Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci

chevron_right

You’ll Never Find Peace Until You Fight This Battle - Steven Pressfield

whatshot 23 snips

Feb 12, 2026

Guest

Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of The War of Art and master of historical fiction, shares hard-earned lessons from a long creative journey. He talks about battling inner Resistance, the warrior virtues that sustain artistic work, adapting spiritual texts into stories, and how discipline and surrender shape a life devoted to craft.

39:03

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Borrow The Warrior's Virtues

Embrace warrior virtues like patience, courage, and love of comrades to endure creative struggle.
Apply the same discipline and resilience of soldiers to artistic or entrepreneurial work.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Bhagavad Gita Recast As A Golf Tale

Pressfield adapted the Bhagavad Gita into The Legend of Bagger Vance by mapping Krishna-Arjuna to caddie and golfer.
He admits the idea felt dumb and uncommercial but seized him anyway.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Fired From His Own Adaptation

When Robert Redford wanted creative control of the film, Pressfield was effectively fired from adapting his own book.
He felt gratitude for being told directly rather than learning it later in the press.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Pressfield's Background and Path to Writing

01:11 • 1min

chevron_right

Wilderness Years and the Hero's Journey

02:32 • 1min

chevron_right

Drawing Truth from Fiction

03:37 • 3min

chevron_right

The War of Art and Inner Resistance

06:10 • 1min

chevron_right

Resistance Is Universal and Persistent

07:38 • 4min

chevron_right

The Warrior Code and Creative Virtues

11:42 • 1min

chevron_right

Adapting the Bhagavad‑Gita into Bagger Vance

13:04 • 3min

chevron_right

Film Adaptation: Getting Fired and Letting Go

16:00 • 1min

chevron_right

Ego, Creativity, and Surrender

17:20 • 4min

chevron_right

Greatness, the Daimon, and Hubris

21:22 • 7min

chevron_right

Discipline, Purpose, and Finding Peace

27:59 • 3min

chevron_right

Ongoing Work and the Mystery of Assignment

30:35 • 1min

chevron_right

Five Words: Art, War, Power, Resistance, Identity

32:01 • 5min

chevron_right

Personal Notes and Closing Invitation

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Virtues of War

Steven Pressfield

The Virtues of War is a historical novel by Steven Pressfield that follows Alexander the Great's life, told through his own voice as he recounts his campaigns and battles to a young scribe. The novel explores Alexander's philosophy of war and leadership, portraying him as a complex figure driven by both ambition and compassion. It delves into his conquests from Greece to India, highlighting his military genius and personal struggles.

#30

• Mentioned in 316 episodes

The War of Art

Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Steven Pressfield

In 'The War of Art', Steven Pressfield identifies the internal force of 'Resistance' that hinders creative endeavors. The book is divided into three sections: 'Resistance: Defining the Enemy', 'Combating Resistance: Turning Pro', and a final section that discusses the role of the muses and the battle between the Self and the Ego. Pressfield provides practical advice on recognizing and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous work in achieving creative success.

#592

• Mentioned in 54 episodes

Gates of fire

Steven Pressfield

Gates of Fire tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of Xeones, a wounded Greek soldier who recounts his life and the events leading up to the battle. The novel explores Spartan culture, the rigorous training regimen known as the *agoge*, and the heroic stand of the Spartans against the overwhelming forces of the Persian Empire. The story is framed as a series of interviews between Xeones and members of the Persian court, detailing the battle and its aftermath, as well as the personal and philosophical aspects of Spartan warfare and culture.

#1708

• Mentioned in 25 episodes

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Steven Pressfield

In the Depression year of 1931, on the golf links at Krewe Island off Savannah's windswept shore, golf legends Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen meet for a mesmerizing thirty-six-hole showdown. They are joined by a local unsung opponent, the troubled war hero Rannulph Junah, who is guided by his caddie and mentor, the mysterious and charismatic Bagger Vance. Vance holds the secret of the Authentic Swing and his mysterious powers guide the play, leaving a lasting imprint on the lives he touches. The story is a sports fable that reveals that, in life as well as golf, the real battle is not with outside opponents but with oneself.

#56

• Mentioned in 238 episodes

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Hinduism, embedded within the epic Mahabharata. It recounts a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatar of the god Vishnu. The text explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action), and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes, emphasizing the concept of nishkama karma (nonattached action). The Gita synthesizes various strands of Indian religious thought, including Vedic concepts, samkhya yoga, and bhakti (devotion), providing a coherent vision of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice.

#7984

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Tides of War

Steven Pressfield

Tides of War is a historical epic that delves into the complexities of the Peloponnesian War, focusing on the intertwined lives of Alcibiades, a brilliant but flawed leader, and Polemides, an Athenian soldier and assassin. The novel explores the political intrigues, naval battles, and personal struggles that defined this pivotal conflict in ancient Greece. Drawing from historical sources like Thucydides and Plato, Pressfield crafts a vivid and engaging narrative.

#12705

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Damien

Sofia Khan

#486

• Mentioned in 62 episodes

Turning pro

tap your inner power and create your life's work

Steven Pressfield

In 'Turning Pro,' Steven Pressfield provides a practical and inspirational guide for entrepreneurs and creatives to shift from an amateur mindset to a professional one. The book is divided into three parts: the first describes the addictive nature of the amateur, the second paints a vision of what it means to be a pro, and the third focuses on cultivating professionalism. Pressfield emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear, self-doubt, and procrastination, and adopting habits such as discipline, regularity, and a constant striving for excellence. He also discusses the concept of 'shadow careers' and the need to align one's work with their true calling for authentic fulfillment.

Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art, which has sold millions of copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge.

Get a copy of Steven's phenomenal books:

The War of Art
Gates of Fire
Turning Pro
The Legend of Baggar Vance
The Warrior Ethos
The Daily Pressfield
Govt Cheese: A Memoir

Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. He is the host of the podcast Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, he lives in Manhasset, Long Island.

Pre-order my next book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, out on the 17th of September in the UK and the 22nd of September in the US: https://linktr.ee/anthonyscaramucci

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books