Ego is the enemy
In an era that glorifies social media, reality TV, and other forms of shameless self-promotion, the battle against ego must be fought on many fronts. The book Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday is filled with cautionary tales of those who let their egos run amok and were eventually undone by the resulting. Their strategies and tactics can be ours as well. We meet fascinating figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who all reached the highest levels of power and success by conquering their own egos. At every stage, ego holds us back.Įgo Is the Enemy draws on a vast array of stories and examples, from literature to philosophy to history.
In failure, it magnifies each blow and makes recovery more difficult. With success, it can blind us to our faults and sow future problems. Early in our careers, it impedes learning and the cultivation of talent. Drawing on an array of inspiring characters and narratives from literature, philosophy and. In fact, the most common enemy lies within: our ego. In Ego is the Enemy, Ryan Holiday shows us how and why ego is such a powerful internal opponent to be guarded against at all stages of our careers and lives, and that we can only create our best work when we identify, acknowledge and disarm its dangers.
Augustine more than a thousand years ago, 'pick it up and read' for to not do so is to allow the enemy to bring despair. Many of us insist the main impediment to a full, successful life is the outside world. Ego can be the enemy if we are unarmed with the cautionary insights of history, scripture, and philosophy.