WARS CHANGE, WARRIORS DON'T We are all warriors. Each of us struggles every day to define and defend our sense of purpose and integrity, to justify our existence on the planet and to understand, if only within our own hearts, who we are and what we believe in. Do we fight by a code? If so, what is it? What is the Warrior Ethos? Where did it come from? What form does it take today? How do we (and how can we) use it and be true to it in our internal and external lives? The Warrior Ethos is intended not only for men and women in uniform, but artists, entrepreneurs and other warriors in other walks of life. The book examines the evolution of the warrior code of honor and "mental toughness." It goes back to the ancient Spartans and Athenians, to Caesar's Romans, Alexander's Macedonians and the Persians of Cyrus the Great (not excluding the Garden of Eden and the primitive hunting band). Sources include Herodotus, Thucydides, Plutarch, Xenophon, Vegetius, Arrian and Curtius--and on down to Gen. George Patton, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Israeli Minister of Defense, Moshe Dayan.
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About the Author
Steven Pressfield is the author of The Profession, Gates of Fire, Tides of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The War of Art and Do the Work among others. He is a former Marine. In 2003, he was made an honorary citizen by the city of Sparta in Greece.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By DAX
Format:Paperback
I've been moving on from the warrior mindset for some time now after reflecting that the only purpose for a warrior is to find war and battles and conflict. After all, it's what they train for, right?
But this book intrigued me as I know that Pressfield has a fond romanticism around all things military (as do I as a former soldier myself) yet I also know that he's a logical, no-BS thinker and writer who doesn't dress things up, preferring to let the actual events he writes about be seen in their 'down and dirty' reality.
I liked this book as he hit on elements of the warrior mind, the tribal connection, the difference between a gang and a unit of warriors, the hardcore codes of ethics, the care of community, attraction to hardship and more.
I can't recommend this enough for those trying to understand the warrior mind and what makes them as they are... a brilliant, if somewhat short, read.
Truth, joy and love
Dax Moy
[...]
But this book intrigued me as I know that Pressfield has a fond romanticism around all things military (as do I as a former soldier myself) yet I also know that he's a logical, no-BS thinker and writer who doesn't dress things up, preferring to let the actual events he writes about be seen in their 'down and dirty' reality.
I liked this book as he hit on elements of the warrior mind, the tribal connection, the difference between a gang and a unit of warriors, the hardcore codes of ethics, the care of community, attraction to hardship and more.
I can't recommend this enough for those trying to understand the warrior mind and what makes them as they are... a brilliant, if somewhat short, read.
Truth, joy and love
Dax Moy
[...]
By IceViking
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very easily read book about the warrior mindset and what really drives us as human beings, i particularly enjoyed the small impactful history lessons about the Spartans and Rommel. Short book that can be read in a afternoon and something that should be study ground for the warrior mentality.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
78 reviews
70 of 73 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Short, But Sweet!
15 May 2011
By C. Munguia
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read much of Pressfield's work, and was anxiously awaiting to load this up on my Kindle. Once again, he does not disappoint. As a Soldier, I am always on the lookout for inspiring books that I can help to professionally develop my subordinates. Gates of Fire was one of these books. This is another one.
We all know where bravery and military values come from... but do we REALLY know where they come from? Pressfield deconstructs the Warrior Ethos and puts it's many facets in the context of history. All the usual suspects are there: the Spartans, the Macedonians, the Athenians, etc... this book reads like a collection of essays, but a collection that can be enjoyed individually, or as a whole. I read this book all in one sitting, and was so impressed that I immediately ordered three dead-tree copies for my three Squad Leaders as professional development material.
You don't have to be a Soldier or Marine to learn from the Warrior Ethos, and practice it in your life. This book will put you on the right path to learning not only what is it, but how it came about.
I am a big fan of Victor Davis Hanson, and this book compares well to Hanson's "Carnage and Culture."
Highly recommended.
We all know where bravery and military values come from... but do we REALLY know where they come from? Pressfield deconstructs the Warrior Ethos and puts it's many facets in the context of history. All the usual suspects are there: the Spartans, the Macedonians, the Athenians, etc... this book reads like a collection of essays, but a collection that can be enjoyed individually, or as a whole. I read this book all in one sitting, and was so impressed that I immediately ordered three dead-tree copies for my three Squad Leaders as professional development material.
You don't have to be a Soldier or Marine to learn from the Warrior Ethos, and practice it in your life. This book will put you on the right path to learning not only what is it, but how it came about.
I am a big fan of Victor Davis Hanson, and this book compares well to Hanson's "Carnage and Culture."
Highly recommended.
31 of 36 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gets smoother as it goes along
31 July 2011
By G. G Storey
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a series of thoughts expanded into fuller sections, and it seems as if the author is trying to have a conversation with the readers. The first few sections of the book are choppy, and a bit disjointed--as if the author and reader are still getting to know each other. Once the writing style becomes familiar, after the first 20 pages or so, readers can get into the rhythm and this book will be completed in one sitting.
What disappointed the most was Pressfield's work cited page; the book itself is full of quotes or attributed thoughts (which he initially does say he is projecting upon the historical people being discussed) and when I got to the end and perused the citation page, it reads in part "The stories and anecdotes come from the following sources (although the author admits he sometimes can't remember which came from where."
There is no way I would let my high school composition students get away with admitting "I think this is kind of sort of what I read, but I am too lazy to check for sure." It takes away from the essential authority of book.
Good overall, but not authoritative.
What disappointed the most was Pressfield's work cited page; the book itself is full of quotes or attributed thoughts (which he initially does say he is projecting upon the historical people being discussed) and when I got to the end and perused the citation page, it reads in part "The stories and anecdotes come from the following sources (although the author admits he sometimes can't remember which came from where."
There is no way I would let my high school composition students get away with admitting "I think this is kind of sort of what I read, but I am too lazy to check for sure." It takes away from the essential authority of book.
Good overall, but not authoritative.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pressfield is the master of extracting ideas from wars and warriors that can be used today in life or business
2 July 2011
By Dave Lakhani
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Because this was a short book and put out fairly quickly it seemed, I didn't have high expectations but I got it anyway because I like some of his previous work.
I read the book in one sitting and it was phenomenal. The look at warriors and their psychology through history both as warriors, leaders, and humans combined with a look at how those attitudes show up today is nothing short of insightful.
If you are looking for a good place to start, this is it, when are are done with this read Marcus Aurelius Meditations Letters from a Stoic by Senenca Letters from a Stoic (Penguin Classics) then move on to The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene The 33 Strategies of War (Joost Elffers Books).
A very good read for any leader.
I read the book in one sitting and it was phenomenal. The look at warriors and their psychology through history both as warriors, leaders, and humans combined with a look at how those attitudes show up today is nothing short of insightful.
If you are looking for a good place to start, this is it, when are are done with this read Marcus Aurelius Meditations Letters from a Stoic by Senenca Letters from a Stoic (Penguin Classics) then move on to The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene The 33 Strategies of War (Joost Elffers Books).
A very good read for any leader.
›
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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