The Way of Excellence: A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB MUST READ
"An absolutely beautiful book."—Steve Kerr, nine-time NBA Champion; Coach of the Golden State Warriors and Team USA
The definitive book on excellence—beloved by world champion coaches and athletes, award-winning artists, top entrepreneurs and executives, and high performers across fields, from bestselling author Brad Stulberg.
Whether you are pushing your limits at the gym, practicing guitar, leading a team, honing a craft, studying medicine, or giving yourself the time and space to finally take on that big creative project, The Way of Excellence is a practical guide to actualizing your potential amid the craziness of modern life. Unlike "pseudo-excellence," which is about hustle culture and hacks, genuine excellence means doing hard things, creating, contributing, and expressing the unique qualities that make you who you are. Too often, we get caught up in convenience and distraction to the detriment of our full potential. Though our environments often work against us, we can overcome the default options and set out on a better path, one that includes more meaning, aliveness, and resonance; more connection to yourself, to others, and to the big projects and goals in your life.
Here, Stulberg finds a fascinating convergence between modern science, age-old philosophy, and daily practice to explain that we are wired to strive for excellence—the pursuit of excellence is in our nature, core to our humanity.
The way of excellence means learning about:
- Why mastery and mattering are key to the good life
- Cultivating focus and concentration
- Prioritizing consistency over intensity
- Confidence based on evidence
- Defining, living, and working in alignment with your values
- Developing the courage to care deeply
- Designing environments that support excellence
- Selecting goals based not just on what you want to achieve, but on who you want to become
- Overcoming the traps, pitfalls, and barriers to excellence—including alienation, chasing a never-ending supply of dopamine, and addiction to external validation and the opinions of others
- Applying the principles and insights of excellence to one's teams, organizations, and communities
At its core, excellence is a deeply-fulfilling process of becoming—the best performer, and person, you can be. Whether you're a high performer looking for something to encourage, inspire, and cement your commitment, or someone brand new on the path, this book shows you the way.
Praise for The Way of Excellence: A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World
"An absolutely beautiful book that captures a lot of what I believe as a coach. The gratification that comes from truly losing one’s self in that process is an amazing gift. It brings joy, peace of mind, and a sense of pride. These are things we frequently talk about with the Warriors, and I believe are part of our success." - Steve Kerr, 9 time NBA Champion, Coach of the Golden State Warriors and Team USA
Readers are invited to rethink what it truly means to be at their best—not through perfectionism or shallow success, but through purposeful growth and meaningful engagement. Stulberg reveals how excellence is a deeply human process." - Charles Duhigg, author of the bestsellers The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators
"Stulberg’s examination of excellence as both a concept and practice is food for thought for every profession and discipline — and for life itself. A riveting narrative that shows us that everyone is capable of growth. The Way of Excellence is full of tools, but it’s about more than achieving and succeeding. I loved reading it." - Hilary Hahn, international violin soloist and 3-time GRAMMY winner
"In a chaotic world filled with shallow distraction and performative busyness, The Way of Excellence is a must-read book that offers a path toward something deeper: the disciplined pursuit of mastery, competence, and mattering. I highly recommend it!" - Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work
"A transformative read for aspiring high performers of all disciplines and all levels. This book is the best reminder that the way we do what we do matters." - Chelsea Sodaro, Ironman World Champion
“The Way of Excellence is Brad Stulberg at his very best: relentlessly pragmatic, truly wise, and genuinely helpful. This book teaches us that in an era of shallow hacks and quick fixes, mastery requires depth and patience. Excellence is: consistency over intensity, fundamentals over fads, and progress over perfection. It is hard for me to think of anyone in my life to whom I wouldn’t recommend this book.” - Derek Thompson, author of Abundance and Hit Makers
A book particularly welcome during a time of growing isolation and what Brad calls "zombie burnout." - Arianna Huffington
