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Mastery

by Robert Greene (Goodreads Author)

4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 · rating details · 918 ratings · 112 reviews

The eagerly anticipated new book from the author of the bestselling The 48 Laws of Power

What did Charles Darwin, middling schoolboy and underachieving second son, do to become one of the earliest and greatest naturalists the world has known? What were the similar choices made by Mozart and by Caesar Rodriguez, the U.S. Air Force’s last ace fighter pilot? In Mastery, Rober...more

Hardcover, 318 pages

Published November 13th 2012 by Viking Adult (first published November 1st 2012)

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May 11, 2013 Dave Bolton rated it 2 of 5 stars

Unfortunately a mess of ideas and misconceptions (did you know that Albert Einstein discovered relativity due to spending a badly estimated 10,000 hours thinking about it over 10 years?) that did little to illuminate mastery. Lord, even the table of contents is confusing.

Some of the profiles are interesting, but they are also repetitive. Each time a profile is incrementally built on, one has to read all the parts that were earlier presented, which is a ridiculous way to treat a studious reader.

I...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power is his most notorious work, so blatantly amoral that many of its adherents are rumored to hide in the closet. But since its publication, his work has gradually taken a moral turn. In his follow-up, The Art of Seduction, Greene mentions having compassion for one’s “victim”—he or she being seduced. The 33 Strategies of War instructs readers that there is no moral value in ignoring certain tenets. In Mastery, which concerns the pursuit of virtuosity in one’s fie...more Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power is his most notorious work, so blatantly amoral that many of its adherents are rumored to hide in the closet. But since its publication, his work has gradually taken a moral turn. In his follow-up, The Art of Seduction, Greene mentions having compassion for one’s “victim”—he or she being seduced. The 33 Strategies of War instructs readers that there is no moral value in ignoring certain tenets. In Mastery, which concerns the pursuit of virtuosity in one’s field (and, according to Greene, ends the journey that began with 48 Laws), Greene finally mentions the value of a “great contribution to society.” Elevating this brand of altruism over self-aggrandizement, the book becomes his most essential work.

Greene’s format hasn’t changed much. He details six steps to Mastery, typically beginning chapters with an anecdote from history about a Master—the first here being Leonardo Da Vinci (who, with his diverse career, was a wise choice). Then he moves through gorgeous passages on figures such as the Wright Brothers or Albert Einstein, concluding with Goethe’s life story. What separates Mastery from the rest of his oeuvre is that Greene’s emphasis on his subject’s importance in the 21st century forces readers to play close attention.

Consider The Art of Seduction. After finishing, a reader will watch a flirtatious couple and think to herself, “They’re doing it all wrong.” Thus her worldview has been changed forever. Still, the book is targeted at those who can tolerate seeing life as a stage, and most people would prefer their own version of reality. In Mastery’s case, Greene clearly believes it crucial that we all become Masters of our skills for our planet’s future. Thus after we read the stories, we are locked in to his deconstructions. Here Greene actually makes the same case for the seductive lifestyle, but this time it is gravely serious instead of guiltily pleasing.

Few will find the book inaccessible—Greene covers virtually every possible field and often includes the connections between them, such as Yoky Mastuoka’s work on robotics and tennis. Some might raise eyebrows when told that in childhood their career field was clear to them, but Greene compensates with a “reversal” addressed to those who lacked such direction, or, later, to those without the capacity for social intelligence. Rarely is Greene blunt about the specific issues facing our age, but parsing his implications can be its own adventure—is he speaking of hipsters in describing the ironic attitude? Does he believe, like Goethe foretold, that our information overload is leading to cultural decay?

The flaws in Greene’s prose haven’t changed. He overuses “Understand” and “Think of it this way:.” The problem with such repetitive phrasing is that just having read it in the last chapter, our brains are inclined to think we’ve read what follows this before, and so we skim. Furthermore, the length can be trying, and one wonders about the necessity of eight or nine stories for one of Greene’s steps—the constant shifting of setting and characters can render some sections hard to focus on, and even harder to recall.

