I love this book, I first listened to it on audible then read the hard back version about a year and a half later. The first time I listened it was right around when my dog died suddenly one day with the groomer. I was beside myself, but this book helped reframe my mindset to turn that obstacle into a precipice for change in my life. I came back to it about year and half later while waiting for the release of Right Thing, Right Now, at the same time in the midst of reading the first section I was called to trial (I’m at attorney). It was my first solo trial, no second chair, no help, but I was able to use the lessons, which have been passed down for a couple thousand of years, to lean into the challenge presented as a pathway to be creative, resourceful, and accepting of the challenge which lead to significant advancements in my professional career.

I got this book, read through it as fast as I could, then bought 2 additional copies as gifts. Great messages of perseverance and mindset accompanied by historical examples to put each point in perspective.

Best self help book of the year I enjoyed reading every chapter and must definitely read it! Excellent book with best advices

While I know Ryan personally, I believe that I am uniquely qualified to review this book and, after reading a lot of the comments, add to the discussion. A lot of people miss that Ryan is articulating a journey and is translating it into something edible and powerful. Something 99% of us at ANY age cannot do, even with "wisdom of experience". Storytelling has been around since the beginning of time, but actual mass communication has been around for a very short time (relatively). It looks as if the "paper book" business will become a specialty- if surviving at all. I know that Ryan knows this as he has always been quick to lend an idea, do some digging and most important- analyze and decide. As he uses as an example in his book, he pulls an Amelia Earhart and ACTS. He can talk about Tesla in the same sentence as popular games on the meat markets in early Chicago. He has read (studied) Marshall McLuhan to Malcolm Gladwell. This rabid quest to find out and face his own soul searching path- has delivered a perfect book for the RIGHT PERSON. This is not Chicken Soup for the Soul. Ryan has done WAY more and influenced WAY more decisions than he would ever talk about, but has helped untangle talent and communication complications (i.e- market properly) using many of his methods he developed under Robert Greene and even 50 Cent and Tucker Max. He helped in stealth, but in critical ways, to launch, maintain and capitalize on #1 Films, TV Shows, YouTube and MANY multi platinum musical artists. I can vouch for it myself. It is always amazing to read a review somewhere when that person has never faced down rejection and fear and can criticize anyone for at least putting their thoughts and ideas out there for judgment. To do that, when the WORLD is telling you that finishing college is the only way to go and you have the same people close to you saying that you will fail- it truly was an Obstacle to overcome. It only got more intense for Ryan, but his lessons are earned. He was led to the water, but unlike most people, he drank. How can you question the message, integrity and courage of that? Steven Pressfield, one of our generations best and most diverse authors, has called it "The Resistance". Even he endorsees the book on the dust jacket. The reason that I preface the review this way is to show you Ryan's true accomplishment here- articulating what he has learned, applying it to clear examples people can remember and also help people. There have been big choices in Ryan's life- not the least of which was whether to go in house for a safe "job" or "bet on himself". He DID what he talks about here. It is the true reflection on a part of his life and the methods HE used to combat them. This is especially important for a generation who "has ADD" and can't relate to the past. At 22- I think it would be silly to not monitor this refreshing voice and mind as he progress'. He actually went and spent time with Dr. Drew after reading his not so best selling books. Marcus Aurelius is the clear hero in this book, being compared to boxer "Hurricane" Carter (among others), while dealing with your internal power. The ideas and themes of the book seem to come from some Herman Hesse and Tom Wolfe as much as out of print magazines and long dead historical stars of their time. That is what is so attractive. Anyone should find a part of this to relate to. This is especially helpful to someone who wants a quick boost of intellect instead of trying to muscle through a biography (but he def refers to a lot of interesting people I need to read more about). Ryan does not rely on the same tired stereotyped figures from the past, but finds new, more relatable, characters and situations. Athletes, Entrepreneurs, Parents and CEO's, and those looking to look at life in a certain lens, will benefit greatly. Think you are having a bad day? Open your eyes and you will find out that another historical leader (other than Churchill) suffered severe depression while running the country that may or may not exist depending on his choices- Abraham Lincoln (didn't see a lot of that in the movie). Grant, Nietzsche and Edison all make a story about fortitude and acceptance. A much different approach than looking in a window and imaging you will get the new purse that is in there and moving on. Again- this is intended for action and not philosophy. Self Help crap would be fine if it worked, but that means there would only be one book- and it would work. Awareness. Dealing with fear and uncertainty. Mindful and deliberate. Shame and guilt. Accountability and results. How did other people deal with this? Only through careful research do these stories become just as powerful to the man who believes that history is a verb as they are to someone just trying to make it through their day. The point is- you are not alone. In fact, you are not even close to being the first person today to experience multiple obstacles. It is comforting to see how adversity has been confronted in the past. This is a book for those who believe in Realpolitik and seeing life for what it is. I would say it is the actual back up action plan to what a mystical book like the Mayan based best seller, "The 4 Agreements", is. Although the book is very much based on stoic principles it makes no judgements about your belief system in a macro way. I can see how this book can have some legs for people try to cope with a new world where you have too much or think you have too little- information to ingest. It is a reference book that can be returned to over and over. Ryan Holiday is an important voice in the book space these days. Mostly because he is willing to actually commit to writing good books as well as growing his digital presence quickly. Non fiction at that age in 2014 is pretty impressive and patient. He can deal w Dov Charney, 50 Cent, Tucker Max and many others- due to his diversity. His "Read to Lead" mentality is refreshing and way more valuable than any class. He has a Best Seller in "Growth Hacking" at the same time, so holding his own with decades older armchair authors, while understanding the generation gap in communication is not such a bad way to describe this book. And finally...yes- he uses the bible as reference at times..

