Stillness Is the Key

Stillness Is the Key

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  • Create Date:2021-04-19 11:55:18
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
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  • Author:Ryan Holiday
  • ISBN:0525538585
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

In The Obstacle Is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy, bestselling author Ryan Holiday made ancient wisdom wildly popular with a new generation of leaders in sports, politics, and technology。 In his new book, Stillness Is the Key, Holiday draws on timeless Stoic and Buddhist philosophy to show why slowing down is the secret weapon for those charging ahead。

All great leaders, thinkers, artists, athletes, and visionaries share one indelible quality。 It enables them to conquer their tempers。 To avoid distraction and discover great insights。 To achieve happiness and do the right thing。 Ryan Holiday calls it stillness--to be steady while the world spins around you。

In this book, he outlines a path for achieving this ancient, but urgently necessary way of living。 Drawing on a wide range of history's greatest thinkers, from Confucius to Seneca, Marcus Aurelius to Thich Nhat Hanh, John Stuart Mill to Nietzsche, he argues that stillness is not mere inactivity, but the doorway to self-mastery, discipline, and focus。

Holiday also examines figures who exemplified the power of stillness: baseball player Sadaharu Oh, whose study of Zen made him the greatest home run hitter of all time; Winston Churchill, who in balancing his busy public life with time spent laying bricks and painting at his Chartwell estate managed to save the world from annihilation in the process; Fred Rogers, who taught generations of children to see what was invisible to the eye; Anne Frank, whose journaling and love of nature guided her through unimaginable adversity。

More than ever, people are overwhelmed。 They face obstacles and egos and competition。 Stillness Is the Key offers a simple but inspiring antidote to the stress of 24/7 news and social media。 The stillness that we all seek is the path to meaning, contentment, and excellence in a world that needs more of it than ever。

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Reviews

kilaparthy sivanand akhil

Avg。 Short book。 It does guide you towards stillness in this crazy times。

Sarah Beam

Through a modern lens, Buddhist and Stoic philosophies are brought to life for the householder。 I found it useful and soul-settling and will be reading it again (and perhaps again after that)。

Santosh Shetty

It's a formulaic book。 Would have said there are short stories but they are more like historical anecdotes which don't connect but I enjoyed reading it even though the author was not able to tie them together。 Good read for me。 It's a formulaic book。 Would have said there are short stories but they are more like historical anecdotes which don't connect but I enjoyed reading it even though the author was not able to tie them together。 Good read for me。 。。。more

Adrian Munteanu

O carte decenta despre lucruri decente pe care le putem face sa traim vieti decente。

Ahmed Khan

The book has been a great journey, the thoughts and lessons written in regards to stillness are well applicable its a worth a read book

Youssef Hanna

Really enjoyed reading this one。 I enjoy Ryan Holiday's writing style as well as his presentation。 Stillness is definitely the key。 Really enjoyed reading this one。 I enjoy Ryan Holiday's writing style as well as his presentation。 Stillness is definitely the key。 。。。more

Alexander Fitzgerald

Absolute masterwork。 Every line is crafted with care。 Every line hits you over the head。 I could spend days poring over this one again and again。

Kristy

I loved this book - very inspiring and a great collection of eastern and western thought on stillness and how to achieve it。 I marked quite a few things to go back to later。

Chris

I really liked this book。 It wasn’t especially challenging, but serves more as an introduction anthology on all topics (from all ancient religious and philosophical traditions) on ideas related to stillness of mind, body, and spirit。Very readable, and some great stories and anecdotes。 Especially in the Winston Churchill section。

Vishal Sharma

Doesn't found it much of amusing like I found his "Ego Is Enemy"。 This one is more of examples of historic persons and the will they shown in extremely tough times。 When it comes to the subject of meditation and stillness I found Indian authors having more depth and details。 While Foreign land authors just sharing their or others life experiences。 Still not bad and good to read for once。 Doesn't found it much of amusing like I found his "Ego Is Enemy"。 This one is more of examples of historic persons and the will they shown in extremely tough times。 When it comes to the subject of meditation and stillness I found Indian authors having more depth and details。 While Foreign land authors just sharing their or others life experiences。 Still not bad and good to read for once。 。。。more

