Ego Is the Enemy Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ryan Holiday (Author, Narrator), Tim Ferriss Audio (Publisher)

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"While the history books are filled with tales of obsessive visionary geniuses who remade the world in their images with sheer, almost irrational force, I've found that history is also made by individuals who fought their egos at every turn, who eschewed the spotlight, and who put their higher goals above their desire for recognition." (From the prologue)

Listening Length

6 hours and 56 minutes
Author

Ryan Holiday
Narrator

Ryan Holiday
Audible release date

June 14, 2016
Language

English
Publisher

Tim Ferriss Audio
ASIN

B01GSIZ9EY
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	6 hours and 56 minutes
Author	Ryan Holiday
Narrator	Ryan Holiday
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	June 14, 2016
Publisher	Tim Ferriss Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B01GSIZ9EY
Best Sellers Rank	#748 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #24 in Business Motivation & Self-Improvement (Audible Books & Originals) #39 in Motivational Management & Leadership #40 in Business Motivation & Self-Improvement (Books)

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2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Peterzen21

Not for a stoic (and way too political)

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2018

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I reached for the book after noticing author's other titles and his presence on Stoic sites and found it disappointing, to say the least. First, the book is not for someone who wants to practice stoic philosophy, particularly the aspect of discarding pursue of fame and wealth (the authors suggested doing so only as means, but not the end, which is in disagreement with stoics principles). Second, the book reeks of author's political convictions, particularly his deep admiration for the Clintons. I am not suggesting that a philosopher must be completely apolitical but the last thing I am interested in is knowing who the author loves or hates in politics; besides stoicism is clearly closer to libertarianism rather than American liberalism.

480 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

There Are Positive qualities, BUT overall Not a Book for People who Like Having Self Esteem

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

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The ego is what keeps us going. WIthout it we're a shell of a person. Yes social media, culutre and how we live our lives today does definitely inflate the ego. But it also tears us apart more than anything. Yes, there are people who destroy themselves at the hands of their ego and obviously the author experienced some of that and we all have. But I think that is just something we should learn in real life. The author did. I personally didn't have a positive experience reading this book. It made me dissect myself in a very negative way, maybe that's just me and my nature, but when I read a book I don't want to come out of it feeling bad about myself. He said that he wants us to come out of the book humbled. But every time after I would read the book for an extended period of time I found I became kind of negative and cynical, especially toward myself. That's not how I like to be.

102 people found this helpful

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Matthew Morine

Everyone Should Read This

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2016

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This is one of the most needed books today. Everyone has an ego, and those who do not believe this truth, are the most blinded themselves. This was a great read, the stories are excellent, the wisdom is true, and the book helps to navigate an ego inflating world. "Now more than ever, our culture fans the flames of ego. It’s never been easier to talk, to puff ourselves up (4)". This is a book that everyone young person should read. It will inspire you to focus on substance, and not on image. We need more people of real character, and not more people trying to make a name for themselves. "Impressing people is utterly different from being truly impressive." The book talks about staying the student, still working hard, and realizing actions should be motivated through true motives. Too often we hid away from feedback, because we cannot admit we are wrong. We protect ourselves, but really behind these actions is an ego. We create static positions for ourselves. The author writes "It is impossible to learn that which one thinks one already knows,” Epictetus says. You can’t learn if you think you already know. You will not find the answers if you’re too conceited and self-assured to ask the questions. You cannot get better if you’re convinced you are the best." I really like some of the characters from history that the author talked about. One was General Sherman, and his approach to fame. Other men who were successful during this time, demanded power, but it seemed that Sherman was happy to serve, and be content with this truth. The book talks about the need to help others. Imagine if for every person you met, you thought of some way to help them, something you could do for them? And you looked at it in a way that entirely benefited them and not you. The cumulative effect this would have over time would be profound: You’d learn a great deal by solving diverse problems. You’d develop a reputation for being indispensable. You’d have countless new relationships. You’d have an enormous bank of favors to call upon down the road." Instead people sometimes write and work to help themselves, to create advantages for themselves, but this approach is more concerned with YOUR needs, and not those around you. Help others, and others will help you perhaps. Ego is probably one of the most destructive forces in the world today. Too many of fallen to its sweet song of pain. Great book to read.

160 people found this helpful

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Camden Gaspar

A modern work of practical philosophy

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2016

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If ego is nothing more than a Freudian concept to you, then you may not have any idea how it’s holding you back right now. But don’t think that author Ryan Holiday aims to bore us with the same stale pop-psychology tropes that most books on the Self-Help shelf use to fill out their pages. What the author has provided us is actually a great work of modern practical philosophy.

