The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield

Basic Premise:
All that stands between who we are and who we want to be is resistance.

As with every book, every reader will take away something slightly different. Here are my top lines/concepts:

On truisms that apply to everyone, artists, scientists or aspiring peace makers:
--Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us.

--Often, only fear of imminent death provokes the severing of ties, reaching for a dream.

--Resistance is most powerful at the finish line.

--Resistance = procrastination. Procrastination = resistance.

--Fear will show you what you must do.

--Seeking support from friends and family might be the kiss of death.

--Turn pro. Be patient. Master technique. Ask for help.

--Greatest fear is fear of success.

--And, lastly, a hack second-guesses his audience.

On areas where I would rank particularly poorly:
--Individuals who are realized in their own lives almost never criticize others.

--Taking a principled stand in the face of adversity.

--Grandiose fantasies are the sign of an amateur.

On the basic things one must do to defeat resistance:
--Defeat resistance with persistence.

--Treat it as work. Show up every day, no matter what, stay all day, for the long haul, with high and real stakes, paid for, without over identification, learning to master the technique, with humor, praise or blame. If you can do it for work (or school) you can do it for your dream.

--Learn how to be miserable. Or, in other works, persistence is hard.

A few thoughts of my own I would add:
--Without (God or nature)-given talent, defeating resistance might uncover abject inability to produce (whatever it is you are meant to produce).

--Above line might be a form of resistance.

--The imminence of our own death may move us to heroism. The imminence of another's makes us reaffirm what we have (rededicate ourselves to the boring job, renew the vows of a broken marriage). And, with danger gone, routine returns.

--Goals change through life. People may find themselves living a life smaller than the dream, but a good life anyway. Giving up writing the great American novel, becoming the new Picasso, or the next Steve Jobs, may not be a defeat, but its own kind of victory.

--Whatever your goals, defeating resistance feels good. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Eventually, resistance is futile. (Long live the Borg).

Overall, a highly recommended motivational read. Get it.