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 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[2][3][4].
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.
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.
Published in 1971, 'Rules for Radicals' is a seminal work by Saul Alinsky that provides a set of principles and tactics for community organizers and activists. The book outlines 13 rules for radicals to use in their efforts to bring about social change, emphasizing the importance of understanding power dynamics, using ridicule, and maintaining constant pressure on the opposition. Alinsky's work has been influential across various political spectra and continues to be a significant resource for those involved in social and political activism.
Understanding the laws human nature is one of the most crucial skills in life, so why do so few of us take the time to learn them?
Robert Greene is a New York Times bestselling author, whose books include, ‘The 48 Laws of Power’, ’The Art of Seduction’, and ’The 33 Strategies of War’.
In this conversation Robert and Steven discuss topics such as, how to avoid a midlife crisis, ways to eliminate self-doubt, how to use body language to get what you want, and the dark truth about human psychology.
(2:00) Why did you write a book about human nature?
(3:59) How do we reverse a lack of self-awareness?
(6:26) How to get rid of qualities we don’t like about ourselves
(11:20) Where does our dark side come from?
(14:54) How to pursue that thing you’ve always wanted to do
(27:19) The unseen importance of creating a sense of urgency
(29:12) How to know if you’re following a false purpose
(35:42) Should a young person just be saying yes to everything?
(39:39) How to manage other people that get in the way of what we want to do
(42:31) Do we have to lie to be successful?
(51:16) How to read someone's body language
(53:57) A smile says loads about how someone feels about you
(56:16) People's personalities are contagious
(56:43) Frenemies, what they mean and how to spot one
(1:06:07) What's the most controversial point from your book?
(1:08:50) Does equality exist when we all strive for power?
(1:11:54) Becoming the best, what it really means
(1:17:36) Is death a motivator for you?
(1:24:14) The importance of relationships
(1:26:26) How to deal with dark thoughts
(1:28:34) Advice for people going through self-doubt & hard moments
(1:32:42) Why did you write this book, The Sublime?
(1:37:08) What would be your parting message to the world?
(1:42:59) How can we rise above our emotional reactions?
(1:44:40) How has your research influenced how you view politics?
(1:52:03) The last guest's question
You can purchase the special 25th anniversary edition Robert’s book, ‘The 48 Laws of Power’, here: https://amzn.to/3TA1NOm
Follow Robert:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/48V4gaG
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3Vj8TYE
YouTube - https://bit.ly/43lMjRf
Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/3kxINCANKsb
My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' is out now - https://smarturl.it/DOACbook
Follow me:
https://beacons.ai/diaryofaceo
Shop the Conversation Cards: https://thediary.com/products/the-cards
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett 