Yet, as with his previous work, there is a method here, and it works in the book’s favor. Greene is not David Foster Wallace, nor does he wish to be—he includes just enough SAT words to read as authoritative but layman-friendly. And the aim of the over-length is to upload his ideas into the reader’s mind so that we ruminate sufficiently. In our attention-deficit culture, concision can be frivolous. Hence Greene’s loquacity might be precisely what will have Masters mentioning his book as an influence 10 to 20 years from now, and this time out of the closet.

Rating: A-(less)

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Apr 05, 2013 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: how-to, psychology, self-help

Drawing lessons from the lives of accomplished people, this book offers practical, organized advice for how to realize your own Life's Task.

If a friend had not recommended this book to me, I doubt I would ever have given it a look. I bought Greene's The 48 Laws of Power a few years ago but quickly found it to be repugnant. It struck me as being a manual for psychopaths: handsome, well laid out, well thought out--and chilling. I wondered what sort of a person Robert Greene must be.

I probably stil...more

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May 10, 2013 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the better ones I have read. The book contains, for example, useful advice as well as several good examples of what masters such as Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart did. Reading the book, I learned, for example that a deep inclination toward a particular subject / niche / field lies at the core of mastery. This inclination is a reflection of a person’s uniqueness. To find your path to mastery, you need first to listen to whom you are, listen to what dominates your...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Udae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Just like "42 Laws of Power" and the "Art of Seduction", this book is definitely an interesting read... but you really won't walk away with any specific tactics to apply to your own life when you're done with the book.

"Mastery" argues that apprenticeship as the purest, most concentrated vehicle of learning... yet its significance (and its very existence) is lost in modern society. The book also provides some pretty in-depth case studies of successful apprenticeships throughout the ages, from Mo...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Abdul Malik Omar rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Abdul by: 48 Laws of Power

Mastery by Robert Greene enables You to know Thyself.

As you read through the book, you will come to fully realize and appreciate the hard work that is needed in to accomplish one's Life's Task. You may call it your Definite Purpose in life-as famously coined by Napoleon Hill-and by right this book is somewhat an expression of a modern age "Think and Grow Rich". Contained in Robert's book is a seminal idea, borrowed from the wisdoms from ages past and present, whose time has finally come.

Anyway,...more Mastery by Robert Greene enables You to know Thyself.

As you read through the book, you will come to fully realize and appreciate the hard work that is needed in to accomplish one's Life's Task. You may call it your Definite Purpose in life-as famously coined by Napoleon Hill-and by right this book is somewhat an expression of a modern age "Think and Grow Rich". Contained in Robert's book is a seminal idea, borrowed from the wisdoms from ages past and present, whose time has finally come.

Anyway, the geniuses of the ages attained their eternal glory not on luck or talent alone but on constant challenges and diligence on becoming a master over their chosen field. For instance, Robert Greene gave detailed accounts on the precarious journeys taken by Charles Darwin-the famed naturalist-in his early years, ones which is marked by constant bitter dispute with the father and criticism from those who disdained his peculiar ideas. Here Charles were sent, unwillingly by his father, to the far corners of Africa. This to examine specimens.

Initially the young Darwin hated the idea of being forced to conform to the paternal standard(who doesn't?), but as soon past he quickly realized how it all became a blessing in disguise. It helped develop his spiritual metal to fend off critics for the years to come. And being sent to Africa attuned himself to his Life's task, on his setting the road for his masterpiece later on in his life entitled "On The Origins of Species".

Being only twenty years old makes me very fortunate to have this book, because the ideas contained in it forces me to think about my Life's Task. This by finding my "inner voice". Which as a child, possessed my thoughts, that steered me to write, imagine and sketch enterprises. This "inner voice" took a long time to retrieve nonetheless, largely thanks to the regimented schooling environment I was brought up in. On which being different meant being an outcast to your schoolmates, and punishment by your teachers. After three days reading the book, I got a clearer view on my Life's Task and finally connected more effectively with my "inner voice".

