This is the user manual I wish I had when I came into this world, so I would know how to operate myself. Well done and a big thank you to Brian Johnson and team.

This book made me do something in the last 48 hours that I have NEVER done in 35 years of life. This book inspired me to read 500 pages in two days. While working full time.

I am an avid reader yet I have never read a single 500-page book cover-to-cover--let alone half of a 1066-page book in 48 hours!--but the wide scope, well-researched quality and immediate practicality of the verbal gold nuggets inside of it made it into an irresistible delight that has sucked up nearly every free moment from my last two days since I got an advanced reader copy.

Full disclosure: I was paid for this review--But not with money, rather my compensation begin on March 14 of 2011 when I first started following Brian Johnson and his growing treasure chest of personal development works and has consisted of the best tools for personal mastery i've yet found.

For those of you doing the math that is nearly 13 years, and I can tell you I have watched Brian grow so much as a leader and philosopher, and as he has grown he has crafted a pathway to help so many others grow with him--myself very much included.

This book is for you if you're just starting on your journey of self growth OR if you're like me and sometimes feel like you've "read it all" by now. Bottom line: IF you want to thrive more in any domain of life, this book WILL be a prime asset to you.

Life is an ever changing road. This book will increase your wisdom, and if put into practice will help you close the gap with the sage within you and connect with the infinite energy we are destined to be linked with.

I got an advanced reader copy of Areté. I read it immediately. And I will be revisiting it from now on.
If you want to change your life, for the better, if you want to be in control of it and be the best version of yourself, this is your book.
This is a book I'd like to have 30 years ago.
I can't recommend it enough.

I've followed Brian Johnson for a few years now, especially enjoying his Philosopher's Notes on hundreds of important and valuable books. And of course, I didn't think Brian could top the Optimize and Heroic platforms when it comes to making it not only possible, but realistic to move from where you are now, to the best version of yourself. But Brian has done it. He's topped himself and written this book, which makes it not only possible to continually move towards the best version of yourself, it also makes it realistic and simpler than ever before. Brian has distilled the wisdom of the ages - literally - in bite sized pieces you can ingest in just a few minutes each. But when you take the rest of the day to really process and internalize the concept, it becomes an extremely powerful point of leverage in growing into your full potential. I couldn't help but go through the book as quickly as possible and now I'm starting over, one micro chapter at a time, to squeeze every bit of value I can out of each page. And then I'll start over again. Well done, Brian!

amazing work
takes ancient and modern philosophy and translates it to a form usable by the current geenration

Wow!! It's no exaggeration when I say all language falls short of accurately describing the power and love between the covers of this book. Areté is clearly a labor of love and Brian has put everything he's got into gathering the most cutting-edge yet easy-to-implement strategies for once's behavioral, emotional, physical, business, and interpersonal growth. No stone was left unturned and I'm really excited to share this book with my closest loved ones. Let's all rise and bring out the hero within. Thank you Brian and everyone that made this possible. This will be the Bible for personal growth for many years to come.

Arete: Activate Your Heroic Potential, by Brian Johnson, which has 451 of my all-time favorite ideas is FANTASTIC! I love the direct quotes from books and the micro chapters are fun and easy to read. I was blessed with a pre-release copy and have devoured every sentence. The 8 objectives helped me learn how to improve my life, one day at a time. Improvements I didn’t know would be easy but would make huge differences in my life. One example is with focus – doing deep work before interacting with the world in the morning has allowed me to accomplish so much more. I loved the chapters ‘The Growth Mindset’ and ‘Small Wins’ because they helped me see that if you are not growing, you are stagnating in your life. This book will change your life. And, if enough of us commit, it will change the world. – Annie Harmon.

The premier distilled aggregation of usable wisdom and science. Period. Take this info, practice. Surround yourself (through Arete') with masters and legends like Brian and activate the spiraling up of your life. I'm feeling giddy because that is what flourishing feels like. This book is the clarity I needed and will serve me, my family and my community. The antidotes are personal, science backed, and vetted over centuries. Unreal. Ty Brian

I received this book when asking for an advanced readers copy of it. I was taken aback by just how many gold nuggets are contained in this gem of a book. The nuggets are spread out evenly throughout the entirety of the book. This book, if you use and take action on the actionable content, has the potential to significantly change and massively improve your life. I highly recommend Arete by Brian Johnson as it is life altering at the least if you only do a fraction of the actionable content. Using this book along with the content on the authors Heroic Platform, will solidify your place at the top of your class and the head of the line...

I started reading Brian Johnson's Philosopher Notes many years ago because I liked his practical summaries of interesting books -- I can't read all of them, after all. The incredible research Brian has done over the years, combined with contemporary teachers and experts into every area of leading a good life is mammoth. And now it's in a single book. When you aggregate that amount of experience and wisdom into a tidy, approachable package, it really does have the power to be life-changing.

Being exposed to this knowledge has absolutely improved my daily life and it's introduced me to mind-expanding concepts and allowed me to dive deep into some areas, when the need arose. For example, Steven Pressfield was THE guy who got me to finish my thesis and graduate. Seriously. I could list a ton of examples where learning something moved me in the right direction in my career, in my relationships, and in my overall well-being.

This book can be THE catalyst to move forward in the best ways possible for yourself, the people around you, and the planet. Get it, read it, use it!

Having had the transformative experience of delving into Brian Johnson’s Heroic Coaching Course, I have become a devoted follower of his philosophies, applying them daily to shape my life. So, it was with eager anticipation that I immersed myself in his latest literary contribution, with an advance copy of "Arete."

"Arete" is a treasure trove of insight, intertwining pearls of wisdom from ancient philosophers with the revelations of modern science, all interwoven meticulously and presented in Brian’s distinctive, engaging manner. It is more than a book—it’s a catalyst for positive transformation, a guide for those yearning to live a life of meaning, fulfillment, and excellence. It is a beacon, inviting everyone to elevate their lives and reach their highest potential. Brian’s passion, warmth, and profound insight make "Arete" a five-star read, a luminous addition to anyone’s collection of inspirational literature.

Warmly and with profound gratitude, I recommend "Arete" to anyone on the journey of self-discovery and self-actualization. Whether you are a seeker of wisdom, a lover of philosophy, or someone looking to infuse your life with more depth and meaning, "Arete" is a must-read, a companion that will continue to inspire and guide you along your path.