Stillness Is the Key

Bestselling author Ryan Holiday popularised old wisdom for a new generation of leaders in sports, politics, and technology with his books The Obstacle Is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy. Holiday explains in his new book, Stillness Is the Key, why slowing down is the hidden weapon of those who are pushing forward by drawing on ageless Stoic and Buddhist philosophy.

One unbreakable trait unites all outstanding athletes, philosophers, visionaries, leaders, and artists. It helps them control their rage. to stay focused and get amazing ideas. to fulfil one's potential for pleasure and morality. To remain stable as the world revolves around you is what Ryan Holiday refers to as stillness.

He lays out a strategy for adopting this antiquated but desperately needed style of life in this book. Drawing on the writings of some of the greatest minds in history, including Nietzsche, Marcus Aurelius, Thich Nhat Hanh, Confucius, and John Stuart Mill, he makes the case that stillness is not just inertia but rather the path to self-control, discipline, and attention.

Holiday also explores individuals who personified the power of stillness: baseball player Sadaharu Oh, who became the all-time greatest home run hitter through his study of Zen; Winston Churchill, who prevented the end of the world by juggling his busy public life with time spent painting and laying bricks at his Chartwell estate; Fred Rogers, who taught generations of children to see what was invisible to the naked eye; and Anne Frank, whose love of nature and journaling helped her through unfathomable adversity.

People are overburdened now more than ever. They deal with barriers, egos, and rivalry. A simple but motivational remedy for the stress of constant news and social media is provided by Stillness Is the Key. In a world that needs it more than ever, the way to significance, satisfaction, and greatness is the silence that we all crave.