Those familiar with Holiday’s last book, “The Obstacle is the Way,” will know exactly what practical philosophy means. Eschewing the commonly held view that philosophy is the province of academics in classrooms bloviating about abstract concepts, Holiday follows the Stoic tradition that puts philosophy firmly in the realm of everyday life. It’s about learning to deal with destructive emotions, unpredictable circumstances, self-interested people, and yes, ego, without succumbing to them. It’s philosophy as a way of achieving a better life.

In “Ego is the Enemy,” Holiday moves beyond the clinical definitions of ego and places the concept firmly in the realm of the practical. To be sure, the clinical and the practical in this case have some common ground. Modern psychologists define the ego as a critical part of identity construction, and further, an egotist as someone excessively focused on himself. Holiday defines ego along those lines: “an unhealthy belief in our own importance. Arrogance. Self-centered ambition…It’s when the notion of ourselves and the world grows so inflated that it begins to distort the reality that surrounds us.”

The idea that becoming untethered from reality is the primary symptom of an ego out of control is the thread that unites all three sections of this book. Holiday expands this idea throughout the three sections that form a continuum - Aspire, Success, and Failure - to show how this form of ego plagues everyone from the ambitious and striving, to the wildly successful and those who have been crushed by personal and professional defeat. In our own lives, we are always somewhere on that circle of aspiration, success and failure.

To this end, Holiday goes right to the sources of practical wisdom: the primary sources of great practical wisdom – Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, and Martial to name a few - and the biographies of those who apply that wisdom to great effect or ignore it at their own peril.

This is where Holiday’s other key influence, strategist and author Robert Greene, becomes apparent. Like Greene, all of Holiday’s chapters start out with a short, pithy title sets the direction of the advice contained within the chapter. From there, Holiday mines the stories of great men and women who have either applied the advice laid out in the chapter title or ignored it and shows us the consequences of both.

For example, in the chapter titled, “Restrain Yourself” in the Aspire section of the book, Holiday launches right into the story of Jackie Robinson. As the first black player in the newly integrated MLB, Robinson faced discrimination and outright abuse at the hands of everyone from his own teammates and opponents, to hotel managers and restaurant owners and, of course, the press. At any point, Robinson could have lashed out, fighting back to defend his dignity against the injustices he faced.

But Robinson knew that if he fought back even once, it would end his MLB career and set the prospect of full integration of the league back for a generation. As Holiday writes, “Jackie’s path called for him to put aside both his ego and in some respects his basic sense of fairness and rights as a human being.”

Now, it’s likely that few of us will face the kind of treatment Robinson did, but the lesson here is that when we have ambitions and goals, we’re likely to run into the kind of people that Robinson did. The kind who react to your striving with cold indifference. The kind who aim to weaken your will with taunts and jeers. The kind who will go out of their way to sabotage you and undo all your efforts.

Holiday concludes here that ego tells us to snap back at these people and demand the respect we think we deserve. But that won’t earn it from anyone. We must ignore this impulse, no matter how badly we’re treated, and continue to work on our craft and ourselves. We must forget what we think the world owes us and focus on building our base, developing our skills and continuing to learn.

The rest of the chapters follow this same model, and plumb the depths of modern and ancient history to show us how those who put their egos aside achieve great things. Think of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spending years doing unpaid grunt work and film study before finally getting a chance to put his knowledge into practice. Think of the great conqueror Genghis Khan seeking greater knowledge and expertise from those he defeated, rather than forcing them into silent subservience.

Yet, others turn themselves into cautionary tales. Howard Hughes was a mechanical genius who inherited a successful family business, and then squandered all of it through a lack of focus, entitlement and paranoia. John DeLorean had a great vision for an automobile company, but never built the solid foundation of leadership skills he would need to run a successful company.

Holiday gives us a healthy dose of both kinds of stories, and that’s what makes the advice in this book stick with us. Ultimately, practical philosophy is meant to be used in our daily lives, away from the safety of our reading chair. Holiday’s aphoristic style of advice, bolstered by memorable stories is what gives us the tools we need to remember this wisdom when our egos start to take control of us.

Holiday positions the three states of our lives – Aspire, Success and Failure – as being a never ending continuum. We must put our egos aside as we aspire to our goals, aside when we achieve them, and aside again when we flame out and have to start over. At each stage, ego threatens to knock us off the continuum altogether and lock us into an unproductive state of stasis.

Taming your ego is never easy, but it is essential when we are confronted by failure or bolstered by success, as we all will be in our lives. Ego can easily let both conditions become debilitating: With success, we think we can stop being humble and working hard. In failure, we can become paralyzed, blaming others for our rotten luck and ignoring the fact that it’s on us to right the ship.

