The Obstacle Is the Way

by Ryan Holiday
The Obstacle Is the Way cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Technical:
  • ID: 250
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • ISBN: 9781781251492
  • Publisher: Faber & Faber
  • Published: 2015-05-07
  • Formats: 10
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99

In "The Obstacle is the Way," Ryan Holiday draws on ancient Stoic philosophy to teach readers how to convert obstacles into advantages. By changing one’s perception, taking deliberate action, and cultivating inner willpower, what initially seems like a barrier becomes a stepping stone to success. Holiday illustrates these principles through historical anecdotes and practical insights, emphasizing that our attitude toward challenges determines our ability to overcome them. The book is not just about enduring hardship but about thriving through it by adopting a mindset that sees adversity as an opportunity for growth and transformation. Inspired by Marcus Aurelius’s famous maxim, "The impediment to action advances action," Holiday encourages readers to embrace difficulties as essential parts of life that shape character and lead to new paths forward. His personal experiences and historical examples underscore the timeless power of Stoicism to guide individuals and organizations through crises toward improvement and resilience.

Reviews
Inspired After Forty · 2025-09-06
motivational 4.00

The book motivates readers to stop making excuses and take actionable steps, providing a powerful mindset shift for overcoming challenges.

This review underscores the book’s motivational power to push readers beyond excuses and towards effective action. It portrays 'The Obstacle Is the Way' as a must-read for anyone looking to adopt a proactive approach to obstacles by harnessing the philosophies of Stoicism. The reviewer appreciates how the book distills complex ancient wisdom into practical advice that encourages mental toughness and resilience. The tone is positive and energizing, emphasizing the book’s ability to inspire readers to take control of their circumstances rather than be paralyzed by problems. The review suggests that the book is especially useful for those seeking a mindset transformation to turn setbacks into stepping stones for success.

Quick quotes

    If you want to get rid of all the excuses and start taking the right action then 'The Obstacle is the way' is a book you need to read.

    Focus on what you can control, let go of everything else.

    Turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, and tougher.

Donald Robertson · Donald Robertson · 2025-09-06
thoughtful 4.25

The book effectively uses Stoic philosophy to show how adversity can be reframed as opportunity, blending historical anecdotes with practical wisdom.

Donald Robertson praises 'The Obstacle Is the Way' for its rich use of Stoic philosophy and numerous historical stories to demonstrate how challenges can be turned into advantages. He notes that while the book is not purely about Stoicism, it is deeply influenced by it, especially the idea that obstacles are integral to personal growth and virtue. Robertson emphasizes the book’s grounding in Marcus Aurelius’s writings and how it encourages readers to focus on what they can control while dismissing external opinions and distractions. He also reflects on the book’s contemporary relevance, particularly how it serves as a reminder not to overvalue others' judgments and instead to act wisely and ethically regardless of obstacles. Robertson’s take is that the book is a valuable resource for those wanting to cultivate resilience and a Stoic mindset in modern life.

Quick quotes

    Every adversity is potentially an opportunity.

    The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

    We shouldn’t place too much importance on what others think of us, as long as we’re aiming to do what’s right and acting wisely.

Daily Stoic · 2025-09-06
inspiring 4.50

The book presents a timeless Stoic framework for transforming obstacles into opportunities through perception, action, and will, supported by inspiring historical examples.

This review highlights the book's core message that obstacles should be embraced as paths to growth rather than barriers. Drawing from history's greatest figures like Amelia Earhart and Steve Jobs, the book offers a practical guide to develop resilience by changing how one perceives challenges, taking deliberate actions, and cultivating inner strength. The reviewer appreciates the book’s structure around the three disciplines—Perception, Action, and Will—and its optimistic tone that encourages readers to face adversity head-on and thrive. The reviewer also notes the inevitability of encountering obstacles, emphasizing that success does not mean a life free of difficulties but rather mastering the art of overcoming them. The Daily Stoic review encourages readers to adopt the mindset that obstacles are not just to be endured but to be used as opportunities for personal improvement and success, making the book a valuable resource for anyone looking to turn setbacks into triumphs.

Quick quotes

    The Stoic grows stronger and better with every obstacle they face.

    It begins with how we look at our specific problems, our attitude or approach; then the energy and creativity with which we actively break them down and turn them into opportunities; finally, the cultivation and maintenance of an inner will.

    No matter how successful we are, we’re going to find things that stand in our path, and The Obstacle Is The Way shows us how to overcome them.

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