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The Passion Paradox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success, and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life
"Should we throw everything to the wind and follow our passions? Or should we strive for balance and let our passions cool? This book offers the surprising, nuanced, and research-backed answer." - Daniel H. Pink, Bestselling author of When and Drive.
"I feel like this book was written for me. I had to resist underlining every sentence."- Shalane Flanagan. New York City Marathon Champion, Four-Time Olympian, and New York Times bestselling author.
The coauthors of the bestselling Peak Performance dive into the fascinating science behind passion, showing how it can lead to a rich and meaningful life while also illuminating the ways in which it is a double-edged sword. Here's how to cultivate a passion that will take you to great heights--while minimizing the risk of an equally great fall.
Common advice is to find and follow your passion. A life of passion is a good life, or so we are told. But it's not that simple. Rarely is passion something that you just stumble upon, and the same drive that fuels breakthroughs--whether they're athletic, scientific, entrepreneurial, or artistic--can be every bit as destructive as it is productive. Yes, passion can be a wonderful gift, but only if you know how to channel it. If you're not careful, passion can become an awful curse, leading to endless seeking, suffering, and burnout.
Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness once again team up, this time to demystify passion, showing readers how they can find and cultivate their passion, sustainably harness its power, and avoid its dangers. They ultimately argue that passion and balance--that other virtue touted by our culture--are incompatible, and that to find your passion, you must lose balance. And that's not always a bad thing. They show readers how to develop the right kind of passion, the kind that lets you achieve great things without ruining your life. Swift, compact, and powerful, this thought-provoking book combines captivating stories of extraordinarily passionate individuals with the latest science on the biological and psychological factors that give rise to--and every bit as important, sustain--passion.
"I feel like this book was written for me. I had to resist underlining every sentence."- Shalane Flanagan. New York City Marathon Champion, Four-Time Olympian, and New York Times bestselling author.
The coauthors of the bestselling Peak Performance dive into the fascinating science behind passion, showing how it can lead to a rich and meaningful life while also illuminating the ways in which it is a double-edged sword. Here's how to cultivate a passion that will take you to great heights--while minimizing the risk of an equally great fall.
Common advice is to find and follow your passion. A life of passion is a good life, or so we are told. But it's not that simple. Rarely is passion something that you just stumble upon, and the same drive that fuels breakthroughs--whether they're athletic, scientific, entrepreneurial, or artistic--can be every bit as destructive as it is productive. Yes, passion can be a wonderful gift, but only if you know how to channel it. If you're not careful, passion can become an awful curse, leading to endless seeking, suffering, and burnout.
Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness once again team up, this time to demystify passion, showing readers how they can find and cultivate their passion, sustainably harness its power, and avoid its dangers. They ultimately argue that passion and balance--that other virtue touted by our culture--are incompatible, and that to find your passion, you must lose balance. And that's not always a bad thing. They show readers how to develop the right kind of passion, the kind that lets you achieve great things without ruining your life. Swift, compact, and powerful, this thought-provoking book combines captivating stories of extraordinarily passionate individuals with the latest science on the biological and psychological factors that give rise to--and every bit as important, sustain--passion.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2019
404 people are currently reading
5113 people want to read
About the author
Brad Stulberg
20 books389 followersBrad Stulberg researches, writes, and coaches on health, well-being, and sustainable excellence. He is the bestselling author of Master of Change, The Practice of Groundedness, and co-author of Peak Performance.
Stulberg regularly contributes to the New York Times, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine, Forbes, and other outlets.
He also serves as the co-host of The Growth Equation podcast and is on faculty at the University of Michigan’s Graduate School of Public Health. In his coaching practice, he works with executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes on their mental skills and overall well-being.
He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Follow him on Intagram @Bradstulberg and Twitter @Bstulberg and learn more at www.bradstulberg.com
Stulberg regularly contributes to the New York Times, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine, Forbes, and other outlets.
He also serves as the co-host of The Growth Equation podcast and is on faculty at the University of Michigan’s Graduate School of Public Health. In his coaching practice, he works with executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes on their mental skills and overall well-being.
He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Follow him on Intagram @Bradstulberg and Twitter @Bstulberg and learn more at www.bradstulberg.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
March 20, 2020
What happens if the passion is not pointed in the right direction? It can be as destructive as it is productive. In short, if you don't, your passion will start controlling you and that can be disastrous. The author shows us how to manage passion so that we give our best in whatever we do.
