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Around 2019, I read this book — it was the first book by Ryan Holiday that I ever read, at the urging of a kind of coach. And I won’t lie: it was quite a difficult book to read. A lot of philosophy. The Daily Stoic is a much easier book to start with if you’re new to this philosophy!
On the back cover, it clearly and concisely explains what the book is about:
The great men and women of this world didn’t possess exceptional luck, talent, or experience. What they did have was one simple rule: “What stands in the way becomes the way.”
In this book, Ryan Holiday redefines this forgotten formula for success in a way that fits today’s world, and shows how:
• John D. Rockefeller saw opportunity in adversity and became rich during a recession,
• Gandhi used his weaknesses as strengths and turned the British Empire’s military power against itself,
• Steve Jobs routinely made the impossible possible.
Control your perceptions. Recognize when you can change something. Direct your actions. And learn to turn every obstacle into an advantage.
And then there were some passages I underlined — even in the preface:
Our actions may be impeded… but our intentions or mindset can never be blocked. Because we can adapt and adjust.
The mind adapts and turns the obstacle standing in the way of our action into something that serves its purpose.
You will encounter obstacles in your life — both fair and unfair. And you will discover, time and again, that what matters most is not what these obstacles are, but how we see them and how we respond to them.
You will learn that this response will determine how successful you are.
You have to realize: nothing makes us feel a certain way — we choose to give in to how we feel.
And that’s just a small sample of what I underlined.
Ryan’s books really made me think deeply, and I honestly believe philosophy should be a core subject in schools.
He also created a summary of this book in this youtube video!
Thanks for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🩷
If you live in The Netherlands;
🇳🇱 Bestel hier de Nederlandse editie! 🇳🇱
🇺🇲 Order the English edition here! 🇺🇲