Dale Martin

Another Holiday Masterpiece Stillness is home: birth - life - death, if we are truly prosperous。 Ryan Holiday blends the words of the Stoics, both ancient and contemporary, with his artful prose。 This is an essential read。

Hans Reginald Natividad

As someone who has never read Ryan Holiday's books before, I would say I am really impressed having read this book。 All I expected in this book was to introduce me to different philosophies that are very well related with Stoicism。 However, it did much more than just introduce me to these philosophies。Many books on self-development that I have read are often focused on giving advice to the reader based on a single philosophy alone。 I have found many of them rather daunting to fully take in as mo As someone who has never read Ryan Holiday's books before, I would say I am really impressed having read this book。 All I expected in this book was to introduce me to different philosophies that are very well related with Stoicism。 However, it did much more than just introduce me to these philosophies。Many books on self-development that I have read are often focused on giving advice to the reader based on a single philosophy alone。 I have found many of them rather daunting to fully take in as most of the philosophies I've read about are foreign to me, which made me appreciate them slower than I hoped。 However, Ryan Holiday brilliantly combines Eastern and Western philosophy to relay a message understandable to almost anyone interested in understanding stoic philosophy and its counterparts。One thing that made me love this book is its power to dive deep into human emotion, especially those that haven't been regularly tapped。 The second part of the book, about developing stillness of the spirit, has chapters that literally made me reflect deeply into myself to the point that I actually ended up crying。 Other than the Bible, no other book has ever made me reflect on myself to the core。 I definitely would recommend someone exploring the topic of stoicism and stillness to explore this book。 。。。more

Marie

Make what you can of what you have been given。 Live what can be lived。What's important to you?Accept challenges。 Wrestle with big questions and big ideas。What do I stand for?What is essential and important?What am I living for?Your time is your choice。Find hobbies that rest and replenish you。Develop a reliable and disciplined routine。Spend time outside。Seek solitude and perspective。Learn to do nothing。Get enough sleep。Commit to causes bigger than yourself。Cultivate moments of silence。Be present。 Make what you can of what you have been given。 Live what can be lived。What's important to you?Accept challenges。 Wrestle with big questions and big ideas。What do I stand for?What is essential and important?What am I living for?Your time is your choice。Find hobbies that rest and replenish you。Develop a reliable and disciplined routine。Spend time outside。Seek solitude and perspective。Learn to do nothing。Get enough sleep。Commit to causes bigger than yourself。Cultivate moments of silence。Be present。Know your limits。Before you were born, you were stil and at peace。After you die, you will be still and at peace。 。。。more

Gonzalo Cordova

Ryan Holiday addresses in this book the concept of apatheia, stillness, or peace。 In particular, the author develops stillness under the premise that it requires harmony among mind, spirit, and body。 I did not get many new ideas from the mind section of the book。 Still, it was a good refresher of similar principles already explained in the realm of Psychology and Positive Psychology。 However, the sections referring to spirit and body were very thought-provoking。 Similar to other books by Holiday Ryan Holiday addresses in this book the concept of apatheia, stillness, or peace。 In particular, the author develops stillness under the premise that it requires harmony among mind, spirit, and body。 I did not get many new ideas from the mind section of the book。 Still, it was a good refresher of similar principles already explained in the realm of Psychology and Positive Psychology。 However, the sections referring to spirit and body were very thought-provoking。 Similar to other books by Holiday, the practicality of the content presented in the book is priceless。Two key topics caught my attention beyond the main focus on stillness。 First, the concept of 'enough' and how it drives many benefits in our life。 Second, the idea of facing our mortality as an avenue to learn how to live。In a world where peace is scarce, this book is worth reading to pursue human flourishing (i。e。, eudaimonia)。 。。。more

Chuck Trimble

As a new student of Stoicism and someone who has been a workaholic for far too long, this book is invaluable。 I'll certainly be returning to it from time to time when I find myself getting away from the stillness I need to be seeking。 As a new student of Stoicism and someone who has been a workaholic for far too long, this book is invaluable。 I'll certainly be returning to it from time to time when I find myself getting away from the stillness I need to be seeking。 。。。more

