The war of art has been on my list for years, idk how many times I’ve heard Joe talk about it on his show. My reading time is almost non-existent these days though. Farm chores, work (for money), wife, kids, dogs, all good stuff, yet all things that keep me running…….love the write up. I’ll def add it to my list for when I slow down.
May I recommend listening to The War of Art on audiobook to start? It’s a quick listen and really engaging—Pressfield himself does the narration. It’s a great intro and you can decide to read either the physical copy or another one of his books next.
Wow. This definitely isn’t my usual cup of tea. But books about ‘being a man’ certainly are, & I’ve rarely read a review so enthusiastic. I’ll have to check this fellow out. Books that changed my life? Incredibly unfashionable now, but *Advertisements for Myself* by Norman Mailer. Perhaps I was young & impressionable.
He’s the most interesting writer I know of. No one else can write so well, & also so badly, sometimes in the course of a single paragraph. I hope you enjoy checking him out. The Pressfield book, meanwhile, is in order…
I am a fan of Pressfield's non-fiction, but like yourself I kind of dismissed the historical fiction, not really my genre. Now your raving review has forced me to reconsider.
I am a reader who values authors for not only their writing but for the different perspectives they can provide. Pressfield is definitely one of those authors. The way he thinks and writes is all framed in a way that I found myself thinking — holy crap, I never thought about it like THAT! This happened to me through War of Art and Bagger Vance.
Thank you for the impassioned review. I just love it when people find books they adore. I will buy Gates of Fire today.
No Spartan warrior would dare to return with wounds on his back. It meant he had fled.
Actually, did you know they didn’t call themselves ‘Spartans’? They were Lakedaimoni (see the inscription). Sparta is the name of the area. Just like ‘Trojans’ is not correct. The city as decribed by Homer was called ‘Ileum’ (hence the ‘Iliad’). The surrounding area was called Troia.
Dude, I can barely express my enthusiasm for this post! Pressfield, Gates of Fires, War of Art have had such a profound influence on me that it is even possible that Pressfield himself might recall having written “Molon Labe, to Juan, a fellow warrior in War of art” to me in the copy of War of art that I sent to him, lo those many years ago. I have often said --- to anyone who would listen and to many who didn’t, but I said it anyway -- Steven Pressfield wrote two of my favourite books (if not THE favourites). One was about the greatest Men who have ever lived; Gates of Fire. And the other -- about the greatest women who have never lived, “last of the Amazons”. If you are not yet familiar with it, I’ll say it is every bit as gut-churning and soul-stirring as is Gates of Fire.
I hope that signed copy is on full display on your mantle like mine is! 😂
I really appreciate your enthusiasm, glad there’s more of us out there. I have heard great things about “last if the amazons” and plan on getting to it as soon as I can. Have you read The Legend of Bagger Vance? It was the previous “maybe” best book I ever read before Gates of Fire dethroned it
Yes, I have read it, but it was long (ish) before reading War of Art, which is what led me to Gates of Fire. Legend of Bagger Vance never resonated with me, for some reason, even though I was an addicted golfer at the time. Strange.
It was a long time ago, it seems. But, as I recall, I had recently read "Golf in the Kingdom" by Michael Murphy and absolutely loved that one (only in my later learning years did I see the CIA-influenced, psychedelic, bullshittery of the Esalen Instiute which Murphy himself founded and thus made me suspect of my "admiration" of that book). I think that because of the (then) sway that "...Kingdom" had over my thinking, I did not give Bagger Vance sufficient thought. Still, after reading most of Pressfield's work, I wonder if he might agree that he did not really reach his maturity or his true "voice" until Gates of Fire? For me, that was the one (actually it was War of Art) so I'm sticking with it...
You've convinced me, John—I might take your advice and read this one.
The war of art has been on my list for years, idk how many times I’ve heard Joe talk about it on his show. My reading time is almost non-existent these days though. Farm chores, work (for money), wife, kids, dogs, all good stuff, yet all things that keep me running…….love the write up. I’ll def add it to my list for when I slow down.
May I recommend listening to The War of Art on audiobook to start? It’s a quick listen and really engaging—Pressfield himself does the narration. It’s a great intro and you can decide to read either the physical copy or another one of his books next.
A very good book indeed.
I've been saying the same for years. Excellent book.
Wow. This definitely isn’t my usual cup of tea. But books about ‘being a man’ certainly are, & I’ve rarely read a review so enthusiastic. I’ll have to check this fellow out. Books that changed my life? Incredibly unfashionable now, but *Advertisements for Myself* by Norman Mailer. Perhaps I was young & impressionable.
I don’t know much about Mailer’s work, I’ll need to check him out.
