Robert Greene

Evaluates the tactics employed by great historical figures to offer insight into how to gain control over one's own life and destiny, challenging cultural myths to demonstrate how anyone can tap the power of a love for doing something well to achieve high levels of success.

Mastery

Ketan Nayak

** spoiler alert **
           Robert Greene's brings his writing style to a book that opens up the profiles of individuals from various straits and ages who developed a mastery in their own fields. He attempts to then paint a picture of what it takes for an average individual to be a true master at their craft. Depending on which world view you follow, some of the advice may come across as lofty and idealistic. For example, the 'introspect at the core, discover your inclination, do an apprenticeship and follow it to occupy a key niche' strategy, might seem impractical for quite a few people discovering this book. 

At the same time however, the mini-biographies highlighted show how certain traits and actions ( being persistent, having mentors, looking to learn and fail etc.) have generally led people to improve their state of life. Unlike his previous book, 48 laws of power, the general takeaways from this one are a little chaotic being scattered around the book, but are probably palatable to a larger broader audience and come across as less controversial.

Ahmed Salem

I am so found of the value of this book. How to convert your skills from beginner to Master. This is a very long journey that will cost you a life time.

Ethan Hussong

I wish I would have found this book when I was 22 instead of almost 40!

Mary Baldwin

It would be wrong to reject this book on the assumption that it's either just 'another self help book' or just 'yet another encyclopaedia of condensed yet topically collated biographies' 

It's neither. But also both.

This is the first book of Robert Greene's I've read, and I went into it based on a solid recommendation; but having no background on Greene or his other work. 

Mastery sets out to show that there is more to Mastering an art than chance, or having great genes. It does a fine job of explaining the concept of 'lifes task' and how the conscious choices and sacrifices we make will contribute to the goal of Mastery. Greene's attempt to make Mastery feel achievable works in one sense, the steps he describes and the insights he applies do resonate and you can see how applying them to your motivations would pay off. However, on the other hand, by using such famous examples the book has still created an air of luck and mystery to Mastery- it's easy to apply the principles in hindsight to people who found their 'lifes task' but without 'real' applications it's harder to engage. 

If Greene were to write 'finding your life's task' or 'Mastery for the non-famous living' : I'd read them.

One of the book's major plus points also turns out to be it's downfall. Greene concisely introduces at the start of the book, a handful of 'Masters' from history who are used to illustrate the keys to Mastery as the book progresses. Their stories grow and are elaborated on with each progressive step in the Mastery process. Although this ties in the subject nicely and adds clarity, by the end if the book it begins to feel very repetitive and detracts from the points he tries to make.

It gets my recommendation, but I couldn't tell you exactly who or why I would recommend it.

Issa Dimayuga

As an artist this book has helped look at my craft and its progress on a different level. Very informative book and well-written.

Omar Fernandez

* Your brain is awesome, the product of evolution and designed to make connections over time. 
* The more you focus on something, the more raw material your brain will have to make connections - in a field you choose and related knowledge you have. This leads to mastery over time. Quote here the 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to reach mastery.
* Also let your mind relax after intense focus so your brain can make connections and surprise you with new answers. 
* The "master" with all these unique brain connections from their unique experience start to get an intuitive sense of things that would otherwise be very taxing for our brains to process. Then it can focus on more complex items. 
* Mastery is not an elusive thing that only a few unique people can achieve, but anyone that puts in the time and work. 
* Dedicating your life to mastery is good for the world, as you'll contribute more to it from your unique experiences. 

Those are the key points. The Robert Greene illustrates this by focusing on some of the greats in a variety of disciplines (Da Vinci, Einstein) and others that I didn't know about before but with interesting stories. 

The author did try to give you a process to also answer the question of what you should master/focus on. Things like looking at what you gravitate towards, etc. 

Overall, a good read.

Jeremy Anderberg

“Our levels of desire, patience, persistence, and confidence end up playing a much larger role in success than sheer reasoning powers. Feeling motivated and energized, we can overcome almost anything. Feeling bored and restless, our minds shut off and we become increasingly passive.” 

