How to Fight a Hydra

By: Josh Kaufman

Narrated by: Josh Kaufman

Length: 1 hr and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A survival manual for ambitious ADVENTURERS

You have a Hydra: a grand, ambitious project you’ve always wanted to tackle. It feels overwhelming, unconquerable. Chop off one of a Hydra’s heads, and two more grow in its place.

How will you ever defeat such a terrifying monstrosity - and live to tell the tale?

In this illuminating fable, productivity expert Josh Kaufman explores the uncertainty and fear inherent in facing down any ambitious challenge, from starting a new business to completing a work of art.

The risks involved can never be eliminated, but they can be understood, anticipated, and mitigated. Armed with an adventurer's insights into tackling unknown and fearsome challenges, you can tame a project of epic proportions.

How to Fight a Hydra is an essential handbook for artists, creative professionals, and entrepreneurs tired of ignoring the call to adventure.

So prepare for battle, brave soul. Draw your sword. Light your torch.

In the darkness ahead, your Hydra awaits.

©2018 Worldly Wisdom Ventures LLC (P)2018 Worldly Wisdom Ventures LLC

Critic reviews

"Originally I expected the title to be just a metaphor - I was delighted to learn that the book is, in fact, a short guide to fighting a Hydra. Using metaphor makes it much easier to have a clear view of reality. The way Josh tells the story is great: it starts with a picture of a world not quite like your own - but very much parallel - and then slowly the two worlds merge. By the time you put the book down, a feeling of possibility is unavoidable." (Joey Cofone, CEO of Baron Fig)

"From start to finish, How to Fight A Hydra felt like my brain on loudspeaker. This book is a map for venturing, risking, and living how I know I must. It's not easy, but I'll take the risk. The reward is finding out WHO I AM. I just took one of the biggest risks I've ever taken in my work; this book came at the perfect time. I'm ready to quest: to find the Hydra and defeat anything that gets in the way... even if it's me." (Ishita Gupta)

"As I read How to Fight a Hydra, I immediately thought of my journey as an entrepreneur. There were so many moments that mirrored the adventure of building my own business. This book is like The War of Art and Rules for a Knight tossed into a blender and combined to create a beautiful and insightful story about the quest any adventurer faces." (James Clear, author of Atomic Habits and writer)

Always on my phone

I don't leave many reviews, but this book deserves that time and extra attention. No matter the situation, whether it is business, pleasure, personal, professional, spiritual, mundane, anything that can or does contain steps into the unknown to achieve and which generates uncertainty and/or anxiety, fear, doubt.... this is the book to listen to. It is short, it is a fun listen, and despite the fun aspect, each aspect is clearly relevant and relatable to whatever your project or goal.

It resides on my phone and has done so since the day I purchased it. When I upgraded my phone, it was almost immediately downloaded. (Had to wait for another WiFi access point.) I have listened to it many times, and at some point will purchase the print volume as well. You don't need to be a fan of fantasy or role play or anything of the like to benefit from this book and the concise lessons it contains. Think of it as an epic story told around the evening campfire or at bedtime if you prefer.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The narration (by the author) is excellent, and the outstanding sound effects and background music lend a depth of realism and presence to the tale without distracting from the telling of it. It is engrossing and educational, in the tradition of the best storytelling across the ages. I would give it a hundred stars if I could.

Worth it!

I regularly read or listen to business and entrepreneurship content and have many books from this genre in my collection, but I have not re-read any of them as much as this one. It's honestly a great allegorical book on entrepreneurship. It's a great source of inspiration and is a length that makes it good for repeated listening whenever needed. It has, over numerous listenings, become my favourite and go-to listen when needing perspective or inspiration in entrepreneurial efforts. I highly recommend it.

While the moral of the story was pleasurable..

The subsequent acknowledgments, handwringing and self promotion make it less pleasurable. Listen to the first half.

Decent Listen, Not Superb.

How to Fight a Hydra is a decent, quick listen. While I understand the overall concepts and underlying themes, I believe Kaufman's lane is within writing about business. He should stick to that genre, in my opinion, just my two cents.

Motivational, and perfect for regular relistening

A short perfect read about struggling, fighting, losing, and winning. A core motivational reminder worth having to relisten to when you are struggling to stay on your feet.

Not Great, But Not Bad Either.

If you've read the Personal MBA or The First 20 Hours, pass on this book, you'll be disappointed. The book is about getting started with courage in spite of all the obstacles and odds against you in a Joseph Campbell esque manner. I do read/listen to this if I need the catalyst to get started, but nothing innovative like his last two works. If you're bored, it is an interesting read if you want different perspective in a business/project management point of view.

Illuminating and thought-provoking

I might not have landed here had I not already enjoyed Josh's other works, since I generally don't read the fantasy sort of genre. However the interpolation of the characters and their evaluation and response to the situations in the story, with the sorts of real-life challenges and quandaries we all face, was extremely effective.

The story had a way of shining a light on the tough questions we face - like what am I really trying to achieve, where is the value in the journey I am undertaking, and should I even undertake that journey - and providing room and context to consider them from a new perspective.

I think this was a great read, and one I intend to re-read (or rather, listen to) again.

short but sweet, nuggets of wisdom sprinkled

short but sweet, nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout. good short book to read if you need some inspiration

Thank you Josh Kaufman.

You helped save My Life. and call forth the cowering hero from the dark...nuff said.

The Teacher

Simple yet effective metaphor for perseverance!

Short and sweet! A good short story that expresses that which we often are aware of, but fail to follow thru with.