He’s the most interesting writer I know of. No one else can write so well, & also so badly, sometimes in the course of a single paragraph. I hope you enjoy checking him out. The Pressfield book, meanwhile, is in order…
Let me know your thoughts once you’ve read it!
I certainly will! It may be a little while, though, because someone just lent me David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest…
Melissa (Thinking Man’s co-creator) is a huge DFW fan. She’s written about his work here a few times. This is her latest one:
https://thinkingman.substack.com/p/would-you-do-it-if-no-one-was-watching
Many thanks! I’ll check that out. DFW is an odd fish: I’ll be glad to get some expert guidance.
I am a fan of Pressfield's non-fiction, but like yourself I kind of dismissed the historical fiction, not really my genre. Now your raving review has forced me to reconsider.
You definitely should reconsider!
One of my favorites, too!
I am a reader who values authors for not only their writing but for the different perspectives they can provide. Pressfield is definitely one of those authors. The way he thinks and writes is all framed in a way that I found myself thinking — holy crap, I never thought about it like THAT! This happened to me through War of Art and Bagger Vance.
Thank you for the impassioned review. I just love it when people find books they adore. I will buy Gates of Fire today.
If you like those two you’ll definitely appreciate Gates of Fire!
Haven’t read it but I did read the story of Thermopylae long before book and film.
There used to be a monument with an inscription (not sure if still there)
Ὦ ξεῖν’, ἀγγέλλειν Λακεδαιμονίοις ὅτι τῇδε κείμεθα, τοῖς κείνων ῥήμασι πειθόμενοι", meaning: "Stranger, tell Spartans that we lay here, staying faithful to Sparta’s laws."
Their motto was ‘With your shield (victorious) or on your shield (slain in battle.’
The name Ephialtes (who betrayed the Spartans) has been used as a symbol of betrayal throughout centuries.
That motto is in the book. Once I finished it I understood the significance of its meaning
No Spartan warrior would dare to return with wounds on his back. It meant he had fled.
Actually, did you know they didn’t call themselves ‘Spartans’? They were Lakedaimoni (see the inscription). Sparta is the name of the area. Just like ‘Trojans’ is not correct. The city as decribed by Homer was called ‘Ileum’ (hence the ‘Iliad’). The surrounding area was called Troia.
Yep the narrator referred to them as Lacedaemonians (I had to look that one up lol)
Dude, I can barely express my enthusiasm for this post! Pressfield, Gates of Fires, War of Art have had such a profound influence on me that it is even possible that Pressfield himself might recall having written “Molon Labe, to Juan, a fellow warrior in War of art” to me in the copy of War of art that I sent to him, lo those many years ago. I have often said --- to anyone who would listen and to many who didn’t, but I said it anyway -- Steven Pressfield wrote two of my favourite books (if not THE favourites). One was about the greatest Men who have ever lived; Gates of Fire. And the other -- about the greatest women who have never lived, “last of the Amazons”. If you are not yet familiar with it, I’ll say it is every bit as gut-churning and soul-stirring as is Gates of Fire.
I hope that signed copy is on full display on your mantle like mine is! 😂
I really appreciate your enthusiasm, glad there’s more of us out there. I have heard great things about “last if the amazons” and plan on getting to it as soon as I can. Have you read The Legend of Bagger Vance? It was the previous “maybe” best book I ever read before Gates of Fire dethroned it
Yes, I have read it, but it was long (ish) before reading War of Art, which is what led me to Gates of Fire. Legend of Bagger Vance never resonated with me, for some reason, even though I was an addicted golfer at the time. Strange.
It’s not the easiest read so I get it. I wonder if the movie is any good
It was a long time ago, it seems. But, as I recall, I had recently read "Golf in the Kingdom" by Michael Murphy and absolutely loved that one (only in my later learning years did I see the CIA-influenced, psychedelic, bullshittery of the Esalen Instiute which Murphy himself founded and thus made me suspect of my "admiration" of that book). I think that because of the (then) sway that "...Kingdom" had over my thinking, I did not give Bagger Vance sufficient thought. Still, after reading most of Pressfield's work, I wonder if he might agree that he did not really reach his maturity or his true "voice" until Gates of Fire? For me, that was the one (actually it was War of Art) so I'm sticking with it...
PS .. very much enjoying Thinking Man.
I love Steven Pressfield and I want to believe you but I'm *really* not into historical fiction. 🙂
Haha I think you should give it a shot anyway
Great read brother! The Pressfield journey has only started! Thank you for the shoutout.
Thanks for showing me the light! Are we reading The Virtues of War next ?
Thank you, I haven’t read it and I’ll check it out. I’m intrigued now 🤔
I hope you enjoy it!