March 22, 2019
Steve and Brad did it again! The Passion Paradox, like Peak Performance, combines real-life experiences with the latest scientific research to give insight on some of the world’s greatest athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, businessmen/women, and more. This time, the duo tackles the loaded concept of passion, diving into the roots of the word, offering valuable examples across a multitude of fields, and challenging many of society’s assumptions about what it means and takes to be passionate. A recommended read for all those interested in pursuing their passions in a healthy, fulfilling, and sustainable way.
December 1, 2019
This was a strong 3.5/5, I learned some really good things but this book is pretty forgettable for the most part. Repeating the same shit over and over.
March 9, 2020
This book was not entertaining, and didn't really offer anything new. Skip it.
August 19, 2021
This book presents a relatively straightforward and easy-to-grasp portrait of what passion is and how to live a life that's harmonious with following it. I think that's a good thing to write about, and for some people, maybe this book will land in just the right way.
Honestly, I didn't like this book very much.
I found the writing to be, unfortunately, pretty bland throughout. The book is rife with surface-level assertions, some of which I found specious, and each chapter featured only a handful of citations to back its arguments up. Some plausible concepts from psychology, neuroscience, and biology are introduced, but many are given overly simplistic explanations that point to a lack of deep engagement with source material and a dearth of interviews with experts on the subjects they're discussing. Each argument the authors make is restated repeatedly in pull quotes, breakout boxes, and end-of-chapter summaries, resulting in this brief, 164-page book feeling ponderous and padded-out.
I think what bothered me the most was how this book argues repeatedly that individual action is the determinant of success or failure in pursuit of a passion. Billionaire megalomaniacs like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett are held up as model passion-followers, while people seeking "balance" — something I'd argue is vital for living a passionate life healthily or, to use their terms, to combine "stress + rest" to achieve growth — are implied to be uninteresting. People staring into their cell phones is identified as a direct personal failing of those involved while schools shuttering art and music programs are sadly acknowledged in the most passive of voices. You don't have to be a policy wonk to recognize that a world where people can cultivate passions is one where we readily acknowledge the massive gating factors that politics, economics, and geography play. (These authors are in for a real shock if they ever discover class politics.)
If you want a good book on understanding passion and living your life well, I recommend How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell or Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
If you want a good book on self-awareness and mindfulness, read some Thich Nhat Hanh or Eckhart Tolle or, honestly, just start meditating.
Honestly, I didn't like this book very much.
I found the writing to be, unfortunately, pretty bland throughout. The book is rife with surface-level assertions, some of which I found specious, and each chapter featured only a handful of citations to back its arguments up. Some plausible concepts from psychology, neuroscience, and biology are introduced, but many are given overly simplistic explanations that point to a lack of deep engagement with source material and a dearth of interviews with experts on the subjects they're discussing. Each argument the authors make is restated repeatedly in pull quotes, breakout boxes, and end-of-chapter summaries, resulting in this brief, 164-page book feeling ponderous and padded-out.
I think what bothered me the most was how this book argues repeatedly that individual action is the determinant of success or failure in pursuit of a passion. Billionaire megalomaniacs like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett are held up as model passion-followers, while people seeking "balance" — something I'd argue is vital for living a passionate life healthily or, to use their terms, to combine "stress + rest" to achieve growth — are implied to be uninteresting. People staring into their cell phones is identified as a direct personal failing of those involved while schools shuttering art and music programs are sadly acknowledged in the most passive of voices. You don't have to be a policy wonk to recognize that a world where people can cultivate passions is one where we readily acknowledge the massive gating factors that politics, economics, and geography play. (These authors are in for a real shock if they ever discover class politics.)
If you want a good book on understanding passion and living your life well, I recommend How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell or Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
If you want a good book on self-awareness and mindfulness, read some Thich Nhat Hanh or Eckhart Tolle or, honestly, just start meditating.
March 31, 2020
Whenever I've voiced my dissatisfaction with where I'm spaced in life, I've been told - "find your passion". Very seldom does anyone realise how pressuring this feels, as if not finding "the perfect fit" would always leave one feeling incomplete. Now there are two problems here:
"perfect": Passion is an all consuming interest. Yes, it makes your life more purposeful and joyful. But by no means is it a smooth sailing ride all the time.
"fit": Any passion may be not be lifelong. As we grow and evolve, so do our core interests.
Moreover, who tells us how to be passionate anyway?
Needless to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK - very different from your usual cliched self help mumbo jumbo. It's very scientific and practical, filled with insights on the biology of passion and clear steps on making passion productive.