Please whoever you are, purchase and read this book. The investment made would be well worth it for you and your family's well being in the long run. I stand my ground on this given the amount of value I have attained, enabling me to know more about myself. And the points and examples mentioned in this review only cover a small fragment of the values of reading Robert's book! That is how golden it is.

*Mastery is my first ever direct Amazon book purchase(instead of the "used" option). Knowing full well that value rendered is well worth it in the long run for my career. Thank you Robert Greene. You deserve your success*

Derived from my Amazon.co.uk review http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastery-Rober...(less)

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Mar 08, 2013 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had high hopes for Mastery because I really and truly loved The 48 Laws of Power and The 33 Strategies of War (also by Greene) and I also enjoyed Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. There is some minor overlap between Outliers and Mastery, but these are definitely two different books.

I like Greene's approach of using successful historical and current-day "masters" to outline his ideas about how to achieve mastery (I found the Charles Darwin and Benjamin Franklin episodes especially illuminating), a...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Richard Gazala rated it 4 of 5 stars

Each of us has a passion. For a variety of reasons within and outside our control, very few of us pursue our respective passions to the point of achieving mastery over them. Author Robert Greene's great new book, "Mastery," can't help us defeat objective limitations truly beyond our control that prevent us from mastering those passions. Barring such limitations, however, "Mastery" is brilliant. It's nothing short of a concise, elegantly written, well-researched and deeply inspirational guide to...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Courtney Rene rated it 5 of 5 stars

We all are searching for power of some type. We may not say it out loud, but deep inside we all know that this is a true statement. Whether it’s power through success or power through knowledge or whatever, we are all searching. On this quest for power we usually find that we have personal obstacles that get in our way, that we struggle to overcome, and block us at every turn. This book, Mastery by Robert Green wants to teach you how to overcome one of the biggest obstacles we face. The obstacle...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Hans is currently reading it

"In our culture we tend to equate thinking and intellectual powers with success and achievement. In many ways, however, it is an emotional quality that separates those who master a field from the many who simply work at a job".

"Finally, you must not see this process of moving through the levels of intelligence as merely linear, heading toward some kind of ultimate destination know as Mastery. Your whole life is a kind of apprenticeship to which you apply your learning skills"

"What prevents peopl...more

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Nov 01, 2012 David Bradley added it

Robert Greene's Mastery explores the lives of many historical Masters (Mozart, Da Vinci, Proust, etc.) and explains how their Mastery is attainable for everyone. By ignoring societal constraints and complications, following our own interests, serving time in an apprenticeship phase, and staying committed to our craft, Greene believes that everyone can become a Master and make lasting contributions to society.

While I like Greene's message and find his writing to be absorbing, I have some serious...more Robert Greene's Mastery explores the lives of many historical Masters (Mozart, Da Vinci, Proust, etc.) and explains how their Mastery is attainable for everyone. By ignoring societal constraints and complications, following our own interests, serving time in an apprenticeship phase, and staying committed to our craft, Greene believes that everyone can become a Master and make lasting contributions to society.

While I like Greene's message and find his writing to be absorbing, I have some serious concerns about this book. First is the fact that Greene's conclusions stem from extremely shaky "evidence". There are practically no scientific studies cited in this book, and very rarely do Greene's interpretations involve any proof at all. Every piece of evidence that Greene presents to support his theory is anecdotal. Greene is not a scientist himself, and really gives no reason why we should believe his arguments. Throughout this book, I could not help but think that anybody could have come to Greene's conclusions and presented them as facts. So, why should we believe in what Greene has to say? Unfortunately, this book never provides an adequate answer. We are left to assume that what Greene tells us is true, because Robert Greene says so.

