Book Review 10/200 - 5/5 - ‘The Obstacle Is The Way', Ryan Holiday - Non-Fiction - Psychology/Mindset/Stocism

“Wherever we are, whatever we're doing and wherever we are going, we owe it to ourselves, to our art, to the world to do it well.” - Ryan Holiday

Out of all the tendencies of human beings, there is one that's most insidious, here it is, are you ready?

We tend to give up far too easily.

In this book, it's a guide that shows us with a simple change in attitude what seem like insurmountable obstacles become once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

At least, this has been the case for Ryan Holiday, who dropped out of college at 19 to serve as an apprentice to another brilliant and modern day Machiavelli, Robert Greene (Writer of the 48 Laws of Power). He's now a media consultant for billion-dollar brands and draws on the philosophy of the Stoics to guide you in every situation, showing that what actually blocks our path is potentially the door that opens up to new and better.

If the competition is threatening you, good! It's time to be fearless and display that courage. Is an impossible deadline looming? great! Now's the time to show how truly dedicated you are. And as Ryan himself discovered as Dir. of Marketing at American Apparel, if your particular brand is generating controversy - it's also potentially generating publicity.

The Stoic Philosophy, one that's more than 2000 years old, whose effectiveness has been proven in battles and boardrooms over and over again, can be applied to any problem; that what is in the way, is the way. 

From the design of the Iphone, to Barack Obama's ability to overcome obstacles in his election race, the stoic philosophy has helped those that have used it to become world beaters.

In the words of the late, great Dr. Seuss, "Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way".