I’ve been at the same job for nearly seven years, which is an eternity for a Millennial. Rather than feeling an itch for something new, though, my career itch really has to do with mastery. And it’s a feeling that I think a lot of people get in their early 30s . . . you’ve been working long enough to generally know what you like and don’t like, and can therefore lean in to the positives and become a real expert in whatever your field might be.

That’s what this book tackles — the how of mastery.

Let’s start right away with some criticism: Robert Greene is known for his signature writing style of giving the reader tons of historical anecdotes/profiles and then pulling out lessons from them that match his thesis. It’s a style that’s now oft repeated. And while it’s effective, it can also get tiresome. He gives specific stories a universal quality that they just don’t always have. And there were some parts of the book that got a little bit . . . out there and almost weirdly mystic.

That said, I very much enjoyed a lot of this book. The first third or so, about finding your “inclination” (much akin to a calling) and then diving into the “apprenticeship phase” (going headfirst into that inclination) was especially compelling and unlike a lot of what you see in books that are about boosting your career. Lots of underlining in those first few sections. Beyond that, I wasn’t as convinced of Greene’s arguments, but it was still a really well done book.

Anyone in search of mastery — of any skill, hobby, career field — would do well to give this a read.

Ervin Szerdocz

A bit too fluffy and repetitive for my taste, but this book still delivered big time. Reading about so many masters and their struggle of getting there made me realise that everyone has the potential to achieve more, if only we put in the work. Demystifying "genius" can only encourage us to persevere, and this book definitely refuelled something in me.

Harsha G

Reading this has been a profound experience. I found myself taking LOTS of notes and making many decisions to better my own life.

The book has it's few flaws but the ideas Robert managed to get across more than make up for any sort of flaws.

I can't recommend it enough for anyone interested to make a significant impact in any field or strives to achieve mastery.

Eihab Khan

By far the best book I've ever read. Period.
Such mind-altering book should be read by everyone, especially those who have a job they don't like, or those who are doing something that doesn't feel fulfilling. This book will help them - like it helped me understand that everyone is born with a unique gift, and it is our life-task to pursue this gift and carry it all the way to Mastery

Ilia Markov

Not a bad book, but I think I was expecting much more.

It gets quite repetitive at times — especially with the biographies it is using — and it is lacking (or at least I was expecting) a lot more research-backed advice and conclusions. This is more of a "story" of what makes a master and it sounds a lot like general advice given from someone experienced to a young person just entering (professional) life.

'Machiavelli has a new rival, and Sun-tzu had better watch his back' - New York Times Around the globe, people are facing the same problem - that we are born as individuals but are forced to conform to the rules of society if we want to succeed. To see our uniqueness expressed in our achievements, we must first learn the rules - and then how to change them completely. Charles Darwin began as an underachieving schoolboy, Leonardo da Vinci as an illegitimate outcast. The secret of their eventual greatness lies in a 'rigorous apprenticeship': by paying close and careful attention, they learnt to master the 'hidden codes' which determine ultimate success or failure. Then, they rewrote the rules as a reflection of their own individuality, blasting previous patterns of achievement open from within. Told through Robert Greene's signature blend of historical anecdote and psychological insight and drawing on interviews with world leaders, Mastery builds on the strategies outlined in The 48 Laws of Power to provide a practical guide to greatness - and how to start living by your own rules. From the internationally bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art Of Seduction, and The 33 Strategies Of War.

Juan Agrón

Róbert Istók

Raphael Farasat

Drew Spartz

Oğuz Cengiz

From the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Laws of Human Nature, a vital work revealing that the secret to mastery is already within you. Each one of us has within us the potential to be a Master. Learn the secrets of the field you have chosen, submit to a rigorous apprenticeship, absorb the hidden knowledge possessed by those with years of experience, surge past competitors to surpass them in brilliance, and explode established patterns from within. Study the behaviors of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci and the nine contemporary Masters interviewed for this book. The bestseller author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, and The 33 Strategies of War, Robert Greene has spent a lifetime studying the laws of power. Now, he shares the secret path to greatness. With this seminal text as a guide, readers will learn how to unlock the passion within and become masters.

Mastery

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