What's the paradox? Passion, a close cousin of addiction, is a double edged sword. It can make or break you, depending on the way in which it is harnessed with deliberate intention.
Biologically, part of what we experience as passion is rooted in our genetic code and amplified by our neurochemistry. Persistence is a result of dopamine disposition - some of us stick longer at the task at hand because we want a more intense dopamine kick. There is a biological reason why the wonderful feeling of passion cannot coexist with the wonderful feeling of contentment. Passion builds on itself: the more we push, the more we get hooked on to the feeling of pushing. Thus, passion will always be antithetical to 'balance'.
So passion or balance? Read the book.
"perfect": Passion is an all consuming interest. Yes, it makes your life more purposeful and joyful. But by no means is it a smooth sailing ride all the time.
"fit": Any passion may be not be lifelong. As we grow and evolve, so do our core interests.
Moreover, who tells us how to be passionate anyway?
Needless to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK - very different from your usual cliched self help mumbo jumbo. It's very scientific and practical, filled with insights on the biology of passion and clear steps on making passion productive.
What's the paradox? Passion, a close cousin of addiction, is a double edged sword. It can make or break you, depending on the way in which it is harnessed with deliberate intention.
Biologically, part of what we experience as passion is rooted in our genetic code and amplified by our neurochemistry. Persistence is a result of dopamine disposition - some of us stick longer at the task at hand because we want a more intense dopamine kick. There is a biological reason why the wonderful feeling of passion cannot coexist with the wonderful feeling of contentment. Passion builds on itself: the more we push, the more we get hooked on to the feeling of pushing. Thus, passion will always be antithetical to 'balance'.
So passion or balance? Read the book.
March 31, 2019
Wow. This was the book I needed to read and it’s a book I want all my friends and family to read. It is incredibly thought provoking and written in a way that isn’t bogged down with science and research but feels very real like a conversation.
November 15, 2020
This book is a paragon of brevity; it takes us on a journey of how to find your passion & more importantly how to sustain it (which, according to the author, is not covered by the self-help books revolving around the them of passion).
March 15, 2024
As someone who recently left a corporate job to pursue his passion this is a particularly relevant book that looks at how to approach this in a healthy manner and is honest about the pitfalls of passion if pursued singularly. It's got great advice on how to approach your passion with balance to ensure it's for the right reasons and doesn't consume you.
March 24, 2019
Wisdom for All
I had this book on my radar after thoroughly enjoying Peak Performance. The authors have created another excellent work here. The research and advice that they present is very insightful and is unlike other books I’ve read on high performance and single-minded pursuits of excellence. The prose is very clean and direct. There is something here for everybody, no matter where your interests lie.
I had this book on my radar after thoroughly enjoying Peak Performance. The authors have created another excellent work here. The research and advice that they present is very insightful and is unlike other books I’ve read on high performance and single-minded pursuits of excellence. The prose is very clean and direct. There is something here for everybody, no matter where your interests lie.
May 23, 2020
I’m disappointed in this book because I enjoyed Peak Performance, and was able to take away useful tidbits of information that I semi-successfully integrated into my life. I was hoping this book would focus mostly on sports examples but it ended up being more like any other generic self-help book I’ve read (and in fact, referenced quite a few of those). And like many of those books, pretty much everything you need to know is in the title/subtitle. So I can’t say I found anything particularly novel or insightful here. Maybe a sign I should stop reading these?
December 11, 2024
A must read for people that are highly passionate people. It looks at both the good and the bad sides to the double edged sword that is passion. I remember my Pastor telling a young man that he asked God to show him the most zealous people in the church and that young man was one of the people that came to his mind. Then he gave the man advice that wasn’t intended for me, but I got the benefit of hearing because I was standing there. He said, “Zeal is a great thing, but zeal can hurt as much as it can bless. So be zealous but make sure you temper your zeal by seeking wisdom and understanding so you don’t let your zeal be a stumbling block to others.” (That probably isn’t a direct quote anymore, this was probably 13-14 years ago.)
The point being that passion is a double edged sword, which is a truth that any passionate person has come to know. However, not all passionate people have the wisdom to know how to control their passions and not let their passions control them. In fairness it is significantly easier said than done.
This book is roughly 200 pages saying the exact same thing my Pastor said, and I found it just as relevant today as I did then. If not more so after experiencing the negative side effects of unbridled passion or zeal. The shame, the frustration, and even the confusion behind becoming aware that your passion and zeal has produced a negative outcome is a difficult cross to bear. One that is unique to passionate people.
