Book Summary: The War of Art
My 10 "kick-in-the-butt" takeaways
I confess.
I am a complete late-comer to Steven Pressfield’s book The War of Art (first published in 2012!).
Many people have recommended it to me.
But it wasn’t until my friend Noelle mentioned it again last week that I finally bought it.
And I am so glad I did.
Pressfield is a veteran in the War of Art.
He’s learned what it takes to live a creative life through failure, resistance, and still showing up to do the work.
The subtitle of the book is “Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles”.
In reality, the book goes way beyond how to work through creative blocks. He explores the often unspoken and mysterious forces that kick-in when you commit to doing creative work. And by creative work, he includes not only artistic work but all work that people are called to do. From curing cancer to writing a symphony.
His book shows you how to battle through procrastination, excuse-making, guilt, fear, and self-doubt. And move toward preparation, order, patience, endurance, and acting in the face of failure. Every day. Every week. Every year.
He inspires you to take your creative work seriously. Commit to it. Like a “pro” as he says. Humbly accept your creative mission from the higher forces that be and get on with it.
It’s a welcome kick in the butt for people like me who need someone to cut through our elaborate strategies for staying stuck.
Here’s a book summary with my top 10 “kick-in-the-butt” takeaways.
The Unlived Life: Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance. An invisible force that arises from within us. It distracts us. And it prevents us from doing our creative work.
Amateur vs. Professional: The “Amateur” artist indulges in grandiose fantasies. The “Professional” has committed to her art. She has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The Professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like.
Rationalization. Rationalization is Resistance’s, right-hand man. Its job is to keep us from feeling the shame we would feel if we truly faced what cowards we are for not doing our work. (I warned you - that’s what I mean by a kick in the butt!)
On failure. Nothing is as empowering as real-world validation, even if it’s for failure. Don’t take it personally.
Ask for help. The Professional seeks out the most knowledgeable teacher and listens with both ears.
Re-invention. The Professional does not permit himself to become hidebound within one incarnation, however comfortable or successful. “Like a transmigration soul, he shucks his outworn body and dons a new one.”
The Mystery. The most important thing about art is to do the work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying. When we do the work, mysterious forces are invoked that help us along the way. Serendipity reinforces our purpose.
Testament of a visionary. Art already exists in a higher sphere. It needs someone to bring it into being on the material plane.
The magic of making a start. The moment one commits oneself, then providence moves too. In the words of Goethe,
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.” Goethe
The magic of keeping going. Once you start a higher intelligence also gets to work. It is independent of our conscious mind and yet in alliance with it, processing our material for us and alongside us.
And so, he concludes,
That’s why an artist must be a warrior and, like all warriors, artists over time acquire modesty and humility… They know they are not the source of the creations they bring into being. They only facilitate. They are the willing and skilled instruments of the gods and goddesses they serve.
He ends the book with a call to arms:
Creative work…is a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.
Gwyn Wansbrough is a Creative Facilitator and Experience Designer based in Barcelona, Spain. She works with people and organizations around the world to create dynamic and empowering learning experiences online and in person. She writes about facilitation, creativity, and learning in a weekly newsletter called The Quest. Subscribe here or visit www.gwynwansbrough.com to learn more.