Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way

by Steven Pressfield (Author), Seth Godin (Foreword)

"There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is enormously powerful. It saved my life, and it will save yours." -- Steven Pressfield Could you be getting in your way of producing great work? Have you started a project but never finished? Would you like to do work that matters, but don't know where to start?The answer is Do the Work, a manifesto by bestselling author Steven Pressfield, that will show you that it's not about better ideas, it's about actually doing the work. Do the Work is a weapon against Resistance - a tool that will help you take action and successfully ship projects out the door. Picking up where The War of Art and Turning Pro left off, Do The Work takes the reader from the start to the finish of any long-form project—novel, screenplay, album, software piece, you name it. Do The Work identifies the predictable Resistance Points along the way and walks you through each of them. No, you are not crazy. No, you are not alone. No, you are not the first person to "hit the wall" in Act Two. Do The Work charts the territory. It's the stage-by-stage road map for taking your project from Page One to THE END.

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2023

Reviews

[Kat Moor · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Do the Work" is a compact, punchy manifesto aimed at pushing creatives and entrepreneurs out of procrastination and into action. Steven Pressfield, best known for "The War of Art", uses this book to focus sharply on one thing: overcoming resistance in the execution phase of creative projects.

Pros
1. Straightforward and Motivational:
Pressfield’s no-nonsense tone is designed to jolt readers into action. It’s like having a coach yelling, “Get up and do it!” This approach works well for people who need a swift kick to overcome self-doubt or inertia.

2. Quick and Accessible:
At 95 pages, this is a book you can devour in an afternoon, making it perfect for those seeking instant inspiration without wading through dense prose. Its brevity aligns with the theme of "stop overthinking and start working."

3. Humorous and Relatable:
The author’s sense of humor and conversational style make the advice feel approachable. He’s candid about the struggles creatives face, which can be validating for readers who feel stuck.

4. Action-Oriented
The book is practical, packed with bite-sized advice meant to be implemented immediately. It doesn’t dwell on theory or fluff—it’s about results.

Cons
1. Overly Aggressive Tone
While some appreciate the drill-sergeant approach, others may find the tone too abrasive or simplistic. It can feel more like being shouted at than guided.

2. Lacks Depth and Narrative:
The book is essentially a series of short, punchy statements strung together without much elaboration. Readers looking for deeper exploration of concepts or a more narrative structure may be disappointed.

3. Feels Padded
The formatting (generous spacing, large font) makes the book feel longer than it is. In reality, the content might amount to about 20 pages in standard formatting, which can leave some readers questioning its value relative to its length.

4. Not for Everyone
The terse style works for readers who need a direct push, but those seeking reflective or nuanced discussions on creativity might feel it oversimplifies complex challenges.

[Kristyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally "did the work" and finished this book (after a few months of falling off due to disinterest)! I read this book for a professional book club.

As someone who is opposite of a procrastinator or hesitant to take action, I didn't find a whole lot of inspiration from this book. I thought the tone was on the side of "aggressive" and focused more on actions vs. being reflective on the reasoning why you're fearful/resistant to move forward. It lacked a lot of explanation into the tips the author was providing as well. The formatting (read on an eReader) was strange. Lots of varying text sizes and formats to make points or pull quotes - I felt like it lessened the work the author did by making it a bit more gimmicky and showy. Also lots of reiterating the same points.

I did appreciate some of the honest stories the author shared - it did make things more relatable.

If someone out there is looking for a direct, quick, and motivational book to help push them into taking action, I think this book would be a decent choice. I thought the book was practical and easy to read. But personally, this book wasn't for me.

[Bonnie Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book ! In the kickass , get up , stop over thinking and get your stuff done . Like now . I will use what I read here and revisit this book again !
START BEFORE YOU’RE READY !