The Gospel of Fire: Strategies for Facing Your Fears, Confronting Your Demons, and Finding Your Purpose

by Eliot Marshall

Eliot Marshall has always been a fighter—from overcoming bullies and bigots who targeted his half-black, half-Jewish heritage to using his martial-arts prowess to become part of the UFC. But beneath his badass exterior, Eliot struggled with severe anxiety, until he learned to live a life of true purpose.In The Gospel of Fire, Eliot shares his incredible story of breaking down and learning to build himself back up by acknowledging his shortcomings, accepting his challenges, freeing himself from fear, and maximizing his opportunities. Sharing the experiences and tools that helped him battle back from the edge of despair, Eliot shows you how to discover your own “why” and refocus your days on “how” to achieve it.You past doesn’t define you, and your present can set you free. With Eliot’s example, you can find your path and the power to remake your life.

Genres: Self Help

152 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2019

Reviews

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see parallels in Professor Eliot Marshall's life and my own. We both grew up biracial in small, less-than cultured South Jersey towns, practiced fight sports as kids, moved away from New Jersey, received education and then found our way back to martial arts; in this case Jiu Jitsu.

Eliot's book also interested me because when I was having issues in my life with anxiety and depression, it was Eliot and one other professor who took the time to check in on me and encourage me to keep training Jiu Jitsu. In that regard, he lives the model he presents in this book as a great teacher, competitor and an all around awesome guy. He's certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but he's doing his best to be the best person that he knows how to be and that's an accomplishment in and of itself after reading about his struggles throughout this book.

Jiu Jitsu saved my life, literally and metaphorically, I even have a shirt with that exact motto written on it. When I was dealing with legal issues due to self defense situation that I encountered, it was our head professor Amal Easton that I called to ask for advice. But when I was dealing with internal struggle, it was Eliot who called me to offer me advice.

As for the book, I enjoyed it all around, there were times when it felt a little repetitive, maybe because I've heard some of it professed at the end of class, or maybe because this is the lifestyle that we live as Jiujiteiro. Either way, the book encompasses that, pretty concisely.

It's kind of surreal to see such lethal fighters who I've studied since their early and mid careers, switch their rough-and-tumble mentality and mature into the wise and introspective teachers that they are now. The concept is much like the samurai in feudal Japan who after years of laying waste to opponents in the most brutal fashions, shave their long hair down to the skin on their head, lose their kimono and find themselves prostrate on the floors of Buddhist temples to live out their lives in peace and honor. But do not confuse their newfound peace with a lack of heart, it's for their hearts that they have chosen to live and to teach other's the same.

"It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war" - Chinese Proverb

[Dave Doig · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. For me, it was pretty much worthless. For someone who has significant anxiety or other life impeding emotional problems, it might be helpful. I can't say. I can't imagine that I will read any more of it.