The Obstacle is the Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage

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Description

We give up too easily. With a simple change of attitude, what seem like insurmountable obstacles become once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Ryan Holiday, who dropped out of college at nineteen to serve as an apprentice to bestselling 'modern Machiavelli' Robert Greene and is now a media consultant for billion-dollar brands, draws on the philosophy of the Stoics to guide you in every situation, showing that what blocks our path actually opens one that is new and better.

If the competition threatens you, it's time to be fearless, to display your courage. An impossible deadline becomes a chance to show how dedicated you are. And as Ryan discovered as Director of Marketing for American Apparel, if your brand is generating controversy - it's also potentially generating publicity.

The Stoic philosophy - that what is in the way, is the way - can be applied to any problem: it's a formula invented more than 2,000 years ago, whose effectiveness has been proven in battles and board rooms ever since. From Barack Obama's ability to overcome obstacles in his election races, to the design of the iPhone, the stoic philosophy has helped its users become world-beaters.

Reviews

First came Marcus Aurelius, then Frederick the Great . . . and now there's you. This surprising book shows you how to craft a life of wonder by embracing obstacles and challenges. -- Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup
A book for the bedside of every future - and current - leader in the world. -- Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power and Mastery
An absolute must-read. A kind of user's manual for life, you will turn to it time and time again and learn to tear through any obstacle and resolve any conflict. -- Jimmy Soni, managing editor of Huffington Post, author of Rome's Last Citizen
A very, very good book with lots of examples about people who had to overcome great obstacles to have success. -- Nick Saban, head football coach at the University of Alabama
The best one I've read. Ryan Holiday is brilliant. If I had read The Obstacle Is the Way sooner, a few things might have been different. -- Rory McIlroy, 2x PGA Champion
Follow these precepts and you will revolutionize your life. Read this book! -- Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art and Gates of Fire
My life has been beset with obstacles. It takes practice (and pain) to surmount them and achieve success. Ryan's book is a how-to guide for just that. -- James Altucher, investor and author of Choose Yourself
The book on stoicism that's taking the NFL by storm. * Sports Illustrated *
Ryan Holiday has written a brilliant and engaging book, well beyond his years. . . . It is invaluable. -- Honorable Frederic Block, Judge, U.S. District Court
Even though I was familiar with the basis for this book - the ancient philosophy of stoicism: overcoming obstacles through the practice of wisdom, courage, self-control, and mindfulness - it felt like a revelation when I read it. -- Allison K. Hill * Los Angeles Daily News *

Author Bio

Ryan Holiday is a media strategist for notorious clients like Tucker Max and Dov Charney, and worked on the publicity campaign for Tim Ferriss's The 4-Hour Work Week. After dropping out of college at nineteen, he went on to advise bestselling authors and multi-platinum musicians. He is the Director of Marketing at American Apparel and his strategies are used as case studies by Twitter, YouTube and Google. His first book, Trust Me I'm Lying was a Wall Street Journal bestseller. He currently lives in New Orleans.