Mastery

Around the globe, people face the same challenge: we are born as individuals, yet we are expected to conform to the rules of society if we want to succeed. To express our uniqueness through our achievements, we must first learn the rules — and then discover how to reshape them completely.
Charles Darwin began as an underachieving schoolboy, while Leonardo da Vinci started life as an illegitimate outcast. The secret behind their eventual greatness, according to Robert Greene, lies in what he calls a “rigorous apprenticeship.” By paying close attention and learning deeply, they mastered the hidden codes that determine success or failure. Once they understood those systems, they rewrote the rules in ways that reflected their own individuality, transforming entire fields from within.
Told through Greene’s signature blend of historical anecdote and psychological insight, and drawing on interviews with world leaders, Mastery expands on the strategies explored in The 48 Laws of Power. The result is both an inspiring exploration of greatness and a practical guide to discovering how to live — and succeed — on your own terms.