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.
In this book, Mark Manson argues against the typical self-help advice of constant positivity, instead suggesting that life's struggles give it meaning. He emphasizes the need to focus on what truly matters and to accept and confront painful truths. The book is divided into nine chapters and uses blunt honesty and profanity to illustrate its ideas, encouraging readers to find meaning through values they can control and to replace uncontrollable values with more meaningful ones.
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 'Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences,' Howard Gardner argues against the traditional view of intelligence as a uniform, static quality. Instead, he proposes that there are several distinct types of intelligence, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. Gardner's theory broadens the definition of intelligence and highlights the various ways in which humans can exhibit intelligent behavior, beyond the conventional measures of 'book smarts.' The book is a celebration of the diverse ways human beings can be intelligent and has had a significant impact on educational practices and the understanding of human potential.
What are you called to do in life? What is your life’s task? And once you figure that out, how do you pursue it?
The one and only Robert Greene sat down with us on the pod to talk about all of these questions and a whole more.
We discuss finding and pursuing one’s life task, the nature and causes of “Peter Pan Syndrome”, science vs timeless wisdom on life, figuring out what do in midlife after you’ve taken the wrong path, and a much more.
Enjoy.
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About Robert Greene
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, Mastery, The Laws of Human Nature, and most recently of The Daily Laws.
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, Drake, 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.
Robert’s Website: https://powerseductionandwar.com/
Robert’s Books: https://powerseductionandwar.com/books/
Robert’s social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobertGreeneOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertgreeneofficial
X: https://x.com/RobertGreene
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Robert-Greene-100085341047380/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@robertgreene
Chapters:
00:40 The F*ck of the Week: Finding Your Life’s Task
29:37 Brilliant or Bullsh*t: Peter Pan Syndrome
43:15 Q&A: Science vs Timeless Philosophy, How to Start Over in Midlife
Theme music: “Icarus Lives” by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.
SOLVED with Mark Manson 
