Genre(s): Non-fiction, Self-improvement
Stillness is the Key explores stoicism and the need to routinely spend time in silence. Using anecdotes from several figures throughout history and modern times, Holiday demonstrates the need for stillness and how it (or the lack of) drives one’s decision making, emotional control, and overall well-being. Looking at mind, body, and soul, Holiday explores how stillness can positively impact these areas and bring more stability into our lives.
This book was originally recommended to me by one of my Goodreads friends (thank you, Aravind!) after being recommended Robert Greene’s new book, The Laws of Human Nature, which I rated four stars. Both books take on their subject matter via real-life anecdotes as examples of the concepts they are demonstrating.
Many of the anecdotes given in Stillness is the Key are from historical and famous figures, from Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy to Tiger Woods. These figures are used to demonstrate how they were able to navigate difficult times, and often crises, without reactionary responses. Additionally, Holiday delves into the lives of those who lost emotional control, and how lacking stillness can impact lives in the short and long term.
Throughout Stillness is the Key, Holiday points to not only historical anecdotes, but also the modern occurrences that impact us on a daily basis. For instance, his coverage of the CNN Effect, a.k.a. the 24-hour news cycle is just one example of how much information is thrown at us every single day. Information overload and decision fatigue are two of many everyday aspects of our lives where time spent in solitude can help redirect emotional responses into appropriate reflection and reaction.
This book combined the aspects of traditional self-help books, while also integrating philosophical concepts. While I thoroughly enjoyed both aspects of this book and had a lot of takeaways, I felt this book was organized in such a way that some chapters felt incomplete or out-of-place. The book is organized in sections for mind, body, and soul, but these sections felt loosely wrapped together. On the chapter level, some chapters were excellent at explaining certain aspects of the human condition and had detailed examples; others were much less structured and had weak connections to the premise. Additionally, especially in the first third, many of the chapters were loosely wrapped together in such a similar way that it took on some redundancy.
Despite all this, Stillness is the Key was a good introduction to the applications of stoicism for those who have not studied philosophy. It combines self-improvement and philosophy for those who would like to learn how and why this concept should be applied to their lives. And while I have read a few self-improvement books, I still did have many takeaways and actionable steps that I am applying to my life. If you’re looking for a deep-dive into the philosophical side you may want to choose a book purely within that genre, but if you’re looking for a book from the self-improvement angle and an introduction, this was a very decent and quick read.
