Kim Gentes

After reading Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art", I jumped at the get-it-done companion called "Do The Work".

There are two reactions to it that must be clear. First, if you are a technical person who is not a natural creative- this book is perfect for you. Second, if you are a natural creative who has too many ideas and not enough completed projects- this book is also for you. The problem is, you must digest it with the right understanding of who you truly are. Let me explain.

Pressfield's approach is attuned mostly to technical people who don't trust their creative juices. This group of people understands the nuances of self-criticism, evaluation, re-writing and more. What they struggle with is that they over-analyze and over-prepare so much, they become weighed down by the weight of this mind-heavy preparation and either never start the project in earnest or become crushed under their self-criticism. Pressfield has excellent advice that will allow those people to properly set aside self-critism to a proper time in the process. The goal for them is to get them moving and trusting the creative process and ideas in them.

For the truly creative person with little ability to filter and less ethic to complete a project, "Do The Work" lays out a plan that they can take advantage of their creative juices but put meat on the bones before the next wind blows in and grabs the creative's attention away from their current work.  For those people- read the book, and do the work. Follow the instructions and channel the inspiration as told by the author.

The problem with this book is that the technical or creative person may well misunderstand who they are and not approach this kind of advice properly. The book is solid, but it doesn't help the reader distinguish how to navigate their absorption of the material. Hence, I see several reviews of this book from what I call "high technicians" (people who aren't true creatives) who criticise the book for encouraging people to follow their instincts. But true creatives should ignore those reviews. This book is easily interpretted for true creatives and they can take the writer at face value and follow instructions as stated. For technicians (who often erroneously think they are creatives), you should realize that you will automatically have the tools of self-criticism and correction that will allow you to make the detail and methodical adjustments that every project needs in the revision phase- don't misinterpret Pressfield's guidance to let the inspiration "flow" in the beginning of the creative cycle sound like "throw caution to the wind" for the entire process. A proper reading of hte book and self-awareness and sel-understanding will make this clear.

Personally, I came away with 2 excellent and helpful tips from the book. Important things that I will never forget and have already begun to use.  Because Pressfield assumes that deeply creative people will be the users of his book, he doesn't take time to nuance how the book should be approached. I felt this might help some of those who were coming at "Do The Work" from a couple different vantage points.

In light of that, it's a very good book and I highly recommend it. 

Amazon Book Link: http://amzn.to/Wbs0M0

Review by Kim Gentes

I don't like motivational junk.  I call it crap.  When people try to sell me their wares as a way of "encouraging" me in some way it just doesn't sit right with me. For that reason, you have to understand that I would never in a million years have purposely went to buy this book. I thought I was buying a book about being a writer and some "tricks of the trade". But about 10 pages into it, I realized I'd been duped. I was kinda upset. (Keep reading! I was missing the point!) But since I had already bought it and simply wanted to put it away, I figured I'd better get through it.

That was the last point at which I didn't like the book. In about 2 more pages (and for the rest of the book), I got my butt kicked. Author Steven Pressfield talks as a creative person to other creatives, and tackles just one topic- resistance. This is the singular name that Pressfield gives to the demon that haunts every person who ever tried to do anything beyond themselves- in art, science, culture, business and life. Pressfield defines, explores, warns and outright swears at the demon of resistance. Pressfield is ticked off, and he wants his reader to join him- not in a soppy emotional healing time, but in an outright strategy of war against the only enemy likely to stop you from creating your unique art: your own internal resistance.

I've heard these concepts before in different ways, but they've never struck home as well as they have here. "The War of Art" is not only sharp and pointed, it is blissful and witty. It examples its content by explaining how the author himself got passed resistance to even write the book. It's not cute, but it is effective, and funny, too!

If you hate motivational speeches and don't want to waste money on feel-good crap, this book is the best thing for creatives since their mom slapped them up the side of the head and said "do your homework".

The book is short (just 190 pages) and it is written directly to authors, painters, musicians, creatives, entrepreneurs, inventors and anyone who is trying to start something (anything) of value that is significantly challenging.  This book is written from an artist/writer's perspective specifically, not of the Christian "self-help" variety, and if you are easily offended by occasional swear words, you may find this book hits you with occasional bursts of Pressfield's verbal punches.

That said, it's a great book and I very highly recommend it. 

Amazon Book Link: http://amzn.to/Simc47

Review by Kim Gentes