Lex Fridman Podcast

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#102 – Steven Pressfield: The War of Art

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Jun 20, 2020

Guest

Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield, a prolific author known for his influential work, 'The War of Art,' delves into the nature of creativity and the struggle against resistance. He discusses the primal aspects of war and how it mirrors personal battles in art and life. The conversation navigates the warrior archetype in male identity, the philosophical weight of mortality, and the emotional toll of taking lives. Pressfield shares insights on finding inspiration, the importance of discipline, and embracing uncertainty in the creative journey, encouraging listeners to confront their own resistance.

01:27:56

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

War's Purpose

War served as a creative force, driving cultural exchange and the building of empires.
The urge to compete and conquer is a fundamental human trait, expressed through war and other activities.

insights

INSIGHT

War as Metaphor

Steven Pressfield is interested in war as a metaphor for internal struggles, not for war itself.
He sees war as a reflection of the internal battle against resistance and negativity.

insights

INSIGHT

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in religious, ethnic, and tribal identity.
Pressfield approaches it from a Jewish perspective, focusing on the return from exile.

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The Primal Nature of War

05:33 • 10min

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Exploring the Warrior Archetype in Male Identity

15:41 • 2min

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Navigating the Roots of Conflict

17:22 • 12min

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Warfare and the Weight of Mortality

29:13 • 8min

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The Muse of Inspiration

37:13 • 15min

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Confronting Resistance: The Invisible Barrier to Creativity

51:46 • 10min

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Navigating Creative Resistance

01:01:35 • 23min

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Embracing Uncertainty in the Creative Journey

tap your inner power and create your life's work

Steven Pressfield

In 'Turning Pro,' Steven Pressfield provides a practical and inspirational guide for entrepreneurs and creatives to shift from an amateur mindset to a professional one. The book is divided into three parts: the first describes the addictive nature of the amateur, the second paints a vision of what it means to be a pro, and the third focuses on cultivating professionalism. Pressfield emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear, self-doubt, and procrastination, and adopting habits such as discipline, regularity, and a constant striving for excellence. He also discusses the concept of 'shadow careers' and the need to align one's work with their true calling for authentic fulfillment.

The War of Art

Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Steven Pressfield

In 'The War of Art', Steven Pressfield identifies the internal force of 'Resistance' that hinders creative endeavors. The book is divided into three sections: 'Resistance: Defining the Enemy', 'Combating Resistance: Turning Pro', and a final section that discusses the role of the muses and the battle between the Self and the Ego. Pressfield provides practical advice on recognizing and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous work in achieving creative success.

The lion's gate

On the Front Lines of the Six Day War

Steven Pressfield

The Lion's Gate offers a unique perspective on the Six-Day War by combining oral histories from numerous participants with biographical insights into key figures like Moshe Dayan. The book provides a gripping narrative that explores the experiences of soldiers and pilots during this pivotal conflict. It blends historical facts with personal stories to create a compelling account of the war.

Tides of War

Steven Pressfield

Tides of War is a historical epic that delves into the complexities of the Peloponnesian War, focusing on the intertwined lives of Alcibiades, a brilliant but flawed leader, and Polemides, an Athenian soldier and assassin. The novel explores the political intrigues, naval battles, and personal struggles that defined this pivotal conflict in ancient Greece. Drawing from historical sources like Thucydides and Plato, Pressfield crafts a vivid and engaging narrative.

In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash.

The ascent of money

A Financial History of the World

Niall Ferguson

In 'The Ascent of Money', Niall Ferguson explores the human story behind the evolution of finance, from the origins of money in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest financial upheavals. Ferguson argues that finance is the foundation of human progress and reveals financial history as the essential backstory behind all history. The book covers key financial institutions and concepts, such as the invention of banking, the development of bonds and stock markets, and the role of insurance and real estate. It also delves into the impact of financial systems on historical events and the recurring theme that every financial bubble eventually bursts.

The Artist's Journey

Shawn Coyne

Steven Pressfield

In 'The Artist's Journey', Steven Pressfield extends the concept of the hero's journey to the artist's life. The book posits that after completing the hero's journey, an individual embarks on the artist's journey, a path of self-discovery, creative production, and overcoming internal resistance. It emphasizes the importance of finding one's authentic calling and producing work that is true to oneself. The journey is described as a constant, solitary, and mental evolution focused on self-discovery rather than self-expression.

Gates of fire

Steven Pressfield

Gates of Fire tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of Xeones, a wounded Greek soldier who recounts his life and the events leading up to the battle. The novel explores Spartan culture, the rigorous training regimen known as the *agoge*, and the heroic stand of the Spartans against the overwhelming forces of the Persian Empire. The story is framed as a series of interviews between Xeones and members of the Persian court, detailing the battle and its aftermath, as well as the personal and philosophical aspects of Spartan warfare and culture.

Virtues of War

Steven Pressfield

The Virtues of War is a historical novel by Steven Pressfield that follows Alexander the Great's life, told through his own voice as he recounts his campaigns and battles to a young scribe. The novel explores Alexander's philosophy of war and leadership, portraying him as a complex figure driven by both ambition and compassion. It delves into his conquests from Greece to India, highlighting his military genius and personal struggles.

Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit

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Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield is a historian and author of War of Art, a book that had a big impact on my life and the life of millions of whose passion is to create in art, science, business, sport, and everywhere else. I highly recommend it and others of his books on this topic, including Turning Pro, Do the Work, Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit, and the Warrior Ethos. Also his books Gates of Fire about the Spartans and the battle at Thermopylae, The Lion’s Gate, Tides of War, and others are some of the best historical fiction novels ever written.

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This conversation is part of the Artificial Intelligence podcast. If you would like to get more information about this podcast go to https://lexfridman.com/ai or connect with @lexfridman on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, or YouTube where you can watch the video versions of these conversations. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify, or support it on Patreon.

Here’s the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

OUTLINE:
00:00 – Introduction
05:00 – Nature of war
11:43 – The struggle within
17:11 – Love and hate in a time of war
25:17 – Future of warfare
28:31 – Technology in war
30:10 – What it takes to kill a person
32:22 – Mortality
37:30 – The muse
46:09 – Editing
52:19 – Resistance
1:10:41 – Loneliness
1:12:24 – Is a warrior born or trained?
1:13:53 – Hard work and health
1:18:41 – Daily ritual

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