// Book comparison
The Body Keeps the Score vs The War of Art
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
★ 4.9/5
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Body Keeps the Score | The War of Art | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 464 | 192 |
| Reading time | ~11.6 h | ~4.8 h |
| Published | 2014 | 2002 |
| Author | Bessel van der Kolk | Steven Pressfield |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | Viking | Black Irish Entertainment |
Choose The Body Keeps the Score if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Choose The War of Art if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~4.8 hours).
Key takeaways — The Body Keeps the Score
- ✓ Acknowledge the Physiological Basis of Behavior, recognizing that your team's reactions to stress are often driven by deep-seated biological patterns rather than just professional logic.
- ✓ Prioritize Psychological and Somatic Safety within your organization, as the human brain cannot engage in high-level strategic thinking when the body is in a state of perceived threat.
- ✓ Implement Self-Regulation Techniques as a core leadership skill, utilizing mindfulness and body-awareness to maintain executive presence and clarity during high-stakes organizational crises.
Key takeaways — The War of Art
- ✓ Identify Resistance in your organization by recognizing the symptoms of procrastination and bureaucratic drama that often signal a team's fear of a transformative project.
- ✓ Transition from an Amateur to a Professional Mindset by requiring consistent, daily effort on core strategic goals, regardless of the fluctuating levels of individual inspiration.
- ✓ Maintain Territorial Focus by ensuring that your team members own and defend their specific areas of high-level expertise, protecting them from the 'Resistance' of mission creep.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Body Keeps the Score. If you want a different angle on the same topic, The War of Art is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Body Keeps the Score or The War of Art better? +
The Body Keeps the Score has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Body Keeps the Score focuses on personal effectiveness, while The War of Art focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Body Keeps the Score or The War of Art? +
The War of Art is shorter (192 pages, ~4.8 hours) compared to The Body Keeps the Score (464 pages, ~11.6 hours).
Should I read The Body Keeps the Score or The War of Art first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Body Keeps the Score. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.