Shipra Dixit

It’s part of a trilogy: The Obstacle is the Way (2014), Ego is the Enemy (2016), and Stillness is the Key (2019)。 Each book can easily be read independently of the others, though。 These are Holiday’s self-improvement books, quite heavily influenced by Stoicism。 First of all, I want to say that I read The Obstacle is the Way and enjoyed it。 My feeling when reading Stillness is the Key is that it felt somewhat more “mature”, by comparison with the first book, and perhaps a more confident work。 It’ It’s part of a trilogy: The Obstacle is the Way (2014), Ego is the Enemy (2016), and Stillness is the Key (2019)。 Each book can easily be read independently of the others, though。 These are Holiday’s self-improvement books, quite heavily influenced by Stoicism。 First of all, I want to say that I read The Obstacle is the Way and enjoyed it。 My feeling when reading Stillness is the Key is that it felt somewhat more “mature”, by comparison with the first book, and perhaps a more confident work。 It’s also more focused on a specific idea — the notion of inner stillness。 Holiday goes so far as to say “Stillness is the key to, well, just about everything。” He mentions in passing that what he has in mind is similar to the Stoic concept of apatheia (freedom from unhealthy passions) or Epicurean ataraxia (freedom from disturbance)。 Stillness is the Key succeeded in painting a more balanced picture of its heroes, simply by adding a few more observations about their flaws。It makes quite a few references, perhaps inevitably to Buddhism and other forms of eastern thought in order to illustrate its main theme concerning inner equilibrium and silence。 However, Holiday points out right at the beginning:It’s a powerful idea made all the more transcendent by the remarkable fact that nearly every other philosophy of the ancient world — no matter how different or distant — came to the exact same conclusion。 Sometimes it helps to “amplify” an idea when you can draw analogies from other religions and philosophies。 So I’d like to add some observations about Greek and Roman philosophy。 As I read the scattered references to Stoicism, the way Holiday presented this special type of “stillness” reminded me very much of the way the ancient Roman religion of Numa Pompilius was presented in an old book I enjoyed recently, Marius the Epicurean (1885) by Walter Pater, which is set in Rome during the reign of Marcus Aurelius。 I enjoyed this book。 I read the whole thing in about half a day。 However, there’s a lot more in it than I can easily summarize here。 It’s divided into three sections: mind, spirit, and body。 These include chapters such as:•Become present•Limit your inputs•Choose virtue•Conquer your anger•Say no•Build a routine•And more…I think a lot of people will benefit from reading Stillness is the key。 Although it’s not a book on Stoicism per se, it has lots of references to ancient Stoic authors like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius。 And I think its basic message should definitely resonate with people who are interested in Stoicism, as well as with a more general audience。 。。。more

Harshit Jain

A beautifully written, intriguing, practical book。 Starts brilliantly but gets kind of repetitive in the middle and ends brilliantly again。 Talks about how important stillness is and how to achieve it。 I would give it 4。5/5。

Aaron Gaistman

Great

Marek Vozárik

V tejto knihe sa mieša filozofia a náboženstvo。 Z filozofie to je hlavne Stoicizmus, Epikureizmus, Budhizmus。 Kniha sa delí na 3 časti: myseľ, duša a telo。 Každá časť má niekoľko kapitol, a každá kapitola začína nejakým príkladom zo života, ktorý je potom rozvinutý ako hlavná myšlienka danej kapitoly。 Vďaka praktickým príkladom je kniha ľahko zrozumiteľná každému a v oblasti osobného rozvoja poslúži rovnako dobre úplným začiatočníkom aj pokročilým。

Jirka bianco Vágner

Má první kniha o (neo)stoicismu a první kniha od tohoto autora。 Jsem okouzlen, mám hromady poznámek a cítím v kostech, že se ke knize budu vracet。

Sebastian Kayser

WowInsightful, refreshing and just overall great tone in this book, it’s advice without being overbearing or annoying。 It’s a great read and one I’ll be buying。