Another issue in this book is it's extremely repetitive nature. Every single section tells an anecdote about someone considered a Master in his or her field, and then Greene goes on to explain that this person is a Master only through hard work, something that everyone can achieve. This cycle occurs over and over and over and over and over and over, for 300+ crammed pages and is truly exhausting. Even more disconcerting is how Greene will, within his repetitive structure, duplicate anecdotal sections. There are three sections throughout the book that discuss famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach, and each section tells the same exact anecdote. A fact may be added or the story might be expanded at the end, but the reality is that I ended up reading the same story three times (never has Roach been given such exposure in a book that has absolutely nothing to do with boxing). The effect is nearly maddening and forced me to skim over various sections, searching for new information.

While I found a number of flaws with this book, I don't want to take anything away from Greene's prose. The book is well written, provides interesting mini-biographies about famous figures, and can be quite captivating in the areas that till new ground. But, for me, it is hard to take a book seriously when it relies so much on anecdotes and ignores the need for any scientific evidence. In a book about Mastery, it's clear that Greene is no Master of science, no Master of proof, and no Master of Mastery, but is, instead, simply a Master of selling books.

Thanks to Viking Books and First Reads for sending me the ARC of this book.(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Ben rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy, politics, psych, occupy, modern

Definitely one of the greatest books I've ever read.

Greene brings together the stories of various masters over the centuries - from scientists to pilots to boxers to writers - to show how one truly masters a field. Combating the pernicious myth of the naturally-talented genius who comes out of nowhere with the world-changing idea, he shows how an intense apprenticeship is necessary for the deep insights these masters produce - even though this apprenticeship does not often take the route of a co...more Definitely one of the greatest books I've ever read.

Greene brings together the stories of various masters over the centuries - from scientists to pilots to boxers to writers - to show how one truly masters a field. Combating the pernicious myth of the naturally-talented genius who comes out of nowhere with the world-changing idea, he shows how an intense apprenticeship is necessary for the deep insights these masters produce - even though this apprenticeship does not often take the route of a conventional education.

I feel like the pieces of this have been dancing around the edges for a long time. You see hints of it in Greene's first book, The 48 Laws of Power, and a strong feel of it is in his recent collaboration with 50 Cent, The 50th Law. But more than that, in blogs posts and things like Kirby Ferguson's video series Everything Is A Remix - our culture has some powerfully wrongheaded ideas about the natures of intelligence, creativity, power, and many other forces, and our traditional educational institutions are ill-equipped to prepare us for reality.

Although I don't like saying too much about it because I haven't actually accomplished anything yet, my life's current trajectory is already based on the kinds of things he's talking about, so this book will be immensely useful in fine-tuning what I'm doing. I've certainly missed some key aspects, and I will be re-reading this and his other works very soon.

I do have some minor nitpicks with some of the "rational vs intuitive" parts, and Greene does have a slight tendency to mythologise certain aspects of the world - he often talks about things being "impossible to explain" (as opposed to just "difficult to explain" or "beyond the scope of this book") and he commits the naturalistic fallacy a lot - but I suspect most of this is not really a problem with the ideas, just a problem with simplifying them for a mass audience.

To quote Greene's protege, Ryan Holiday, this book is "a master studying mastery in what turns out to be a masterpiece". I cannot recommend it highly enough.(less)

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May 16, 2013 Jason Yang rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another one of Robert Greene's expositions, Mastery conveys traits common to historical and contemporary leaders spanning both science and the arts. Similar to 48 Laws of Power, Greene distills character traits and actions thematically common to these different leaders and advocates that they are necessary (or at least sufficient) steps toward mastery in any domain.

In general, I really loved this book. Though Greene makes some cliched exaggerations in some of his biographical re-tellings, many o...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is in the same vein as Talent is Overrated, The Practicing Mind, and George Leonard's "Mastery", with a bit of creativity/lateral thinking thrown in. It's more verbose (fairly repetitive) and anecdotal, but I found most of the case studies (which were pretty diverse) to be quite interesting.

