Episode · The Rich Roll Podcast · 2021-03-01
Books mentioned on The War of Art: Steven Pressfield
We all experience it. That invisible, self-sabotaging force that lives between you and your most expressed self.
Rich Roll recommended The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, A Man at Arms by Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield, and Do the Work! by Steven Pressfield, and discussed The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and Finding Ultra by Rich Roll. Steven Pressfield recommended The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, and discussed On the Road by Jack Kerouac, Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield, and The Searchers by Alan Le May.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The War of Art
Steven Pressfield's The War of Art serves as a profound guide for creatives, entrepreneurs, and thinkers seeking to understand and conquer the psychological barriers that hinder productivity and inspiration.
Recommended“He's a novelist, he's a screenwriter, and the guy behind some of the most important nonfiction books on creativity that I have ever read, including of course, "The War of Art," which you've likely heard me talk about quite frequently on the podcast because it impacted me so deeply.”
Where to get it
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A Man at Arms
A Man at Arms by Steven Pressfield is a historical fiction novel centered on the hero Telamon and a gripping journey through antiquity.
Recommended“We're gonna talk about Steven's brand new book, "A Man at Arms," which is fantastic.”
Where to get it
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The Artist's Way
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a classic self-help primer on recovering, protecting, and nurturing one's innate creativity.
Discussed“and "The Artist's Way" was introduced to me and I started working that program”
Where to get it
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Finding Ultra
Finding Ultra by Rich Roll is a memoir chronicling the author's personal struggles with alcoholism and his transformation through endurance sports.
Discussed“and empowered me to write "Finding Ultra" and to start this podcast and to do all the things that I do today.”
Where to get it
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On the Road
On the Road by Jack Kerouac is a seminal autobiographical novel that chronicles the cross-country road trips of its protagonist and captures the restless energy of the Beat Generation.
Discussed“One of the concepts I had in my mind came from Jack Kerouac's book, "On the Road,"”
Where to get it
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Gates of Fire
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield is a historical novel detailing the heroic Spartan stand at the Battle of Thermopylae.
Discussed“Well, when my second book was "Gates of Fire" which is about the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, not the book that the movie "300" came from.”
Where to get it
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The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is a classic Lost Generation novel chronicling the disillusionment, travels, and romantic entanglements of a group of American and British expatriates in Europe.
Recommended“And but, actually right now I'm reading "The Sun Also Rises," Hemingway's book from, it's like the 10th time I've read it.”
Where to get it
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Turning Pro
Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield is a motivational manual that challenges individuals to overcome internal resistance, drop amateur habits, and fully commit to their creative work.
Recommended“And if you're interested in all of the things that we're talking about today, pick up "The War of Art," "Turning Pro," "Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t."”
Where to get it
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Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t
Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield is a practical writing guide focused on overcoming creative resistance, engaging audiences, and mastering the craft of storytelling.
Recommended“And if you're interested in all of the things that we're talking about today, pick up "The War of Art," "Turning Pro," "Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t."”
Where to get it
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Do the Work!
Steven Pressfield's Do the Work! serves as a practical, hard-hitting manual for overcoming creative blocks, self-sabotage, and the internal force of resistance.
Recommended“You got all, "Do the Work." You got all these great books,”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Walker Percy is a great kind of writing hero of mine and he wrote a book, I'm blanking on the name of it now, but in the book, it's not "The Moviegoer,"”
“Like, if you were creating the world of "Lord of the Rings" or "Game of Thrones," right?”
“Like, if you were creating the world of "Lord of the Rings" or "Game of Thrones," right?”