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The Obstacle Is the Way

The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

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The Obstacle Is the Way

Written by: Ryan Holiday
Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
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About this listen

#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller

The Obstacle is the Way has become a cult classic, beloved by men and women around the world who apply its wisdom to become more successful at whatever they do.

Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men’s basketball team.

The book draws its inspiration from stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring pain or adversity with perseverance and resilience. Stoics focus on the things they can control, let go of everything else, and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, tougher. As Marcus Aurelius put it nearly 2000 years ago: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Ryan Holiday shows us how some of the most successful people in history—from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs—have applied stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. Their embrace of these principles ultimately mattered more than their natural intelligence, talents, or luck.

If you’re feeling frustrated, demoralized, or stuck in a rut, this book can help you turn your problems into your biggest advantages. And along the way it will inspire you with dozens of true stories of the greats from every age and era.

©2023 Ryan Holiday (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Personal Success Philosophy Stoicism Career Inspiring Basketball Wisdom
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What the critics say

“The book on stoicism that’s taking the NFL by storm.”Sports Illustrated

"The best one I've read. Ryan Holiday is brilliant. If I had read The Obstacle Is the Way sooner, a few things might have been different."–Rory McIlroy, 2x PGA Champion

“Follow these precepts and you will revolutionize your life. Read this book!”—Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art and Gates of Fire

What listeners say about The Obstacle Is the Way

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Changes the lens through which you see the world

Applying the book's underlying principles will reframe how you evaluate difficulty in your life – big things and small things alike. You won't see things as good or bad anymore, only good and the opportunity for good.

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Loved every minute of it!

A must read for everyone, especially those who feel they’ve been dealt a bad hand.

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Obstacles are the way!

I enjoyed the realness of the book. I found the book to be honest and rewarding. Would highly recommend to those who are going through change. 10/10

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Great book

I really found this book a forward pressing look at whatever happens in life.
Would recommend this for anyone.

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Perspective

It’s well narrated & thought out.
I enjoyed it. Listened to it during a difficult time in my life, it helped me understand and put things into perspective.

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Good, but too American

My goodness, every example he gives is so American-centric. Steve Jobs this, Steve Jobs that. Rockefeller, Tommy John, Kennedy, etc. etc. I thought that cosmopolitanism was a key tenant of Stoicism. The author should expand his horizons a bit. Maybe this was due to editor pressures, but the author doesn't give the impression that he knows much about the world beyond America.

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Opportunity at Every Turn

Life will always present us with opportunities to shy away or to rise to the occasion. At the end of the day we all can rise to the occasion; this book, I believe taps into that way of thinking.

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Spectacular job Ryan

Out of my 88 books and counting this year this is a favourite. For a young (ish?) author I’m so impressed. Seriously Ryan well done! Good stuff. Looking forward to following and reading your material as the years roll on. Cheers and thanks! Great book. Narrator was awesome, author I assume 👍

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Impactful

The way Ryan Holiday masterfully presents Stoic Philosophy with real world, historical examples, helps the listener (or reader) learn how to apply Stoic principles and discipline in their lives. If you have ever felt trapped, stuck or confused then this book is for you. The impediment to action advances action, what is in the way becomes the way. This book is essentially a “how to” for turning obstacles into triumphs.

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Profound

The book is Applicable to absolutely everything. Life changing material. A must read for everyone

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