Stillness: “To be steady while the world spins around you. To act without frenzy. To hear only what needs to be heard. To possess quietude —exterior and interior— on command.”

According to the author, this inner peace is the key to elite performance and to a happy life, today, as in the past. In the same way as meditation captures the essence of Buddhism in a secular way, Ryan Holiday captures the secrets behind stillness, the quest at the heart of Buddhism, Stoicism, Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions or philosophies. Few books have such a large scope.

We find the same recipe used in his previous books — teachings from the ancient world, combined with extensive modern stories. From Tiger Woods to Winston Churchill, we discover how moving forward by learning to be still help us face a world of distractions and useless conflicts.

I really liked the book, thoroughly researched, well-written, persuasive argumentation, inspiring quotations, pertinent stories, and a profound subject. It’s the kind of book that I will reread for sure.