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  • The Obstacle Is the Way

  • The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage
  • By: Ryan Holiday
  • Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
  • Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (148 ratings)

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The Obstacle Is the Way

By: Ryan Holiday
Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
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Summary

OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD

The Obstacle Is the Way has become a cult classic, beloved by men and women around the world who apply its wisdom to become more successful at whatever they do.

The book's many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), the World Number 1 golfer (Rory McIlroy) and the coaches and players of winning teams like English Rugby National Team, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Cubs.

The book draws its inspiration from stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring pain or adversity with perseverance and resilience. Stoics focus on the things they can control, let go of everything else, and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, tougher. As Marcus Aurelius put it nearly 2000 years ago: 'The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.'

Ryan Holiday shows us how some of the most successful people in history - from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs - have applied stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. Their embrace of these principles ultimately mattered more than their natural intelligence, talents, or luck.

If you're feeling frustrated, demoralized, or stuck in a rut, this book can help you turn your problems into your biggest advantages. And along the way it will inspire you with dozens of true stories of the greats from every age and era.

©2014 Ryan Holiday (P)2023 Profile Books Ltd
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What listeners say about The Obstacle Is the Way

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fantastic

great, motivating with real life examples and on par with the work of robert green.

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Great Book - I want to read it again

Easy to follow, the messages are clear and it gives lessons that everyone should have in life. Thank you

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Full of inspiring narratives

This book is full of useful and inspiring narratives and anecdotes. I find Ryan Holiday is one of the best there is at contemporizing philosophy and makes it very accessible.

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Want to read again

Very good and been quoting ever since I first heard it. Will read other in the series. But this is a good place to start And recommend to all of my clients.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Vires acquirit eundo… it’s about momentum

A great listen. Thought provoking, warm, inspirational. If you can, listen somewhere you have a pen and paper handy as you may want to jot some things down - I was driving and wished I could! Protect the fortress within and, Vires acquirit eundo (We gather strength as we go)

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Great Book

This is a great book on modern philosophy, but I think you have to read it at the right time for you.

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Good for a beginner

Helpful in understanding stoicism for a beginner, pointing me in right direction for further reading , have listened more than once already!

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The Obstacle Is The Way

A remarkable book opened up my way of thinking- look for the opportunity then act on it - thank you

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Great book to improve I self

Very simple way of explaining how to see things, how much impact it can have if we change the perspective of seeing things . This book is simple yet effective

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Loved this book

I think I discovered who I am in reading this book . I’m not just interested in philosophy but I am a philosopher:) . Thank you for making how to live the superior way accessible.

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