"This basically consists of Marcus Aurelius repeating, "Get it together, Marcus" to himself over and over again over the course of 12 chapters.

SPOILER ALERT:
-The time during which you are alive is very very brief compared to the time during which you did not exist and will not exist.
-People who wrong you only do so from ignorance, and if you can correct them without being a jerk about it, you should do so.
-You are a little soul dragging around a corpse.
-Whether or not things injure you lies in your opinion about them, and you can control that opinion.

That's about it.

The fascinating thing about these philosophical ideas is that if they were expressed a single time, they might seem profound and solid and convincing. But repeated over and over like a rosary, you feel that Marcus is struggling against really serious grueling daily doubt -- that these are things that he wishes to be true, not things that he knows to be true, normative rather than descriptive statements. Which makes for a fascinating and subtext-y read, especially given his history. "

"Ryan Holyday seems to take life too seriously.

I like some parts of the book and completely disagree with others.

It seems kind of outdated when it comes to how to deal with your self image, self steem etc.
He repeatly claims not to praise yourself for your achievements, when most scientific research shows that being kind with yourself, giving yourself a tap on the back, even saying inside your head "You did good" is good for you.

I understand and agree that egomaniacs tend to fail, but they sure do fail way less than self destructive pessimists.
And Ryan Holiday seems to walk on a thin line between not praising your own ego and being a total pessimist.

I really don't think people should follow the book as a guide to life, even though I like the author a lot and kind of enjoyed Obstacle is the way."

"Ego is the true enemy, the author points out the consequences which occur in our life because of Ego.  Everyone experiences success and failures, those who face life with arrogance after success will definitely receive setbacks caused by Ego.  The one's who accept success with a humble attitude like normal, can only defeat ego and repeat the success again in his/her life.  

“Success is intoxicating, yet to sustain it requires sobriety�"