The War of Art summary

The War of Art

Steven Pressfield

Good value given

Resistance is the force that stops you from doing your real work.
It shows up strongest around the work that matters most.
Turning pro means showing up daily, regardless of mood.
Do the work for its own sake.
Fear is a sign you're on the right track.

What stops you from doing your creative work?

There's a force called Resistance that fights any work that matters to you. Beat it by turning pro: show up every day at a set time, whether or not you feel inspired.

Worth reading?Good value given. A short punchy book about beating procrastination on creative work.

ActionableWhat readers say

Actionable

Set a daily start time for your project and show up for 30 minutes.
Write down the excuses Resistance uses on you.
Track the days you show up.

What readers say

Creative readers often call it a kick in the pants.
Some find the spiritual final section less useful.
Per one author who writes about creative work, the first half on the psychology of making things is worth reading, and the later mystical chapters lose a lot of readers. A commenter on that review loved the first two parts and said the third stretched their belief too far.
Readers who were stuck say the idea of Resistance gave them a name for the thing stopping them, and some have kept a daily practice for years since.
Per one reader's notes, the book keeps one score, attendance, and Resistance often shows up looking like virtue: more workshops, more research and preparation with no end date.

Quick answer

Our summary of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, in our own words.

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Who it's for

Writers, artists, founders and anyone with a project they keep putting off.

Tips from readers, plus one of ours

Read Books One and Two closely and skim Book Three if the Muse talk isn't for you.
Pick a fixed time and place and sit down even when you don't feel like it. Readers say the first 30 minutes are the hardest and the work often moves once you start.
Use fear as a compass. If a project scares you, that's a sign it matters.
Watch for Resistance in disguise. A new course or another round of research can feel like progress while the actual work waits.
Agree or disagree: one author who writes about creative work says the war framing is too dramatic for new writers and suggests Art and Fear instead. We partly agree. If the battle story gets you to the desk, use it. If it makes you feel like a failure, try the gentler book.
Our unusual tip: book the finish line. The book says Resistance gets loudest near the end, so put the last stretch of a project on the calendar as its own appointment and tell one friend the date you'll send it to them. Finishing becomes a promise, and promises are harder to dodge than goals.

About this summary

This summary follows the same shape as a 125x summary: a verdict, 5 takeaways, and an Actionable section. 125x is a web app that does this for the latest videos from the YouTube channels you follow, with a verdict, 5 takeaways, the spoiler, and Actionable and Lessons tabs. More in book summaries.

FAQ: questions people ask

What is The War of Art about?

Resistance is the force that stops you from doing your real work. It shows up strongest around the work that matters most.

Is The War of Art worth reading?

Our verdict is good value given. A short punchy book about beating procrastination on creative work.

Who should read The War of Art?