Ego is always encroaching on us, even after we think we’ve beaten it back. As Daniele Bolelli puts it, a floor doesn’t stay clean because you’ve swept it once; you must sweep again and again. With this short, accessible book, Holiday gives us the tools we need to do just that.

313 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Jonathan Baldie

One of the most positively life-changing books I've ever read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2018

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Reading Holiday's book on ego may challenge you, it may make you wince with revulsion and think "Surely, I'm not like that, am I?" but odds are, ego is holding you back.

It makes you feel resentful and angry, like your boss isn't recognising your greatness. That eats you up inside and only makes you upset and stressed all the time.

Instead, Holiday teaches you the lesson, through many stories and examples, that you'll actually feel better and perform better by recognising your ego, catching when it tries to rear its ugly head, and focusing on what you can do for others instead.

This book has had an immeasurably positive impact on my life. I work harder and generally feel much happier in everyday life. Thank you Ryan.

56 people found this helpful

vjones7

Passion is OK, so is being ambitious

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2020

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This book changed my life.

I first read this 4 years ago following my brother's strong recommendation. As a result, I have aimed to be more 'balanced'- a concept I am still trying to understand- which has meant at work keeping more calm under the body when dealing with stressful situations and being more grateful for every day things.

But it also has made me less driven- which upon reflection today- I am not sure is particularly good.

There is a case for passion (though the book states passion is retarded). Passion helps wake me up in the morning- see that there are struggles ahead- but part of this is to drive myself really hard- and with this persistence sometimes my best solutions come (for example when writing essays- I often discard idea after idea until one is reached not through being balanced but by real struggle). Perhaps one of the best things in life is to solve a problem that you initially thought was difficult- and that is through really applying yourself and believing you can do this (whether you can or not). Sometimes it really does help to build one's confidence by telling yourself- by really going for whatever activity (being able to drive) with raw power and doing whatever you can- then you are able to master the problem. You can do this!

Also- perhaps to think in each moment in life whether one is doing the most balanced thing- is paralyzing. Rather than doing the thing you love, letting this take you wherever, and end up in a new spontaneous place? This level of balance sounds soul sucking. And I have felt this.

My first impression of Ego is the enemy is that the book is near flawless. But over time, as well as seeing the most recent film of Little Women- has really shifted this. in Little Women, the main character is extremely passionate about writing- and I think it is that which is part of the beauty of the character- and in addition that passion I feel must have contributed to her great plays.

What I think now is one rather has enthusiasm than none at all. Perhaps I might choose passion over balance- but the best formula may be that driving passion occasionally being tempered by other values.

Looking forward to your comments

32 people found this helpful

Svetovid

Typical gibberish from the USA

Reviewed in Germany on September 16, 2018

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First off, a real stoic would never tattoo anything on his forearms.

Second, it goes on and on about some peripheral characters from American history without mentioning many much more relevant people who tackled and defeated the ego throughout history.

Third, nicely wrapped up between the lines, still gives an impression that success is to "make it big" a.k.a. the American dream. It just needs to be done tactically and with patience, that is pretty much the main advice.

Fourth, politics again. I was wondering when I would read something against the Russian President Vladimir Putin. It came on page 146. Of course!

Final: anyone serious about stoicism and philosophy in general will find this book rather silly. I regret the paper it was printed on and am currently using the book to level a table in the garage. Fits perfectly.

83 people found this helpful

Peter Fessel

Not practical, But Full of Inspiring Anecdotes

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2019

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I have to say that I expected something different from this hyped book. I was expecting a practical guide on how to work on reducing the influence of ego in my daily life and my decisions. Instead, I found it was more of a collection of anecdotes from history about failed egomaniacs and successful quiet leaders.

For a non-fiction book, it's surprisingly unpractical and non-scientific. This would be my biggest criticism.

Yet I would recommend it to those who want to be inspired to keep doing great work and to hang in there, even though gratification and rewards still might be miles away. For me, it's less of a book I need to read front to back to grasp the concepts, but more of a book I can pick up whenever I need a small hit of inspiration.

20 people found this helpful

AMorrison

The tone seems angry

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2020

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I was looking for organised, informative advise on how to recognise and disarm egotistical beliefs and behaviours. Reading this was a bit like sitting next to smart guy in a bar, who had a lot to say but also had a lot to drink. I found the tone aggressive and uncomfortably personalised - ironic when he touts stoicism as the best route. Seemed like he assumed his audience were men (mostly) - in fact, it seemed as if he was shouting at himself in a mirror throughout most of the book. I wish him all the best and I hope he finds peace.

12 people found this helpful

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