Acta Non Verba Robert Greene: Mastering the Art of the Sublime
Feb 15, 2023
In this engaging discussion, Robert Greene, author of bestsellers like The 48 Laws of Power, delves into the liberating power of silence and enlightenment. He shares how confronting mortality reshapes his views on adversity and empathy. Greene emphasizes the intrinsic manipulative nature of humans, advocating for self-awareness as a path to personal growth. He also reflects on the profound lessons from his 13-year journey into Zazen meditation and the significance of embracing our duality in the quest for authenticity.
53:57
1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 2min
The Depths of Zazen: Embracing Enlightenment
01:36 • 7min
Embracing Human Nature
08:56 • 8min
Meditation, Growth, and The Journey of Identity
16:30 • 13min
The Art of Courtship and Transformation
29:49 • 4min
Exploring Mortality and Connection
33:57 • 10min
The Legacy of Alcibiades and Historical Figures
44:13 • 10min
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.
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 Laws of Human Nature
Robert Greene
In 'The Laws of Human Nature,' Robert Greene delves into the complexities of human behavior, identifying 18 laws that govern our actions and motivations.
Drawing from historical figures such as Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, and Martin Luther King Jr., Greene provides insights into how to detach from emotions, master self-control, develop empathy, and see beyond people's masks.
The book is designed to help readers become better judges of character, manage their thought patterns, and influence others more effectively.
It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's own flaws to make better decisions in personal and professional life.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature.
Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
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 gift of adversity
Norman Rosenthal
The Law of the Sublime
The Law of the Sublime
None
Robert Greene
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.
Mastery
Robert Greene
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.
Tao te ching
Laozi
The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion.
It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence.
The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things.
It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity.
The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature.
The Daily Laws
Robert Greene
This book by Robert Greene provides a daily dose of wisdom, drawing from his previous works and including new material.
Each day features a concise lesson and a 'Daily Law' that serves as a prescription for navigating life's challenges.
The book is organized monthly around themes such as power, seduction, persuasion, strategy, human nature, toxic people, self-control, mastery, psychology, leadership, adversity, and creativity.
Greene emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with one's early passions and maintaining a realistic and disciplined attitude towards life and work.
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.
What could your mind do with just a few moments of silence? This week Robert Greene explores the liberation that comes from practicing enlightenment through silence, and how recognition of death tragedy help him manage adversity in his daily life. Listen in as we discuss why manipulation is part of our makeup, why recognizing our failings makes us better people, and how a near-encounter with death changed his perception of adversity.
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, and The 50th Law. His highly anticipated fifth book, Mastery, examines the lives of great historical figures such as Charles Darwin, Mozart, Paul Graham and Henry Ford and distills the traits and universal ingredients that made them masters. In addition to having a strong following within the business world and a deep following in Washington, DC, Greene’s books are hailed by everyone from war historians to the biggest musicians in the industry (including Jay-Z and 50 Cent).
Greene attended U.C. Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received a degree in classical studies. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
You can see a full collection of Greene’s work here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IGV3IS/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=33a4f706-a8ef-4d25-8162-c1f038681070
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.