// 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.

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

  • Kilalanin ang Physiological Basis of Behavior, na nagpapakita na ang mga reaksyon ng iyong koponan sa stress ay madalas na resulta ng malalim na nakabaong mga biological na pattern sa halip na puro propesyonal na lohika.
  • Bigyang-diin ang Psychological and Somatic Safety sa inyong organisasyon, dahil hindi makakagawa ang utak ng tao ng mataas na antas ng estratehikong pag-iisip kapag ang katawan ay nasa estado ng perceived threat.
  • Isakatuparan ang Self-Regulation Techniques bilang isang pangunahing kasanayan sa pamumuno, gamit ang mindfulness at body-awareness upang mapanatili ang iyong executive presence at kalinawan sa panahon ng mahahalagang organisasyonal na krisis.
Read full The Body Keeps the Score summary →

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.
Read full The War of Art summary →

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.