of time or solitude while they're chasing their vision. The hours fly.” When I write the day passes and the sunsets. I’ve gone from morning coffee to needing to eat dinner. “The hours