Stella

I liked 'Ego is the Enemy' so much, but this next book just seems a bit。。。 vapid。 It doesn't help that the author reads it as if every single sentence is weighty and important。 As a result, none of is managed to really impress me。 I liked 'Ego is the Enemy' so much, but this next book just seems a bit。。。 vapid。 It doesn't help that the author reads it as if every single sentence is weighty and important。 As a result, none of is managed to really impress me。 。。。more

Trevin Boulton

A book worthwhile it has some in-depth insight on your life

Kat Riethmuller

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Takeaways:Most philosophical traditions of the ancient world exalted “stillness。”The first step toward stillness is to temper the mind。You must tend to the state of your soul。Support your body’s health and fitness。Summary:Most philosophical traditions of the ancient world exalted “stillness。”Buddhists called it upekkha。 To Muslims, it was aslama。 The Greek Stoic philosophers spoke of apatheia, and the epic verse Bhagavad Gita praised this attitude as samatvam。 The English rendering is “stillness Takeaways:Most philosophical traditions of the ancient world exalted “stillness。”The first step toward stillness is to temper the mind。You must tend to the state of your soul。Support your body’s health and fitness。Summary:Most philosophical traditions of the ancient world exalted “stillness。”Buddhists called it upekkha。 To Muslims, it was aslama。 The Greek Stoic philosophers spoke of apatheia, and the epic verse Bhagavad Gita praised this attitude as samatvam。 The English rendering is “stillness。”Stillness is the ability to find equanimity amid the turbulence of life。 If you can cultivate imperturbable inner calm, you can devote full focus to your activities rather than allowing your attention to fracture – with one bit expressing irritation with street noise, another brooding over money problems, and so on。Stillness is the power that a skilled athlete draws on to make the perfect move。 It is the birthplace of inspiration and sudden insights, and the awareness with which you appreciate the moments that make up a full life。 “When basically all the wisdom of the ancient world agrees on something, only a fool would decline to listen。”Stillness is not an esoteric state that only a select few can attain。 You have experienced moments of stillness, and it’s present in everyone。 Cultivating stillness is difficult, particularly in the hyper-connected modern world。 But with the right combination of knowledge and discipline, you can do it。 To begin, turn your attention to the three “domains” of human life: the mind, the spirit and the body。The first step toward stillness is to temper the mind。To perform at your best, you mustn’t just react to problems。 Instead, think deeply about them, view the issues from different perspectives and patiently seek the best solutions。 President John F。 Kennedy took this approach in 1962 after the CIA discovered that the Soviets were constructing missile sites in Cuba。 Kennedy’s advisers counseled that the United States should answer the provocation swiftly: Destroy the sites and follow up with an invasion of Cuba。“We must cultivate mental stillness to succeed in life and to successfully navigate the many crises it throws our way。”Kennedy refused to react。 He insisted that he and his advisers take the time to study the problem。 He sought to understand the Russian perspective, to learn why they would risk such a dangerous affront。 He determined that the Russian premier, Nikita Khrushchev, had pursued this course because he believed Kennedy to be weak。 The president decided that a naval blockade of Cuba showed strength, and it also bought time for Khrushchev to reconsider his actions。 Eleven days later, Khrushchev agreed to negotiate the removal of the missiles。To enlist your mind in your quest for stillness, cultivate these habits:Be here now – Strive to be fully present in each moment。 It’s easy to let your mind wander, to ruminate over past problems or worry about future events。 But when you do, you miss out, because life unfolds in the present。 Being present in each moment is difficult and demands effort。 Limit your access to media and its endless distractions。 Seek out opportunities to experience silence, a rare commodity today。Take time to think – Don’t always go with your first impressions or follow your gut instincts。 Take time to see hidden elements in any situation。 Buddhists compare the world to “muddy water。” They teach that you need to wait until the water settles before you can see clearly。 Keeping a journal slows your thoughts, and lets you examine yourself and the issues that face you。Know when to empty your mind – Thinking is important, but danger lurks in overthinking or second-guessing about what to do and when to do it。 Act with a spirit of “detachment”: Empty your mind of thoughts, let go of worries about the results and be fully present。 Keep learning – Ancient schools of philosophy agree on the importance of knowledge and understanding。 Learn from your experiences, tap the wisdom of the ages through books, and seek mentors and teachers。Cultivate confidence, not ego – Confidence is a strength。 It comes from an honest assessment of your abilities and knowledge。 Confidence can still your doubts and fears。 You must tend to the state of your soul。Your spiritual life includes more than your religious faith。 Even nonbelievers must look after their souls。  “It is our soul that is the key to our happiness (or our unhappiness), contentment (or discontent), moderation (or gluttony) and stillness (or perturbation)。”Under the severe tutelage of his father, Tiger Woods mastered the physical and mental demands of his sport at the expense of caring for his soul。 In his first decade or so as a pro, he reigned as a colossus。 Woods had mastered the stillness golf required。 But outside of the game, he was a tempest of anxiety and need。 His life became a circus of tabloid-scandal clichés。To nourish your soul, adopt these habits:Strive for virtue – Cultivate a personal moral code and establish a clear account of your values。 