The Art of Resilience: Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 4,366 ratings

Price: 22.86

Last update: 08-16-2024


About this item

Best-selling author and award-winning adventurer Ross Edgley has been studying the art of resilience for years, applying all he has learned to become the first person in history to swim all the way round Great Britain, breaking multiple world records along the way. Now, Ross turns his attention to mental strength and Stoicism.

Ross Edgley famously ran a marathon pulling a 1.4-tonne car and climbed a rope the height of Everest (8,848 m), after living with Yamabushi warrior monks in Japan and partaking in Shamanic pain rituals with fire ants in the Amazon jungle. On his epic 1,780-mile journey around Great Britain, which lasted 157 days, Ross swam through giant jellyfish, arctic storms, ‘haunted’ whirlpools and polluted shipping lanes, going so hard, and so fast, his tongue fell apart.

Ross’ previous book, The World’s Fittest Book, was a Sunday Times number one best seller and explored the science of physical fitness. Now, in The Art of Resilience, Ross uses his swim experience and other amazing endurance feats, where he managed to overcome seemingly insurmountable pain, hardship and adversity, to study the performance of extreme athletes, military and fitness specialists and psychologists to uncover the secrets of mental fitness and explore the concept of resilience, persistence, valour and a disciplined mind-set in overcoming adversity. This groundbreaking work represents a paradigm shift in what we thought the human body and mind were capable of and will give you a blueprint to become a tougher, more resilient and ultimately better human - whatever the challenge you face.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and well written
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
Great book. Obviously very inspiring but also very informative and well written. Didn't put it down for 3 days straight.
Rand McClain, D.O.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2023
I have met many a true athlete and tough individual in my sixty years that include being a fellow athlete and a doctor to many. I do not have to physically meet Ross to gather through his writing and feats that he is one tough, disciplined, tenacious, and, despite his humble denials to the contrary, courageous individual. I am inspired by his accomplishments and his approach to achievement. He is Webster’s and Oxford’s definition of BEAST, and seems to represent and exhibit all the exceptional traits of a British gentleman to boot.
Larry
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
For anyone interested in stoic philosophy or just hearing about an amazing person doing something “impossible.”
ServantofGod
4.0 out of 5 stars Best for extreme sports athletes
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
This book, seasoned with the real experience of the author, elaborates what follows:- Stoic Sorts Science / Unbreakable Resilience (your body doesn’t break and your mind doesn’t quit) is based on three things: Strong body, Stoic Mind, Strategic Plan.

I am sure that extreme sports athletes and fans will love it. Yet, I doubt whether common people may find the preparation process and the struggle in the sea too exhaustive. Buyers' beware!

p.s. Below please find some favorite passages of mine fyi.
Hard work is so often the answer. The question is so often irrelevant. Pg20
Central Governor Theory: you think you cannot go on is actually a response from the brain to slow down to preserve health, rather than a physiological reality. Basically, the brain quits before the body. Pg24
The brain is inherently selfish and only really cares about itself. It will do anything necessary to maintain balance within the body, a state of equilibrium which we call homeostasis…. The body maintains its stability only if it is excitable and capable of modifying itself according to external stimuli and adjusting its response to the stimulation. It is stable because it is modifiable – the slight instability is the necessary condition for the true stability of the organism. Pg25
Fatigue is merely an emotional expression of the subjective symptoms that develop as these subconscious controls wage a fierce battle with conscious mind to ensure that the conscious ultimately submits to the superior will of the subconscious. This means that each race, adventure and training session is just a battle within ourselves. Pg27
40% Rule – Navy Seals believe when your mind is telling you that you’re done, exhausted and cannot possibly go any further, you’re only actually 40% done. Pg27
Don’t read it. Live it. It’s not about learning a lesson. It’s about practicing a lesson. pg43
Philosophy is something we should “write down day by day.” – Epictetus pg43
At the end of each day, Seneca would ask himself variations of the following questions:- What bad habit did I curb today? How am I better? Were my actions just? How can I improve? Pg44
Kenyan runners are so good because their perception of pain has been modified by their ritual practice of circumcision. It has a lot more to do with the brutal initiation ceremony into adulthood. First one must crawl naked through a tunnel of African stinging nettles. Then, accept a beating on the bony parts of the ankles and knuckles with hard sticks. Then have the acid from the stinging nettles rubbed on your genitals, until you’re then circumcised without anesthesia …. With a sharp stick. Pg72
Athletes are taught to perfume at their best, when they feel at their best. Royal Marines are taught to perform at their best, when they feel at their worst. Pg284
Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars Best motivational and informational book for fitness
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2021
I absolutely loved this book I couldn’t put it down and learned so much about how to build an in readable mind and body using Ross’ stoic sports science. Learning what he went through inspired me and has kept inspiring me to lose the weight I’ve been trying to lose for years and to start following my fitness goals! I don’t know if he’d ever see this but I’d like to say a great big THANK YOU you’ve helped change my life for the better I recommend this book to everyone I know daily! And I recommend it to anyone who reads this review!
Harry Olsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible book from a man who will go down in history of athletic achievement.
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020
Edgely has written a highly engaging, informative, and concise book that has both inspired and educated me in the direction of endurance athleticism. Combining the lessons he learned on his swim and the words and feats of men and women before him, he developed a beautiful "philosophy" of stoic sports science that I find immensly practical in defeating the impossible.

I don't think you can read this book without wanting to train for a marathon, a massive deadlift, or an Iron Man triathlon (the latter is now my goal).

Thank you, Ross. You are a legend.
Amazonian
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any athlete
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020
Wow! I am blown away by Ross Edgley’s latest book on resilience and his swim around Great Britain. His background in sports science and the way he ties the science back to practical application (and fun stories) is impressive. His take on Stoic sports science is brilliant - I’m absolutely smitten with his humility, gratitude, and perseverance. I’m now a huge Ross fan after reading this book. He’s far more inspirational than Goggins (I’m pretty sure he could eat Goggins for breakfast, but he’s far too polite to do so). This is a must read for any endurance athlete.
RP
5.0 out of 5 stars 75 Hard
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2023
I read as part of my 75 Hard journey and found his words encouraging as I move through the program. Give it a try.

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