I choose the Audible format so I could enjoy this during my daily commute. The narrator is quite good, and I eventually set the "narrator speed" to 1.5x with no perceived loss in quality or enjoymen...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Doug Lautzenheiser rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: business

On my bookshelf are four books by Robert Greene covering Power, War, Seduction, and Mastery. Greene has an amazing ability to research and summarize the great people and topics of the world.

In this particular book Greene explores Mastery, providing insight into the lives of amazing people of whom we have all heard: Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, and Leonardo da Vinci. But Greene also includes some modern day geniuses and heroes of lesser renown, such as: John Coltrane, Freddie...more

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May 21, 2013 Mouryakrishna91 rated it 5 of 5 stars

I would recommend this book to every young person starting their professional career. It gives you deep insights into the personal lives of legends like Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday, Da Vinci and many others across literature, art, science and education.

Living geniuses like V S Ramachandran, Temple Grandin, Cesar Rodriguez, Santiago Calatrava, Yoky Matsuoka and few others have been talked about in great depth. Robert Greene has a very simple message which says that you don't hav...more

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May 16, 2013 Briana Myricks rated it 5 of 5 stars

I listened to 48 Laws of Power audiobook and was a bit on the fence about it, so when my friend recommended Mastery to me, I was hesitant. Here's how to get the best out of this book:

1. Read/outline the extremely detailed table of contents (so thankful for this)
2. Skip the fluff/filler stories about what Einstein did and how Benjamin Franklin did it (unless you love anecdotes, I personally think there's too many in the book so I skipped them)
3. From the TOC, find the stuff that really sticks out...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Brett rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is book was filled with useful anecdotes, and served as a stronger motivator of hard work than every other book of the same subject.

Roberts story telling fits the same mold as his previous books. That is, a list of rules are established, and broken down with a series of stories. In this book, the stories are centered around individuals, past and present, whom Robert classifies as "Masters" of their respective fields. While there are some examples of transcendence to the rules that the auth...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Arjun Ravichandran rated it 3 of 5 stars

'Mastery' is not of the same ilk as the supremely concise and concentrated '48 Laws' ; neither is it the deep psychological excavation of fear that was 'The 50th Law' ; It is an altogether different beast.
Fans of Greene's previous work who were expecting a manifesto (that is to say, a clear and sharp work) will be disappointed. The book is more diffuse, more abstract, and altogether, more difficult to get a good hold of.
That's not to say the book isn't without value. It's just different from Gr...more

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May 09, 2013 William Darpinian rated it 2 of 5 stars

To preface this, I'm not the book's intended audience. Mastery is aimed at people who're looking to make sense of their passions and pursue a direction in life, and a lot of the book's prose is nuanced with those people in mind. Where they might find it inspiring, I found wading through it for the useful bits irritating.

I thought Greene's other books (The Laws of Power, the 51st Law, the Strategies of War and the Art of Seduction) were all absolutely spot on and very insightful. The writing in t...more To preface this, I'm not the book's intended audience. Mastery is aimed at people who're looking to make sense of their passions and pursue a direction in life, and a lot of the book's prose is nuanced with those people in mind. Where they might find it inspiring, I found wading through it for the useful bits irritating.

I thought Greene's other books (The Laws of Power, the 51st Law, the Strategies of War and the Art of Seduction) were all absolutely spot on and very insightful. The writing in those books is sharp, and while he may occasionally romanticize, it's to make a point about the emotional state demanded by whatever process he's discussing.

Mastery, on the other hand, is more related to 'finding yourself' and choosing to accomplish something. The goal is obviously to motivate an ambivalent readership into achieving something worthwhile. I'm sure there are plenty of people who connect with that sort of writing, but it's worth noting that this book is a radical departure from his typical methods of analysis.

