Ego Is the Enemy

The book in 3 sentences/summary:Your ego may well get you ahead but at the cost of your prioritiesEgo has throughout history, been the downfall of menYour ego will force you to make difficult decisionsMy impressions:It’s hard to focus on this book’s message when almost every chapter starts by telling the story of one historical white man after another. Not only is it hard to relate to, but it’s also quite frankly frustrating. The book contains plenty of good advice, but the time spent delivering it pales in comparison to the time spent talking about these men of history. Most of which have absolutely no relation to modern-day. Because of this persistent reference to history, it also assumes a lot. Without being able to talk to the people these stories are about, you can’t assume their intentions, their desires or drive. So it’s full of contradictions and guesswork.Perhaps the most disappointing part is that the author himself doesn’t tell the reader how he’s applying this wisdom to his life. If he had, his message may well have sunk in. Without it, it’s just stories.Oh, and anyone who puts a holocaust survivor in the same paragraph as Walt Disney has something to answer for. Ryan Holiday is very much out of touch.Should you read it? (who would benefit from this): If you like American history, stories of war and the NFL, you might find this book relatable and therefore you’ll absorb its wisdom. If not, it’s probably not for you.What I personally got from the book:Despite my frustrations with this book. I did get a few nuggets of wisdom.You should never stop being a student, especially if you think you know it all.If you don’t know how much you need, the default easily becomes more.Strive to trade short-term gratification for a longer-term payoff.The person who clears the path ultimately controls its direction.