The Artist's Journey

The Wake of the Hero's Journey and the Lifelong Pursuit of Meaning

By: Steven Pressfield

Narrated by: Steven Pressfield

Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

I have a theory about the "Hero's Journey". We all have one. We have many, in fact. But our primary hero's journey is the passage we live out, in real life, before we find our calling. The hero's journey ends when, like Odysseus, we return home to Ithaca, to the place from which we started.

What then?

The passage that comes next is the "Artist's Journey".

On our artist's journey, we move past resistance and past self-sabotage. We discover our true selves and our authentic calling, and we produce the works we were born to create.

You are an artist too - whether you realize it or not, whether you like it or not - and you have an artist's journey. Will you live it out? Will you follow your muse and do the work you were born to do?

Ready or not, you are called.

©2018 Black Irish Books, LLC (P)2018 Black Irish Book, LLC

It will give you strength

Are you a wanna be artist?
Are you struggling with procrastination?
Are you feeling the need for inspiration?
Do you feel like giving up your dreams? Your goals? Your life?

PLEASE! Do yourself a favour, and listen to this book!

Excellent Addition to the "War of Art" series

This was an excellent addition to Pressfield's "War of Art" series. This book happens to come at a perfect time for me personally - I am quitting my job to pursue my art. I really appreciate the guidance and mental model afforded by this book. I can already tell it will be impactful on my life in the same way "War of Art", "Turning Pro", and "Do the Work" have been.

Should Not Have Been Made into an Audiobook

I have several issues with this book.

I’d like to preface that I thought when I purchased this that I was the target audience. That could not have been further from the truth. It seemed to me to be mostly for people who have yet to start on the journey the book is about, as a majority of his wisdoms seemed self-evident to someone who has already made the commitment to the artist’s journey. This would be fine. I enjoy hearing my creative experience ratified or vindicated by others as much as the next person, but the way Pressfield goes about it here is a waste of time.

In my opinion, this should not have been made into an audiobook. It is something to skim—because there IS no depth to miss—and flick through. Given this book’s bullet like style, I won’t go so far as to say The Artist’s Journey indicates Pressfield doesn’t understand what chapters are for, but a lot of them could have been merged together. Nearly every minute he starts a new chapter—this is not an exaggeration. With more than 115 chapters within just two and a half hours, the constant interruption is exhausting. It is JARRING to have to listen to him constantly cutting to a new chapter. Just when you think he might be delving into a topic to give some PRACTICAL advice, it’s apparently time for a new chapter. Pressfield doesn’t really have much to offer in terms of practical advice anyway as this book has a lot to do with personal commitment and spiritual devotion to the artist’s call, which is fine! Sometimes you just need to hear something like this to reaffirm why you do what you do. However, I found it deeply frustrating; like I had just wasted my hard earned money on hastily written fluff.

Obviously with so many chapters in such a short book, Pressfield never gives himself the space to dig into any of the subjects with any depth. He will end some chapters with questions—that he doesn't answer. He will give quotes and say ‘wow that’s some heavy stuff,' then breeze right along as if he didn’t need to a.) unpack the quote or b.) relate it back to his own work. It was very frustrating.

Another issue I had was he spends about twenty minutes or so discussing what is essentially Auteur Theory—yet somehow, never mentions that this is a Thing which he is paraphrasing. I find it impossible to believe that Pressfield, who has worked in the movie business, has never heard of this and it would not have taken more than half a sentence to say he was drawing on the idea. Moreover there were a few famous personages he was using as examples without even saying their names? Yeah, these are big names, but that doesn’t mean the reader will know who they are from the titles of their body of work alone. And then he doesn’t pull out the themes these auteurs are working towards, as if they are self-evident. Maybe they are, but he should still say it, if only to establish himself as an authority on the subject. He doesn’t even come out and tell the reader what greater theme his own daemon is leading him toward—though he implies he has one. And I have to say it is not self-evident from the titles of his books.

Occasionally, rarely, he will give real life examples, but Pressfield frequently leaves out the specifics. It is probable he was being vague to protect the innocent, but the way he tells them, these SCANT examples sound more like parables than anything that an aspirant could USE. Honestly one of them left me with the suspicion if it had actually even happened rather than the inspiration it was meant to invoke.

One positive is you can hear Pressfield’s excitement and commitment to his personal journey as he reads. You know he’s happy to be sharing his particular paradigm which is cool, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the waste of time and money I felt this particular effort was.

Another Epic Pressfield Book

Another brilliant book by Steven Pressfield. I LOVE that Steven read the audio version! Our audience is creators: writers, artists, entrepreneurs... anyone creating anything, and the struggles Pressfield talks about is uber real, and just as uber avoidable. Steven inspires us to win the battle against the dragon of resistance, in the words and wisdom of one who has done just that. Master... Steven Pressfield, author extraordinaire... thank you for your legacy to the world.