People with high levels of passion tend to tie their self worth to whatever they are passionate about so when failure or criticism comes in the arena they are passionate about they take it as a personal attack or a personal rejection. Which is why it is vital for passionate people to develop high levels of self awareness! Passionate people with no self awareness are lessons in futility and frustration.
I felt like this book nails every pro and every con to being a passionate person and they give practical advice for how to live the most effective life while being a passionate person. The book effectively shows how to maximize the positive influence of passion while minimizing the negative consequences of passion.
Overall it’s a book that hits close to home for me. Overall it it a fantastic book for passionate people to read. However, it isn’t really for non passionate people, unless someone is wanting to understand passionate people better. Even then I am unsure it will help them understand passionate people better. I mean, it will help them understand the battle passionate people face better, but it may not give them more patience with passionate people. And really, the hardest part for non passionate people dealing with passionate people is to have patience with them. Passionate people can be extremely difficult to live with, and there is always seems to be someone not so passionate joined at the hip of a passionate person!
The point being that passion is a double edged sword, which is a truth that any passionate person has come to know. However, not all passionate people have the wisdom to know how to control their passions and not let their passions control them. In fairness it is significantly easier said than done.
This book is roughly 200 pages saying the exact same thing my Pastor said, and I found it just as relevant today as I did then. If not more so after experiencing the negative side effects of unbridled passion or zeal. The shame, the frustration, and even the confusion behind becoming aware that your passion and zeal has produced a negative outcome is a difficult cross to bear. One that is unique to passionate people.
People with high levels of passion tend to tie their self worth to whatever they are passionate about so when failure or criticism comes in the arena they are passionate about they take it as a personal attack or a personal rejection. Which is why it is vital for passionate people to develop high levels of self awareness! Passionate people with no self awareness are lessons in futility and frustration.
I felt like this book nails every pro and every con to being a passionate person and they give practical advice for how to live the most effective life while being a passionate person. The book effectively shows how to maximize the positive influence of passion while minimizing the negative consequences of passion.
Overall it’s a book that hits close to home for me. Overall it it a fantastic book for passionate people to read. However, it isn’t really for non passionate people, unless someone is wanting to understand passionate people better. Even then I am unsure it will help them understand passionate people better. I mean, it will help them understand the battle passionate people face better, but it may not give them more patience with passionate people. And really, the hardest part for non passionate people dealing with passionate people is to have patience with them. Passionate people can be extremely difficult to live with, and there is always seems to be someone not so passionate joined at the hip of a passionate person!
October 10, 2019
Some very interesting thinking/concepts coming out of this book.
I've never really though about passion as an addiction, and that the negative impact passion could have.
They draw the parallels between passion and balance, but just having the one towards either side is also not great.
The format of the book was great for the content getting delivered.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was a pleasant listen.
I've read/listened to quite a few books of people getting used as case studies in this book. Like Finding Ultra, Revised and Updated Edition: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself (about Rich Roll ) and other athletes/people mentioned. So it was great to have that context, and being able to tie the bigger picture into this specific area of passion.
I've also listened to Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams which ties in very well with a part in this book about the balance between stress and rest, and how to avoid burning out.
This book didn't come across as "self-help". Which is refreshing.
One of those books where it is easy to recommend as "the more you know.."
I've never really though about passion as an addiction, and that the negative impact passion could have.
They draw the parallels between passion and balance, but just having the one towards either side is also not great.
The format of the book was great for the content getting delivered.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was a pleasant listen.
I've read/listened to quite a few books of people getting used as case studies in this book. Like Finding Ultra, Revised and Updated Edition: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself (about Rich Roll ) and other athletes/people mentioned. So it was great to have that context, and being able to tie the bigger picture into this specific area of passion.
I've also listened to Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams which ties in very well with a part in this book about the balance between stress and rest, and how to avoid burning out.
This book didn't come across as "self-help". Which is refreshing.
One of those books where it is easy to recommend as "the more you know.."
September 25, 2019
I quite enjoyed this relatively short dive into a topic I've never really considered that seriously. I'm not what anyone would describe as passionate about much and while that's still true, there was quite a bit I took away from this book. I especially liked the discussion on passion vs balance which mostly changed my previous opinion on the debate. I also liked the format which referenced quite a few other books and gave both theoretical and practical arguments on the topic of passion.
The reason this isn't rated better though is that apart from one or two ideas, I pretty much knew and agreed with most of the information contained here. That's not to say that I didn't appreciate the reminder of some of the aspects you tend to lose sight of when you're going through everyday life. Also, having that existing information framed through the lens of passion was quite illuminating on a few occasions and made me think more critically of how I'm going about my interests.