When you live a virtuous life, you act with confidence because your values give you a compass。 Without this code, temptation and desire can buffet your soul。Care for the child within – Many adults carry psychological pain from events they suffered in childhood。 Think about the distress you endured as a child, and strive to reassure the frightened child who still exists in your psyche。 View your old stories from an adult perspective to disarm the fear and insecurity that block stillness。Tame troubling emotions – Some emotions, such as lust, envy and anger, throw the soul into turmoil, making stillness impossible。 Ancient traditions identify desire as a particular enemy of happiness。 The feeling of having enough comes from appreciating what you already possess。Surround yourself with beauty – When you encounter beauty in nature or art, you transcend the limits of individual identity。 With practice, you can find the beauty in everything from the day dawning on a mountaintop to the sight of a cat’s paw prints in the dust。Surrender to a higher power – To be still, become aware of things that are much larger and infinitely more powerful than yourself。 For many people, this “higher power” is God, but other ways exist to conceptualize it。 For the Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece, the higher power was the logos, the “path of the universe。” The Chinese speak of the dao, or “the Way。” What matters is the sense of acceptance and surrender, the acknowledgment that the universe is much greater than you and your concerns, and that you are not in control of it。 This perspective gives rise to a realization of how all people are connected through the mystery of life – everyone is part of a thread that runs through countless generations。Cultivate relationships – Your personal connections with others are among the most important aspects of life。 Maintaining relationships requires continually rejecting your worst impulses and always living up to your highest ideals。Support your body’s health and fitness。Mental health and spiritual health depend on physical health。 With his stout figure, Winston Churchill may not seem like the exemplar of vigorous physicality, but his biography offers many lessons on the power of activity。 In his eventful life, Churchill worked as a war correspondent, wrote more than 40 books, served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and held several positions in the British government, including prime minister。 “We need to be strong enough to resist thinking that is too neat, too plausible, and therefore almost always wrong。”Churchill worked hard all his life, but he avoided burnout because he was scrupulous about conserving and restoring his energy。 He took a daily nap, and found restoration in walking, painting and bricklaying。To be good to your body, cultivate these habits:Practice waiting – Sometimes the best course of action is no action。 In baseball, elite batters don’t swing at every pitch。 They wait patiently for the ideal throw。 The Roman commander Fabius used waiting as a strategy against Hannibal’s forces。 Instead of charging into battle, he did nothing。 Many Romans considered this cowardly, and Roman assemblies eventually voted for a more aggressive response。 The result was a terrible defeat。 Only then did they see the brilliance of Fabius’s strategy: He had reckoned that by using time as an ally, he could wear down his opponents’ forces, which were far from home and at the mercy of the elements。 Walk – Many of the world’s most famous thinkers insisted that their best ideas came to them while they were walking。 Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Tesla, Dickens, Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King, Jr。 were all committed walkers。 Walking’s intentional, repetitive movements contain all the qualities of stillness in microcosm。 Walking gives you a way to practice slowing down, sustaining awareness and emptying your mind of thoughts。Follow a routine – Extend the benefits of repetitive motion to your day, turning daily activities into a ritual。 Establishing a consistent routine liberates the mind。 Instead of worrying about what comes next, the mind relaxes into a more effective and productive state。Prune your possessions – Accumulating too much stuff can become a burden。 The psychological weight of physical objects – the responsibilities of keeping them secure, finding room for them and paying the debt you assumed to get them – can drag you down, even if you’ve achieved mental and spiritual freedom。 Go through your possessions, and throw out or give away things you never use。Find moments of solitude – If you spend a lot of time amid the hubbub of society, create balance by seeking opportunities for solitude。 You needn’t remove yourself to a distant glade。 You can find or create moments of solitude wherever you are。 For example, Leonardo da Vinci used to arrive early at the monastery where he was painting The Last Supper to be alone with his thoughts and his work。Get enough sleep – Without sleep, without the replenishment of your energy, your work suffers, you make more mistakes, you tend to think more negatively and you make poorer decisions。Pursue a hobby – Revise your attitude toward “leisure” time。 You don’t need to see it as a period of indolence and lack of productivity。 The Greeks referred to it as scholé, their word for school。 The hobbies you pursue in your leisure time rejuvenate your soul。 For example, British prime minister William Gladstone relaxed by chopping trees and pruning the forests near his home。 Composer John Cage hunted mushrooms。 Einstein played the violin, and numerous Japanese warriors and generals took up flower arranging。Put your body to good use – The body can play an important role in a virtuous life。 You’ll feel better when you commit your body to benefiting others。 Volunteer for community projects, help people who are in danger or distress, and take a stand for what you know is right。 ”If we want to be good and feel good, we have to do good。” 。。。more

Trysh Danielle

I’d carry this book everywhere I go。 I’ll probably reread it from time to time。 Although I love all of Ryan’s books, this is the best yet。 Chapters are easily digestible and each paragraph is quotable。 Ugh。 This was brilliantly curated and and written。 Truly, a must read in our “busy busy busy” lives。

Sarah Sulkosky

I would have enjoyed this book more if it presented more scientific evidence behind the lessons rather than just anecdotes - I think for every great person the author mentioned who lived by one of these rules we could probably find another great person made as much of an impact or found as much happiness living by a completely different set of rules。 I want the author to show me evidence that if an average person takes up the task of say, Journaling, that it will make a difference for that perso I would have enjoyed this book more if it presented more scientific evidence behind the lessons rather than just anecdotes - I think for every great person the author mentioned who lived by one of these rules we could probably find another great person made as much of an impact or found as much happiness living by a completely different set of rules。 I want the author to show me evidence that if an average person takes up the task of say, Journaling, that it will make a difference for that person。 Don't just tell me Ben Franklin did it so it must work。 Correlation not causation there。The book The Happiness Hypothesis and the podcast the Happiness Lab do a better job providing that evidence。Still a good read and good reminder of things we can do to live better。Rather ironic and dare I say shameful that I listened to this audiobook on 1。75x speed。 I think that goes against the principle of stillness。 But the narration was sooo slow。 。。。more

Craig

I am learning to embrace the stillness more。 I’ve enjoyed several of the author’a other books, but while this one had insightful ideas, there were several parts of it that did not work for me。

Yesenia Cash

I wish this was longer, very good book just needed more detail。

Michal

Opravdu doporucuju。 Zajimava zastaveni se nad aspekty zivota, ktere casto opomijime jako nedulezite。 Protoze: nam se to preci nemuze stat, ze?

Eric

The first part was interesting and a lot can be learned from it。 And like the rest of the book, I enjoyed reading the snippets of biographies and anecdotes from infamous people。 However, from the second part onwards, there was an abrupt shift。 It was as if I was reading from another author who was carelessly writing for the sake of it。 What struck me the most is the chapters on God and Relationships。 Aside from being poorly written and having a condescending tone, it lacked the support the other The first part was interesting and a lot can be learned from it。 And like the rest of the book, I enjoyed reading the snippets of biographies and anecdotes from infamous people。 However, from the second part onwards, there was an abrupt shift。 It was as if I was reading from another author who was carelessly writing for the sake of it。 What struck me the most is the chapters on God and Relationships。 Aside from being poorly written and having a condescending tone, it lacked the support the other chapters had。 It was overflowing with blunt emotions。 I dislike reading empty unsupported statements。 All the more when the author pulls out a “you just have to”。 The book had potential。 Sadly, it was not fulfilled。 。。。more