LeAura Alderson
iCreateDaily

Great listen for artists

If you are a creative person, this is a lucid and inspiring work that takes you to unexpected far-reaching places. The author thinks much like I do, and helped me understand and confidently embrace my own eccentric nature as an artist. Fun words with great narration, too!

a nod to the magic that lies within the artist

This book is a kick in the pants with a bit of whimsy. Steven Pressfield delivers his deeply personal ideas on what it means to be an artist. this is a book that I return to again and again. It is filled with bite-sized chunks of wisdom and advice. there are ideas here that will inspire you, maybe even propel you forward. there is an undeniable charm in understanding that your work is heroic. There is power and knowing that others have gone before and had the troubles you've had.

I am an artist.

Steven, thank-you. Your exploration of your Subject has deepened in exactly the way you so eloquently describe in this magnificent work. The Legend of Bagger Vance moved me to tears at age 20 and now I finally understand why. Thank-you for helping me see my hero’s journey for what it so clearly was and now, with great excitement and trepidation continue with open eyes on my Artist’s Journey. I am forever in your debt.

Awesome

As always Steve does a fantastic job. This book is amazing. Glad he went into the mystical aspects of this work.

Thanks

It is a book to be heard few times. I felt like talking to the architype of the old wise man. For me it was a rare and comforting experience. Gives enough air to move on. Thanks

The wisdom I needed at the right time

Another great book by an author that inspires, helps one to find direction, make sense of it all, and uncover the story we want to write in the studio and for our life. A book you don't want to miss.

Bit of a rant

There were nuggets in here somewhere, but nothing particularly new. Show up, do the work, inspiration must find you working etc etc, and a load of odd cross references which were doubtless erudite, but actually felt irrelevant to a simple message. Show up, stop whining, do the damned work.
Not a good reader, in spite of enthusiasm, and clear passion for his subject, it smacked of the modern plague of jocular presentation on a laptop in a back bedroom at your mums house. Everyone’s a presenter these days, not. I wait for the podcast era to pass, and deliver us back to professionalism in all things spoken word.

Profound...Timely...Necessary

Elixir for the soul. Embrace this truth and be forever immortal.

Steven speaks and my heart sings...glorious wondrous arias.

Ancient wisdom forged by daemon revelation.

Overcome with a deep sense of peace...as I allow my artists journey to unfold..

With deep gratitude Steven...thank you for allowing your daemic voice to speak!!!

First Pressfield title I am not recommending :-/

I'm a big fan of Pressfield Do The Work and The War Of Art.

Unfortunately I haven't found a single thing in the first half of this book that he has't touched on before, in one way or another.
Steven seems to be so tired and dried out on the subject, that even his narration is rather dull and apathetic this time around.
Miles away from the passionate and focused Do The Work.

Perhaps the last hour of this audiobook will be better, but I will be asking for a refund on this one.
Disappointing.

I do recommend you pick up one of his other titles though.

Incredible in content, not ideal in form

An amazing book with amazing message, a must read for any artist or anyone making anything! But... I think the book really was written to be a book not an audiobook and although Steven did his best and adapted it well, the short chapters and the speed with which he read were at times hard to follow. I think I will read it too. Not impossible to understand by any means though. Enjoy!

read this book in two parts interesting read

came back to this after several months of not reading it the part of the daimon really interested and intrigued mean I think it is something that I definitely relate to would recommend this book for any aspiring writers

Read "Turning Pro" and "The War of Art" I stead

This book repeats many points from the books Turning Pro and War of Art but in a less efficient and inspiring way. (These two books should be handed immediately to any young person who shows any creative interest or skill. they have the power of saving them worlds of hurt and decades of their lives and help them get to the point; the actual work they are ment to do).

The two books I mentioned here are by the same author and are the most instrumental and inspiring books I have ever read regarding the subject of living life as a creative freelance, artist or in any other way self employed person. they both contain everything any creative person needs to get their heads out of their asses and actually do their lives work.

But this book, The Artist way, did not do that for me. repeating exellent points from Turning Pro and War of art is of course good: but there where too many big words and philosophy chat and not enough "to the point" talk.

Thank you for your time ❤️

I love this book!! Thank you Steven Pressfield

Once again, this is exactly what I needed to hear. How to keep going with The Work. So grateful already and will re-listen again and again I'm sure. I love the fact that Steven's the one reading it too - he expresses things so well. If you know you're creatively called, this will help.

Surprisingly Brilliant!

Stick with this one; let it get into your head. Initially the narrative was slightly irritating but I stuck with it & found it hugely inspirational. Unlike other books which just spill out the same old stuff about working hard & thinking differently, if you're looking for moving up a level, this is definitely for you. I loved it & will be listening again as I think I will pick up bits that perhaps I missed on my first listen. Love it!

Really helpful

Please, read or listen to this book. And then again, and again. And then go fulfil your heart dreams and desires. Have fun - and remember- if the going gets tough, this book is a really helpful reminder why it is all worth it. Thank you, Steve.

Decent motivation

There are some great nuggets in here and lands the way a motivational captain might, swinging in with a jagged knife clenched in his teeth.