Submitted By: Rovib Rik
Profession/Background: Freelance Graphic Designer & Aspiring Writer.
Book Title: The War of Art
Author: Steven Pressfield
Before reading the Book:
For years, I lived in a strange space between ambition and avoidance. I knew I had creative gifts—people told me I had a way with words and an eye for visual storytelling. But deep down, I carried this gnawing feeling that I was underperforming in life. I’d wake up each day with ideas, but they rarely became anything more than thoughts.
I’d sketch logos that never got refined. I’d write three paragraphs of a story, then never return. I blamed distractions, lack of time, burnout—even the weather. But I knew the truth: I was afraid. Not of failure exactly, but of what it would mean if I actually tried.
I was stuck. Stuck in this loop of starting and stopping, of dreaming big and acting small. Friends would say, “You just need motivation,” or “Try a new routine,” but nothing stuck. I didn’t need another planner—I needed a jolt to the system. Something deeper.
Discovering the Book That Changed Everything:
I stumbled on “The War of Art” while watching a YouTube interview with a screenwriter I admire. He mentioned how this book had “punched him in the soul” and forced him to get honest with himself. That phrase stuck with me—punched him in the soul.
Curious, I ordered the book online. When it arrived, I didn’t even wait until night to read it. I cracked it open in the middle of the afternoon, planning to read a few pages. Two hours later, I was still reading, highlighter in hand, heart pounding.
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn’t a regular self-help book. It wasn’t sugar-coated, it didn’t tell me to “manifest success” or “visualize my dreams.” It told me that I had an enemy—and that enemy was Resistance.
After the Book:
Reading “The War of Art” was like being called out by an old friend who knows all your excuses. Steven Pressfield didn’t just speak to my procrastination—he exposed it. He made it clear that Resistance wasn’t some flaw in my personality; it was a universal force. And the more important my calling, the stronger the Resistance would be.
The book didn’t offer ten steps to beat it. Instead, it told me something radical: I had to turn pro. Not when I felt like it. Not when it was convenient. Every day. Like a job.
That simple shift in mindset flipped everything. I stopped waiting to “feel ready.” I set my alarm for 5:30 AM, not to join a productivity trend, but because a professional shows up early. I made writing and design part of my routine, not something I squeezed in between scrolling on my phone.
I didn’t become perfect overnight, but for the first time, I felt like I was living on purpose.
The Transformation:
One month after finishing the book, I launched my first personal design portfolio—something I had postponed for over a year. I wrote the introduction to a short story collection that had lived only in my head. And most importantly, I stopped identifying as someone who was “trying” to be creative. I simply was.
I began treating Resistance like a shadow that would always follow me, but no longer had the power to lead me. Some days, I still feel the urge to delay, to doubt, to scroll—but I now know that those urges are Resistance doing its job. And it’s my job to push back.
Now, whether I’m working with a client or writing a new piece, I show up like a professional. Not because I’m better than anyone else—but because I’ve stopped waiting for permission to take myself seriously.
My Favorite Line & How It Helps Me Every Day:
“Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate; it will seduce you. Resistance is insidious. It will reason with you like a lawyer or flatter you like a lover. It is always lying. Always.”
This line is tattooed in my brain. Every time I hear that soft voice telling me, “Maybe not today,” or “Let’s do it later,” I remind myself: That’s Resistance talking. Not truth. Not intuition. A liar dressed in comfort. Recognizing that voice—and refusing to obey it—is now part of my daily battle.
To Anyone Considering This Book:
Read it. Not if you want motivation. Read it if you want truth. If there’s something in you—art, writing, a business, music, anything—that you’ve kept locked away because of fear, procrastination, or perfectionism, this book will speak directly to your soul.
“The War of Art” doesn’t cheer you on from the sidelines; it pushes you into the arena. It won’t feel gentle, but it will feel right. You’ll leave its pages a little shaken, but a lot more clear.
You don’t have to be an artist to gain from this book—you just have to be someone who wants to do meaningful work and is tired of their own excuses.
This book didn’t just help me create—it helped me become. And that’s a transformation worth fighting for.