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iriidescent's review against another edition
5.0
Though repetitive at times, I thoroughly enjoyed the historical examples. This book is raw, inspiring and entertaining, full of practical steps and wisdom to mastery.
chuskeyreads's review against another edition
3.0
THE GIST:
Robert Greene delivers practical, yet life-altering advice on how to become the master of your craft (whatever it may be). Drawing upon historical and biographical paradigms, Greene delves into the minds of our greatest thinkers and examines their contributions to society as a means of explaining the ways in which all of us can achieve this mastery.
THE PLAN:
Essentially, Greene repeatedly points to certain patterns and predilections of history’s greats:
✿ Possess an affinity for a particular field of study at a young age
✿ Happen upon an opportunity to develop their endeavor
✿ Enter into an apprenticeship which sparks a greater desire to learn more
✿ Develop an insatiable yearning to hone and perfect their craft to mastery
Sounds simple enough. Yet, this penchant for greatness is not something to be learned in school or in an apprenticeship – it is an innate desire or passion that drives us to distinction.
Greene explores six million years of brain development that has our potential “hardwired,” and outlines six stages towards achieving our potential complete with strategies gleaned from the stories of 55 masters.
THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY:
Clearly, Greene has done his homework. The sheer number of references to many of our great thinkers alone make this work notable and worth the money. The writing style is fairly uncomplicated, and the subtitles make maneuvering through each chapter relatively painless.
The Table of Contents, however, is an absolute mess! It resembles more of the author’s working outline and notes for his book, than a navigation tool for the reader. There is no consistent organization, and the paragraphs of information reprinted in the TOC are redundant and clutter the pages. Ironically, a book about achieving our greatest potential is muddied from the start. Although the anecdotes are quite interesting (I’m particularly fond of those about Mozart and Einstein), such stories do not a great work make.
In all, I am not completely convinced of Greene’s premise that EVERYONE has the ability to achieve supremacy. For the most part, those who truly need these strategies to avoid complacency, apathy, and self-destruction are sadly not the audience for this book. It is not exactly a “light” read, but Greene does advocate for essential virtues that successful people must possess: hard work, determination, passion, and persistence.
Robert Greene delivers practical, yet life-altering advice on how to become the master of your craft (whatever it may be). Drawing upon historical and biographical paradigms, Greene delves into the minds of our greatest thinkers and examines their contributions to society as a means of explaining the ways in which all of us can achieve this mastery.
THE PLAN:
Essentially, Greene repeatedly points to certain patterns and predilections of history’s greats:
✿ Possess an affinity for a particular field of study at a young age
✿ Happen upon an opportunity to develop their endeavor
✿ Enter into an apprenticeship which sparks a greater desire to learn more
✿ Develop an insatiable yearning to hone and perfect their craft to mastery
Sounds simple enough. Yet, this penchant for greatness is not something to be learned in school or in an apprenticeship – it is an innate desire or passion that drives us to distinction.
Greene explores six million years of brain development that has our potential “hardwired,” and outlines six stages towards achieving our potential complete with strategies gleaned from the stories of 55 masters.
THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY:
Clearly, Greene has done his homework. The sheer number of references to many of our great thinkers alone make this work notable and worth the money. The writing style is fairly uncomplicated, and the subtitles make maneuvering through each chapter relatively painless.
The Table of Contents, however, is an absolute mess! It resembles more of the author’s working outline and notes for his book, than a navigation tool for the reader. There is no consistent organization, and the paragraphs of information reprinted in the TOC are redundant and clutter the pages. Ironically, a book about achieving our greatest potential is muddied from the start. Although the anecdotes are quite interesting (I’m particularly fond of those about Mozart and Einstein), such stories do not a great work make.
In all, I am not completely convinced of Greene’s premise that EVERYONE has the ability to achieve supremacy. For the most part, those who truly need these strategies to avoid complacency, apathy, and self-destruction are sadly not the audience for this book. It is not exactly a “light” read, but Greene does advocate for essential virtues that successful people must possess: hard work, determination, passion, and persistence.
evapk's review against another edition
4.0
Thought provoking read. However, the author reused stories to illustrate points and had to re-introduce characters for each new point illustrated which was a bit annoying.
opson's review against another edition
4.0
His second best book, after the laws of human nature. After 3/4 it got a bit repetitive, emphasizing e.g. the value of observation before jumping to conclusions and not rushing the creative process by thinking of external outcomes. Still highly recommended, especially for the first 1/4. It expanded my view of attaining mastery by outlining the process of the observing phase, followed by the active phase and lastly the creative phase. Also loved how instinct and reaaon, gained through the way outlined in the book, is synonymous with attained mastery.
krissy94's review against another edition
3.0
Not a fan of the writing style. Didn’t expect so many story’s and history lessons
eddik's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing, vague, and repetitive. Although I think the author is an interesting person and I liked 48 laws of power, I could not bring myself to finish this book.
janakiram's review against another edition
5.0
You're changed with every page you turn!
Starts with Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe's words,
"Everyone holds his fortune in his own hands, like a sculptor the rear material he will gain into a figure. But it's the same with that type of artistic activity as with all others: We are merely burn with the capability to do it. The skill to mold the material into what at want busy bee learned and attentively cultivated."
Starts with Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe's words,
"Everyone holds his fortune in his own hands, like a sculptor the rear material he will gain into a figure. But it's the same with that type of artistic activity as with all others: We are merely burn with the capability to do it. The skill to mold the material into what at want busy bee learned and attentively cultivated."