Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

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Author Robert Greene on Mastery & Research

Jan 25, 2017

Guest

Robert Greene

In this conversation, Robert Greene, renowned author of bestsellers like The 48 Laws of Power, dives into mastery, power dynamics, and self-discovery. He reflects on Machiavelli's insights and shares the importance of having a life task. Greene explores mental resilience in sports, how absence enhances relationships, and tackles the complexities of narcissism. He unveils the duality of ambition, the creative struggle, and the necessity of overcoming instinctual barriers to unlock our true potential.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Insight on Human Nature

Robert Greene observed as a child that people hide their true motives behind facades. - He developed an early fascination with the mental games and strategies people play.

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ANECDOTE

Early Interest in Machiavelli

At 14, Greene read Machiavelli's The Prince, inspired by his earlier obsession with war and strategy. - He recognized Machiavelli's concepts were complex and better understood with age and experience.

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INSIGHT

Mental Resilience in Sports

Mental resilience and psychological strength are key to enduring physical punishment in sports like football. - Physical talent alone does not determine success under sustained pressure and adversity.

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Power, Mastery, and Early Influences

04:21 • 6min

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Mastery and Mental Resilience in Sports

10:27 • 17min

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The Art of Absence: Mystery in Relationships

27:03 • 6min

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Navigating Narcissism and Power Dynamics

33:33 • 4min

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Navigating Self-Discovery and Purpose

37:44 • 13min

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Overcoming Human Nature for True Potential

50:19 • 3min

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The Duality of Ambition

53:23 • 6min

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Navigating the Creative Struggle

59:20 • 19min

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Mastery Beyond Failure

01:18:22 • 12min

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Engaging with the Finding Mastery Community

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.

The 33 Strategies of War

Don Leslie

Robert Greene

This book is a contemporary companion to Sun-tzu's 'The Art of War'. It synthesizes strategies from various political, philosophical, and religious texts across world civilizations and thousands of years of conflict. Each chapter outlines an approach to help readers win their life's wars, using illustrative examples from history, such as Lyndon Johnson, Julius Caesar, and Margaret Thatcher. The book provides psychological ammunition to overcome patterns of failure and gain the upper hand in various situations.

The 48 laws of power

Robert Greene

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.

The 50th law

50 Cent Staff

Cristina Pizarro Mato

Robert Greene

50 Cent

The 50th Law is a semi-autobiographical account of 50 Cent's life, combining his experiences as a young hustler and musician with lessons and anecdotes from historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Sun Tzu, and Malcolm X. The book focuses on the principle of fearlessness, illustrating how embracing and overcoming fear can lead to success in both personal and professional life. It is divided into ten chapters, each exploring a different aspect of fearlessness and how it can be applied to achieve one's goals.

The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli

Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.

The Art of Seduction

Joost Elffers

Robert Greene

This book by Robert Greene is an indispensable primer of persuasion that reveals seduction as one of history's greatest weapons and the ultimate form of power. It explores the art of seduction through twenty-four maneuvers and strategies, drawing examples from history, literature, and psychology. Greene discusses how seduction can topple empires, win elections, and influence great minds. The book is structured into phases that guide the reader through the process of seduction, from creating temptation and suspense to making bold moves and managing the aftermath. It is a sophisticated guide that treats seduction as a dance or ritual, emphasizing the flow of power and desire between equals.

Zen and the art of archery

Eugen Herrigel

Robert Greene is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, and his fifth book, Mastery, which takes a deep dive into the lives of historical figures such as Charles Darwin, Mozart, Paul Graham and Henry Ford. This conversation was on the recommendation from Ryan Holiday (if you haven't had the chance to listen to my conversation with him, it is episode 043). The reason I wanted to sit down with Robert is obvious -- but equally as important as his insights, I wanted to understand what led him to be interested in mastery and power. He has a wonderful way of being committed to principles, and at the same time, being cognitively nimble and agile – a fantastic combination to explore ideas, and at the same time being grounded. We talked about everything from Machiavelli to how people have misused his principles on power – to the importance of having a life task.

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