At first glance, the formula's the same. State, explain, demonstrate, summarize. The subject matter is more 'career seminar' than anything, though, and while useful information and analysis is contained in the book, it's buried in inspiration-laden writing meant to excite the reader to use the success stories as templates for their own life. 'Go out and achieve' is practically shouted on every page, drowning out the discussions of application and process that were iconic of his previous works. Emotionally, it was like reading a story relating mundane events in capslock, with no grammar. I found myself skimming to maintain interest, hunting for the meaty portions and cringing when I found paragraphs of imperatives aimed at some hypothetical lost soul. By the second chapter, I felt like I could summarize the narrative.

'Behold, this isolated anecdote of success. Internalize it young grasshopper, for you must face similar challenges yourself if you wish to be famous like X Y and Z', ad nauseum. Ugh.

In short, it's occasionally an interesting read, but definitely not up to the standards of his other works. If you're interested in reading Greene, start elsewhere. (less)

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Feb 26, 2013 Josh Masterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a pretty good book, laying out a very basic principle: to become a master at anything, you have to work your ass off. The 10,000 hour / 10 year rule is Robert Greene's maxim, and the evidence he lays out is fairly compelling. He argues that there are no real 'freaks of nature' - that so-called geniuses like Einstein and Mozart actually put in at least 10,000 hours of work before they really hit their stride.

At times he can be a bit simplistic, and he casually dismisses the notion that...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Filip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, five-stars

I spent almost as much time getting myself to write a review for this book as I have reading it. Is it a five star book? Is the repetition of featured stories (you know what I'm talking about if you've read it) such a big deal? Am I just getting fooled by Greene and riding an emotional high of "anything is possible to master if you set your mind to it"?

I've slept on it for long enough to conclude that this book indeed IS brilliant.

It completely shatters the myth of iconic people being destined...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Long Nguyen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Much like his other works, Robert Greene weaves practical lessons and narratives in one, transitioning effortlessly between one to the next point. Arguably, this is his most important book to date. Mastery does not necessarily lead to a well-lived life, but it certainly will contribute towards one. And even if mastery of one particular skill or set of skills is not within the reader's desire, taking a structured approach towards learning and loving in life has its ample rewards. The only fault o...more

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May 02, 2013 Belal Khan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Excellent book to be accompanied with; "Outliers", "So Good They Can't Ignore You", "Liespotting, and "Stand Out" and "The Power of Full Engagement" -- "Outliers" and "So Good.." give great observations and outline principles to those who are masters. "Stand Out" helps you in understanding your unique strengths. "Liespotting" outlines how to foster an environment to build credibility - "Mastery" will give you a road map through stories of remarkable individuals with an emphasis on apprenticeship...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Gary Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is very interesting. Greene analyzes what it means to master your life’s passion. This could be mastering your chosen professional, a musical interment, or really anything. Much of the book seems to be talking to someone who is at the pointing of decide what career to choose. Greene uses many anecdotal examples to make his points. He almost never quotes any source for his conclusions, but makes his point clearly and then gives examples. Most of his points are intuitively correct, but h...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Dustin Voliva rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013

The overall thesis "Anyone can be a Master" is a fallacy of epic proportions. The common threads he tries to weave are a tangled, garbled mess that is pointless to try and follow. The bit on social interactions is highly narcissistic in nature and too simple of a view on how one should look at and act around others.

However, Mastery still is an interesting read. The stories of the masters are at times well told, and their stories do have important lessons to impart. The major theme, mastery does...more

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Mar 19, 2013 David rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: misc

I loved Greene's 48 Laws of Power, but I was a bit disappointed with this one. The author warns you he's going to repeat biographical material (though there's no good reason for doing so), and then he makes good on this promise, again, and again. Much of this repetition feels like it's nearly word for word. For example, every time Freddie Roach (the boxer) is discussed, he's introduced as if for the very first time to the reader, with the same story of his origins and the challenges he faced. I...more

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Feb 14, 2013 James Jones added it

This book is an instant classic. Robert Greene takes common sense to an extreme transforming it into "not so common sense" by observation of self and one's surroundings. This is the perfect read for college students and the younger generations because it speaks of future transitions and because a big problem within the universities is that students do not have the time to pay attention to anything but school. This book can expand one's mind and allow them to reach broader horizons through realiz...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Aram Leary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very thought provoking work on what it takes to become a master of a field and whether "genius" exists naturally or whether it is instead passion and perseverance combined.

