The Warrior Ethos

By: Steven Pressfield

Narrated by: Steven Pressfield

Wars change, warriors don't.

We are all warriors. Each of us struggles every day to define and defend our sense of purpose and integrity, to justify our existence on the planet, and to understand, if only within our own hearts, who we are and in what we believe.

Do we fight by a code? If so, what is it? What is the warrior ethos? From where did it come? What form does it take today? How do we (and how can we) use it and be true to it in our internal and external lives?

The Warrior Ethos is intended not only for men and women in uniform, but artists, entrepreneurs, and other warriors in other walks of life. The audiobook examines the evolution of the warrior code of honor and "mental toughness". It goes back to the ancient Spartans and Athenians, to Caesar's Romans, Alexander's Macedonians, and the Persians of Cyrus the Great (not excluding the Garden of Eden and the primitive hunting band).

Sources include Herodotus, Thucydides, Plutarch, Xenophon, Vegetius, Arrian, and Curtius - and on down to Gen. George Patton, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan.

©2011 Black Irish Book, LLC (P)2011 Black Irish Books, LLC

When it comes stories that matter no one tells them better than Pressfield!

“ The language of the warrior is spoken warrior to warrior and cares little if the outside world understands it.” SP

This is a short read (or listen) but packed with stories of warrior cultures that still inspire today. If you are looking for a book to help you better yourself or put things into perspective this is your book!

quickly finished

a book speaking to the ideals of the warrior knowing the virtue of selflessness and sacrifice without the pomp of ego. It speaks to the willing nature of acceptance and self discipline.

Thoughtful Review of the Warrior Ethis

I’ve read two of Pressfield’s novel and highly recommend him as an author and especially the Gates of Fire. This is a short book and great as a gift to a “warrior” friend or a civilian who you’d like to understand what a true “warrior” is and not some false sense of “patriot”. As Pressfield points out “warriors” are team players and selfless.

Well Researched

I really enjoyed the stories included in this book. My only asks would be for a longer book, with more analysis by Pressfield. However, the collection of warrior ideologies throughout history and its appearance in the modern day is well done.

Essential reading

Great book; but way too short; could have definitely been fleshed out more with more anecdotes about other warriors through time.