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  • The Obstacle Is the Way

  • The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage
  • By: Ryan Holiday
  • Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
  • Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (40 ratings)

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The Obstacle Is the Way cover art

The Obstacle Is the Way

By: Ryan Holiday
Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
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Publisher's Summary

OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD

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.

The book's many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), the World Number 1 golfer (Rory McIlroy) and the coaches and players of winning teams like English Rugby National Team, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Cubs.

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.

©2014 Ryan Holiday (P)2023 Profile Books Ltd

What listeners say about The Obstacle Is the Way

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring and informative

The easiest and simplest way of learning Stoicism. Really enjoyed it and will listen again and again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good Starting Off Point

I have heard Ryan speak on podcasts and saw this a good starting point. It’s an easy listen/read and creates what I think is a good basis for the content.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Applicable to work and home life

I have taken so much away from this book, and have applied my learnings. Thank you

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

how little things in ur way it's and obstacle that can help u grow

awesome for anyone who wants to better themselves and grow as a person thank you for ur book highly recommended

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great message. Somewhat formulaic.

Great message. Very specific to certain people who may not realise they need to hear the audiobook such as myself.
Simultaneously, it is excellent advice for those in the corporate world.
author & narrator was passionate about their own work and that was conveyed in their performance.
Constructively it felt formulaic at points, a piece of advice / philosophy and then followed by an appropriate anecdote to support the point. Nothing wrong with this because it makes for a more comprehensive argument as to why you should think a certain way.
However at times i felt myself zoning out and having to pick myself up on it to stay focused on the book.
This does not detract from the overall score too much, the overall audiobook was immensly enjoyable and I will be practicing taking action in my mind and using the strategies in my everyday life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

10/10, really enjoyed listening and learning. Has completely opened my mind up to stoicism and opened the open hole for my curiosity to venture down into the world of philosophy.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Applicable advice

Easy to follow, common sense, great voiceover the book. Great stories too. Ryan Holiday is a legend

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Poke me I’m falling asleep.

The narrator is so boring I can’t do it. The contents predictably all about famous people. Zzzzz

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good content, terrible reading

Guy sounds like he has a cold, horribly nasal and read with the excitement of cardboard. I’d pay to listen to this read by someone with talent and passion for oration. Cannot recommend this with this reading. Can I get a refund?

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good book, but bad reader who sounds sick

I really liked the book and highly recommend it. However on here the reader kind of got annoying and unbearable, sounds like he has a cold or blocked nose.

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