With a number of extensive interviews with modern day masters and a unique look at historical masters this book makes for a very intriguing, if somewhat lengthy, read.

The general premise of this book can be summed up in this quote from the final chapters: "The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in...more

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May 04, 2013 Alain Burrese rated it 5 of 5 stars

“Mastery” by Robert Greene, bestselling author of “The 48 Laws of Power” and others is a fascinating look at what it takes to become a master, to gain control of our lives and destinies. A book of considerable research, he uses the biographies of those who have mastered their fields combined with additional research and original interviews to blend historical anecdote, psychological insight, and interesting and engaging commentary to distil the universal ingredients and characteristics of the wo...more “Mastery” by Robert Greene, bestselling author of “The 48 Laws of Power” and others is a fascinating look at what it takes to become a master, to gain control of our lives and destinies. A book of considerable research, he uses the biographies of those who have mastered their fields combined with additional research and original interviews to blend historical anecdote, psychological insight, and interesting and engaging commentary to distil the universal ingredients and characteristics of the world's masters. It's an extremely engaging and fascinating book.

Things this book focuses on are topics such as discovering your calling or life's task, the reality of apprenticeship, the dynamic of mentors, social intelligence, creativity, and how to fuse the intuitive with the rational. Each of these general topics is explored through the biographies of figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Martha Graham. There are many more individuals profiled, including one of my favorites, the former boxer and not trainer Freddie Roach. I was delighted to see him included in this book and enjoyed the lessons shared around his story.

Each chapter had sections on the keys to mastery and strategies for implementing the ideas. I found these to be very interesting and helpful in transitioning the historical lessons to ways I could immediately apply the information to my own life and teachings. Because I'm a writer and speaker, often focusing on martial arts, self-defense, or communications and conflict, I found myself looking at ways to use this information to mastery my fields. I think one of the most important messages that resonates through this book is that mastery is not something you are necessarily born with, but rather a function of focusing and putting in the hours necessary to master your particular field. This is something I've taught for years, calling it “reps.” You must put in the hours and countless repetitions to become a black belt in a martial art.

An important aspect of this book is the motivation factor. I couldn't help but become motivated to do more when reading the profiles in this book. Seeing the dedication, the obstacles overcome, and the discipline that enabled people to master their own lives and pursuits made me want to do more than I'm already doing. For motivation and inspiration alone, this book is a great read.

While I'm familiar with Greene's other books, I admit I have not read them yet. After reading “Mastery,” I'm going to read his others. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and feel it contains much useful information to help anyone master the field they choose to pursue. Read this book to be motivated toward Mastery!(less)

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About Robert Greene

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Best-selling author and public speaker, Robert Greene was born in Los Angeles. He attended U.C. California at Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received a degree in classical studies. He has worked in New York as an editor and writer at several magazines, including Esquire; and in Hollywood as a story developer and...more

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Quotes from Mastery

“Think of it this way: There are two kinds of failure. The first comes from never trying out your ideas because you are afraid, or because you are waiting for the perfect time. This kind of failure you can never learn from, and such timidity will destroy you. The second kind comes from a bold and venturesome spirit. If you fail in this way, the hit that you take to your reputation is greatly outweighed by what you learn. Repeated failure will toughen your spirit and show you with absolute clarity how things must be done.” — 16 people liked it

“In the future, the great division will be between those who have trained themselves to handle these complexities and those who are overwhelmed by them -- those who can acquire skills and discipline their minds and those who are irrevocably distracted by all the media around them and can enver focus enough to learn.” — 5 people liked it

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