// Book comparison
The Hard Thing About Hard Things vs The War of Art
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Hard Thing About Hard Things | The War of Art | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 304 | 192 |
| Reading time | ~7.6 h | ~4.8 h |
| Published | 2014 | 2002 |
| Author | Ben Horowitz | Steven Pressfield |
| Category | Startups & Entrepreneurship | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | HarperBusiness | Black Irish Entertainment |
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startups & entrepreneurship.
- → 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 Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Unawain ang pagkakaiba ng Pangulo sa Panahon ng Kapayapaan at Digmaan, na nagpapakita na ang isang krisis ay nangangailangan ng pagbabago mula sa kolaboratibong pagkakasundo tungo sa direktiba at mabilis na paggawa ng desisyon.
- ✓ Pangasiwaan ang Iyong Sariling Pag-iisip habang nasa 'Pakikibaka', na kinikilala na ang kakayahang manatiling kalmado at obhetibo kapag nanganganib ang organisasyon ay isang kritikal na yaman ng isang lider.
- ✓ Bigyang-priyoridad ang Katotohanan sa komunikasyon ng organisasyon, na tinitiyak na ang masasamang balita ay mabilis na nakararating at nauunawaan ng bawat empleyado ang katotohanan sa mga hamon ng estratehiya ng kumpanya.
Key takeaways — The War of Art
- ✓ Tukuyin ang Resistance sa iyong organisasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala sa mga sintomas ng procrastination at drama sa opisina na karaniwang nagpapakita ng takot ng koponan sa isang makabagbag-dong proyekto.
- ✓ Mag-shift mula sa isang Amatir hanggang sa isang Propesyonal na Kaisipan sa pamamagitan ng regular na araw-araw na pagtutok sa pangunahing mga layunin, kahit pa may pagbabago sa inspirasyon ng bawat kasapi.
- ✓ Panatilihin ang Soberanya sa Teritoryo sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiyak na ang mga miyembro ng iyong koponan ay may sariling espesyalisadong larangan at pinoprotektahan ito mula sa Resistance ng mission creep.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. If you specifically need personal effectiveness, The War of Art is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The War of Art better? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startups & entrepreneurship, while The War of Art focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The War of Art? +
The War of Art is shorter (192 pages, ~4.8 hours) compared to The Hard Thing About Hard Things (304 pages, ~7.6 hours).
Should I read The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The War of Art first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.