Mastery

Worldwide, people face the same problem: We are born as individuals but are forced to conform to the rules of society if we want to succeed. To express our uniqueness in our achievements, we must first learn the rules and then learn how to completely change them.

Charles Darwin started as a struggling student, and Leonardo da Vinci as an illegitimate outsider. The secret to their later greatness lies in a rigorous teaching: Through attentive and careful observation, they learned to master the hidden codes that determine success or failure. Then they rewrote the rules as a reflection of their own individuality, breaking the existing patterns of success from the inside out.

Told through Robert Greene's characteristic blend of historical anecdotes and psychological insights, and supported by interviews with world leaders, "Mastery" builds on the strategies outlined in "The 48 Laws of Power" and offers a practical guide to greatness and how to begin living by your own rules.