Current Books on the Bookshelf

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Based on the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Ryan offers his readers an answer to the following questions:

Will we be blocked by obstacles, or will we advance through and over them?

Are you worthy?

Can you get past the things that inevitably fall in your way?

Will you stand up and show the world what you're made of?

Ryan offers strong advice to answer all of these questions through stories, lessons, and his own insights from his personal study of various historical works.

Laid out in three sections, Perception, Action, and Will, the book begins with a story about an old king who was not happy with the current state of his people as they had become complacent. In an effort to change their perspective, the king placed a large boulder in the center of town and secretly hidden underneath gold coins. He watched as the citizens cursed him and grew frustrated with the situation laid out before them. Many quickly gave up trying to move the large boulder. However, one peasant had a different idea. He gathered materials from the forest that provided him leverage to move the rock and he did just that. With the rock moved out of place, he discovered the gold coins.

One of the gold coins offered the following note,

"The obstacle is the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition."

Holiday gives evidence to support the idea that how we look at our problems and turn them into opportunities allows us a better way to forge forward and make a new path. A new path of opportunity. Thus the book section titles of Perception, Action, and Will.

I recommend this book to any person who has faced an obstacle, a trouble, or a worry. Holiday's book is a fast read and it is definitely worthwhile to buy the actual book to take notes on. My book is getting worn out as I continually refer back to it for inspiration.