In 'Mastery', Robert Greene argues that mastery is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through a rigorous process. The book outlines several key stages: finding your life's task, undergoing an ideal apprenticeship, finding the right mentor, acquiring social intelligence, and fusing intuitive with rational thinking. Greene draws on the lives of historical and contemporary masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Temple Grandin to illustrate his points. He emphasizes the importance of deep practice, self-directed learning, and the ability to read and navigate social dynamics. The book challenges the conventional notion of genius as a genetic gift and offers practical steps for anyone to achieve mastery in their chosen field.
In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.
My guest today is Robert Greene, author of many books but perhaps most famous for his books "48 Laws of Power" and "Mastery." He has spent his life studying why people behave like they do and why some go on to build great things. I love his idea of finding your life's purpose, which we explore in detail. Please enjoy my conversation with Robert Greene.
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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:03:17) First Question - Exploring Reality and Human Behavior
(00:07:41) The Concept of Masks and Social Roles
(00:10:47) The Sublime and Social Conventions
(00:13:48) Writing 'The 48 Laws of Power'
(00:16:38) Defining and Understanding Power
(00:18:01) Historical Figures and Adaptation
(00:23:59) Modern Applications of Power Laws
(00:31:57) The Boldness of Deception
(00:32:54) Exploring Good and Evil
(00:35:56) The Art of Seduction and AI
(00:38:31) Defining Mastery
(00:42:44) Discovering Your Life's Task
(00:51:53) The Power of Observation
(00:59:56) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done for Robert
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy 
