Book Review: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

“Resistance aims to kill. Its target is the epicenter of our being: our genius, our soul, the unique and priceless gift we were put on earth to give and that no one else has but us.” —p. 14 The War of Art

I’d heard The War of Art is a great book for writers, and I think quotes like the one above make it so. Steven Pressfield repeatedly tells us that each person has something precious to give, and that we should get on with the business of giving it.

The big print and short format of each entry made me slow down and think, but I’m not sure it slowed me down enough. If ever there was a book ideal for being chopped up and put quote-by-quote on one of those saying-a-day calendars, this is it. That way, it would be just long enough to inspire, but not long enough to distract. Pressfield would hate the idea of his book becoming a distraction. He warns against all kinds of things getting us off track if we allow them to have too much room in our lives (TV, social media, shopping, gossip, chocolate).

Not that any of those things (or the others he mentions that aren’t as big a deal for me personally) are bad in and of themselves. Or even that they’re always bad for writers. But if they’re keeping a person from their true work—from doing what they were meant to do—they’re bad.

At its heart, this book is a Nike ad for artists.

It’s not a book of technique or craft or even practical ideas about managing time or handling the urgencies of life. It is a book of kick-in-the-seat-of-the-pants-style encouragement.

Occasionally the book shows an offensive lack of sensitivity (You’re depressed? Work; don’t wallow. You’re chronically, painfully ill? Write anyway. Your family has an emergency? They’ll manage without you.)

Even so, I found The War of Art helpful in the way it cheered me on, warned about dangers, and ultimately demanded that I put my butt in my chair and write.

Sometimes what I really need to hear is “Just do it.”

 

Rachel L S Hoff  is a modern nomad with roots in five U.S. states and one foreign country. She now lives in Colorado with her three kids (one adopted, two bio), her dog, and her spectacularly supportive and brilliant husband. She writes mostly young adult sci-fi and fantasy. You can read more about her, including more of her book reviews, on her website.