The first half of the book is worth the book's very reasonable price, hands-down. It explains through historical examples how to properly view obstacles (i.e., as opportunities) and use them to triumph over life in general, and achieve your goals in particular. After the first half of the book, however, the author seems to devolve from it's main premise of embracing obstacles and turning them into triumph and happiness, to one of dealing with failure. I found this odd, because failure pretty much assumes you didn't apply the strategies for embracing and overcoming obstacles in the first place. "Failure" and "obstacles" are not the same thing. Failure is an end result of not dealing properly with obstacles. So I was surprised the author didn't use the second half of the book to give example after example (even if they were hypothetical) of taking an obstacle, looking at it correctly, and using it to further one's goals. He instead chose to discuss dealing with failure, once again using examples from history, but this time, examples that I've read a hundred times in countless other "self-help" books. For me, that's the book's only failing. Once the author laid the groundwork for the idea of embracing obstacles and using them to triumph over the vagaries of life and to achieve one's goals as well, he should have given lots of specific "how to" examples. The historical examples of people embracing the obstacles in front of them and triumphing over them were simply not enough, because there was not enough "how to" detail in them. It's one thing to instruct people to do something (i.e., "Go tackle that obstacle."), or to tell them other people have done the same thing (i.e., tackled seemingly insurmountable obstacles and turned them into success). But it's quite another thing altogether to help readers understand the "how to" (both mindset, and physical steps) behind successfully tackling obstacles and even using them to change the course of your life. The end of the book discusses Stoicism and the Stoic writers and philosophers, which was extremely interesting to me, particularly in relation to the subject of the book. And to the author's credit, he provides a multitude of resources for those who want to look further into the ideas behind Stoicism, i.e., basically accepting the cards you're dealt and practicing virtues that allow you to triumph in spite of (and indeed, BECAUSE of) the obstacles in your path. Overall, it's one of the better Kindle "self help" books I've read. I only wish the author would have eliminated the section on dealing with failure (already the subject of countless other books) and instead used that same space to better demonstrate the "how to" behind using the obstacles that confront you in life as keys to achieving success and even happiness. Would I recommend the book to others? Absolutely. Does it have a few shortcomings? Yes. And I'd hope the author will come out with a follow-up book to correct that slight deficiency.

A great read at any time or stage in life. A fresh perspective on what it means to live life with grace and growth.

Definitely not an academical review of stoic philosophy, rather an inspirational self help book. But because it’s grounded in deep ideas, it is very good in its category. A great present for someone in a tough place ready for some motivation.