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Book Reviews aim to provide succinct, thoughtful summaries of books I have read. They contain quotes from the book, thoughts from others, and also some thoughts of my own. Typically they will be structured in the following order: author, introduction, message and purpose, remarkable chapter, and conclusion. This review will cover The Obstacle Is the Way, a book that details the ancient art of turning adversity to advantage.

Author

Ryan Holiday

Introduction

Many of the great men and women of history weren't exceptionally talented. They achieved success and acclaim because of how they turned what stood in their way into an advantage. The Obstacle Is the Way briefs us on how many notable people—John D. Rockefeller, Gandhi, Steve Jobs, and many more—were able to turn challenging circumstances into extraordinary results, and how you can do the same.

Message and Purpose

The Obstacle Is the Way is sectioned off into three parts:

Part I: Perception

Part II: Action

Part III: Will

Each part has several small chapters inside that go into further detail about the theme of the part. Holiday starts off each chapter with a story of a successful person in history and how they perceived, acted, and willed their way to success. The overall message in the book is that if you can manage your perceptions, recognize when you can change things, and direct your actions, you can learn to turn every obstacle into your advantage.

Remarkable Chapter

Perhaps my favorite chapter in the book is Follow the Process, which falls under Part II: Action. In this chapter, Holiday draws upon legendary college football coach Nick Saban's famous concept of sticking to the task at hand. Saban's process is described like this:

"Existing in the present, taking it one step at a time, not getting distracted by anything else. Not the other team, not the scoreboard or the crowd. Finishing the smallest task you have right in front of you and finishing it well."

Later in the chapter, Holiday further elaborates that action needs to be taken now without necessarily thinking about the end result:

"The process is about doing the right things, right now. Not worrying about what might happen later, or the results, or the whole picture. Follow the process and not the prize."

Conclusion

Whether or not you think you handle adversity well, this book will surely challenge the way you perceive whatever stands in your way. An empowering read, The Obstacle Is the Way is filled with fascinating true stories and detailed blueprints on how to overcome the many adversities we face in life. Holiday got it right when he penned the following to close out the book: "What blocked the path now is a path. What once impeded action advances action. The Obstacle is the Way."