The writing was thankfully direct and clear as well. There wasn't the usual amount of fluff you tend to get in these self-help type books and I didn't notice any repetition of ideas. The audiobook narrator was also really good and made the whole experience a pleasant one. However, on a slightly unfair note, the repetition of the word "passion" did get a bit much at times. So from my side, this is a 3.5 that I'm happy to round up. There's a lot of sensible, practical advice and well thought out arguments on the topic. Being so short and to-the-point, it's hard not to recommend as well.
The reason this isn't rated better though is that apart from one or two ideas, I pretty much knew and agreed with most of the information contained here. That's not to say that I didn't appreciate the reminder of some of the aspects you tend to lose sight of when you're going through everyday life. Also, having that existing information framed through the lens of passion was quite illuminating on a few occasions and made me think more critically of how I'm going about my interests.
The writing was thankfully direct and clear as well. There wasn't the usual amount of fluff you tend to get in these self-help type books and I didn't notice any repetition of ideas. The audiobook narrator was also really good and made the whole experience a pleasant one. However, on a slightly unfair note, the repetition of the word "passion" did get a bit much at times. So from my side, this is a 3.5 that I'm happy to round up. There's a lot of sensible, practical advice and well thought out arguments on the topic. Being so short and to-the-point, it's hard not to recommend as well.
April 21, 2020
The authors do a great job of talking about what “passion” even is, the biological constructs that create it, and how it can be a force of both positive and negative change in your life. Even better: their practical advice on what you can do to curate your own passion for positivity is easy to follow.
December 2, 2022
Paired with Magness' Do Hard Things, this provides the necessary counter to do the hard things - enough passion to follow through with it. I find the scientific basis for all of this work compelling, and the combination an excellent starting point for a mental training program for athletes and students.
November 26, 2020
For such a broad topic, the authors keep it to the point and lay out super useful information about passion, relationships, addiction and choosing the right path. Didn’t expect anything less from the legendary Brad Stulberg.
October 6, 2023
Loved this book. Lots of great examples and anecdotes throughout. I listened to it on audible and some of the material, I listened to twice because I couldn’t believe the book was already over. I think the description of the book really nails it!
November 30, 2023
Quick and easy to read book - most books talk about the power of passion but fail to recognise the downside. This book is a great attempt at providing the paradoxical view of passion with some takeaways that we can implement. Well written and I can easily recommend for a quick read
February 16, 2024
Not that much focus is put on the discovery of your passion(s). The book is more focused on how to live with them in a healthy and balanced way. Enjoyable read with several interesting and practical insights. But before I can really try them, I still have to find my passion (or not?!).
October 12, 2024
เป็นหนังสือที่ชำแหละทุกๆมุมมองของ Passion ออกมาน่าจะครบถ้วนทุกมุมมองแล้ว ซึ่งเขียนโดยทีมนักเขียน 2คน ตั้งแต่หาความหมาย ข้อดีข้อเสียของ Passion ความสมดุลของชีวิต ลากยาวไปจนการที่จำต้องทิ้ง Passion ไป และการเริ่มต้นชีวิตใหม่หลังจากทิ้ง Passion ไปแล้ว
March 27, 2019
Highly recommended for anyone with a deep passion or interest in a specific area or hobby. Great insight as to how to balance what is important in the short and long run
April 26, 2019
Wonderful, really enjoyed it. Conclusions are highlighted, and it makes it even more clear.
May 23, 2019
Unfortunately, there's nothing new in this book.
October 4, 2019
A short but very insightful book on how to deal with passion in your life.
August 14, 2022
I found what I was not passionate about- this book! At least it’s mercifully short but 10-15% of it is repeating what was already said.
January 18, 2024
A short book full of revealing insights about passion, and how to channel one's energy in a balanced way. Nothing revelatory, but I learned a lot nevertheless.
February 1, 2024
Very interesting read about the duality of passion and how it can be harnessed for good and bad, with practical tips on how to make it personal.
September 22, 2019
This is a book I'm going to have to add permanently in my library. I wanted to write down so many passages. Practical advice on how to pursue your passions with clarity and consistency, whilst being kind to yourself in the process. Rome wasn't built in a day - small consistent 'goodness' counts.
April 1, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book.. not as information driven as other books by Magness. It was easy to read as it read more like a story than a text book. Supported claims with research and followed up with anecdotal stories from pro athletes, actors, and business people. Bullet points at end of sections was a good refresher for main take a ways. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews