Stillness is the Key: An Ancient Strategy for Modern Life Hardcover – 10 Oct. 2019

Distracted minds are commonplace in today's world.With information overload, lots of people have forgotten how to be more present and in the moment. Maybe this is why mindfulness has become so popular. Boredom is something that people hate with a device needed to keep us company and our minds indulged, even when waiting in the shortest of queues or period of inactivity.From a peak performance perspective, stillness as Ryan describes it becomes really important to maintain focus and presence during overwhelming chaos and stress.This is a small book but packed with richness. Ryan uses stories of Abraham Lincoln, John F Kennedy, Marina Abramovic, Napoleon, Shawn Green, Fred Rogers, Anne Frank, Socrates, John Cage, Awa Kenzo, Marcus Aurelius, Tiger Woods, Seneca, Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Jordan, Winston Churchill, Epictetus, William Gladstone and many others.Ryan uses these to demonstrate how important stillness is for self-mastery, discipline and focus in this noisy world.The book divided into three parts:1. Mind2. Spirit3. BodyEach part has several chapters making the case for stillness and giving life practices that can help to practically develop stillness.I do feel that the book could have more practical tips but for me it really does help with stirring the emotions and helping to really value the importance of stillness in my life and finding ways to develop this.For me this topic is really important. I previously read Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport and have also pre-ordered Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Indistractable-Control-Your-Attention-Choose/dp/1526610221/I will be reading this book a few times to inspire me and develop practices to help me as I try to navigate this world of chaos. I recommend this if this is the journey you are also looking to take.

Easy to read and grasp all the concepts covered. Appropriate level of detail and depth. Would recommend highly. Some key life lessons in this book.

Ryan Holiday is a very impressive guy - incredible wisdom for a man of his age. I'm significantly older but learn loads from his writings.Overall I think this is a great book but I have my issues with using 'Politicians' (Kennedy, Churchill) as moral role models and examples. They are corrupt to the core by the very self-serving nature. Ignore this significant issue and there are huge lessons in here.

Incredibly insightful as usual but with more flow and depth than some of his other, equally insightful but more succinct work.Excellent interpretations of well know concepts and ideas that make our lives seem to make more sense and feel more worthwhile.A book I’m grateful to have found and recommend anyone to have a go at reading.A depth of meaning with well written language that’s not heavy and hard work to get through.

Stillness is the key by Ryan HolidayHaving read Ryan’s other books The obstacle is the way and Ego is the enemy I was excited to learn about this new book coming out.As a martial artist I like the eastern philosophies Zen, Taoism, etc… So the title spoke to me.The book, just like Ryan’s other books consists out three parts which are divided into chapters. These chapters are each a story around a theme.Stories are great vehicles to get lessons across. The stories by Ryan often do more than just teach, they also inspire. Ryan who is known for being inspired by Stoicism, delves into many different backgrounds for his stories, east, west, past and present… Universal and timeless…Like classical music where the same pieces are played with different chords the book sheds a fresh light on classical teachings.What I like about the book is the storytelling, the easy to read stories can be easily read during a short break, not too long, not too short and they grab your attention and hold it right up to the end. Then the rest of the day you can ponder on it and try to apply it in your daily life.The act of reading the book itself already gets you into this state of stillness. Which brings peace on a hectic day and answers to questions and problems.Stillness is indeed the key. And like the Zen saying goes:“It is the silence between the notes that makes the music; it is the space between the bars that cages the tiger.”

Highly recommend this book. It really is a good read and helped me through a tough time. I pick up to read bits now and again too.

There are loads of examples (the number of sports ones began to grate on me - hence the lost star, just a personal preference - and they were all from the US, so as a Brit I had to look most of them up) and the layout is very clear. Very accessible and we'll written.I thought he gave a bit of a false impression about meditation being about 'emptying your mind' which is a common error. That's only one form of meditation, and someone reading that could easily be put off meditation.With that caveat though, I would highly recommend this book. I signed up to Holiday's daily email and bought a couple more books I was so inspired.

Full of useful and applicable knowledge, Not just theory’s.