Mastery
by Robert Greene · first published 2012
81% recommend18% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Breaks the path to mastery into stages, drawing on anecdotes from masters in many fields. Suits people building a career or craft who want a framework and motivation, and sees it as self-help with little fluff.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Robert Greene, the "modern Machiavelli" debunks the prevailing mythology of success and presents a radical new way to greatness.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2012–2026Quiet
Susan Cain
Recommended by 43 · mentioned by 5743 recommend · 57 mention43 recommend · 5743 recommend
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Richard Carlson
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 53 recommend · 5 mention3 recommend · 53 recommend
The trauma of everyday life
Mark Epstein
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 43 recommend · 4 mention3 recommend · 43 recommend
2013–2022Choose Yourself
James Altucher
Recommended by 11 · mentioned by 2011 recommend · 20 mention11 recommend · 2011 recommend
The years of Lyndon Johnson
Robert A. Caro
Recommended by 20 · mentioned by 2220 recommend · 22 mention20 recommend · 2220 recommend
Story of My Experiments with Truth
Mahatma Gandhi
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 74 recommend · 7 mention4 recommend · 74 recommend
2015–2023My 60 memorable games
Robert J. Fischer, Bobby Fischer
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 65 recommend · 6 mention5 recommend · 65 recommend
I'm a big fan of both Robert Greene's Mastery and Leonardo da Vinci, but I think using da Vinci as an example of patience is fairly misleading. After having read numerous biographies on the man, my conclusion is that it's remarkable that he managed…
on “Impatience: The Pitfall of Every Ambitious Person” ↗The book "Mastery" by Robert Greene does a deep dive into mentorship, including the process of finding mentors. I highly recommend it. I won't attempt to summarize it all, but one of the strategies outlined in the book…
on “Ask HN: How can I find a good mentor?” ↗Some books that helped me: - The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins - Indistractable by Nir Eyal - Mastery by Robert Greene
on “How a lazy bitch like me learned to be productive” ↗…underachievement and get busy learning to master your craft. Lots of guys have been in your shoes before, you might find Robert Greenes book a timely read> http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13589182-mastery
on “Ask HN: Career trajectory? I'm terrible” ↗…Tony Robbins. People miss that sales is not just technique or what you say but state of mind, belief and confidence. Stay away from sales only focus books. If you really want to learn something check "Mastery" by Robert Greene.
on “Ask HN: Best books or videos to get better at sales?” ↗The post schows a good example of someone who achieved mastery in his field of interest and solved a really hard problem. The traits/habits he describes remember me of the lessons I learned from the book Mastery by Robert Green. Just one line from a short summary…
on “Andrew Wiles: what does it feel like to do maths?” ↗Since I started the thread, I'll name my best read first. It was "Mastery" by Robert Greene. https://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Robert-Greene/dp/014312417X
on “Ask HN: What was the best book you read in 2016?” ↗IMO, its best to be a Generalizing Specialist (T-shaped individual[0]). How to become that is another matter altogether. I would also suggest reading Mastery by Robert Greene. Though the book is unnecessarily long, the points he raises are pretty good. Reading the anecdotes is also quite interesting. 0 - https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyboynton/2011/10/18/are-you-...
on “Ask HN: How do you keep improving?” ↗…Budapest, Hiroshima, Vienna, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, instead. At $2,000 per month, $100,000 gives you just over 4 years in runway. This is conveniently the exact amount of time to achieve "mastery" according to the 10,000 hour model. 50 hours a week X 50 weeks per year X 4 years is 10,000 hours. Personally I find the Mastery model put forth by Robert Greene in Mastery to be a good guide. No matter…
on “Ask HN: How would you invest $100k in 2019?” ↗My criterion is 'influential on me', they may not necessarily be the greatest works of literature. Mastery - Robert Greene The Talent Code - Daniel Coyle Peak - Anders Ericsson The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy - William B. Irvine The Power of Habit…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗…3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 4. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene 5. The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida 6. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl 7. Mastery by George Leonard 8. Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn 9. The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
on “9 Books That Changed My Life – FightMediocrity Beginner’s Reading List” ↗One book that helped me in this respect is "Mastery" by Robert Greene. Go through this Twitter account and if anything resonates with you, I definitely recommend reading the book. https://twitter.com/masteryquotes Envy is a capricious emotion.
on “Ask HN: I feel so shallow and dumb when I see what other smart people are doing” ↗Mastery - Robert Greene (2012). At the point in my life where I read this book, I was a recent ComSci grad, I had already started working and it was clear to me that I needed some framework to understand where…
on “Ask HN: Which books do you consider real gems in your field of work/study?” ↗…things you can't change and place all your focus in the things you can. Stoicism: - Seneca - Meditations 8. On how the people who have become masters in their field became masters in their field: - Mastery by Robert Greene 9. Very intriguing characters that display incredible strength (mixed with some controversial philosophy): - Atlas Shrugged - Rand - The Fountainhead - Rand
on “How to become a Good Theoretical Physicist” ↗Read "Mastery" by Robert Green. You will find the answer to your question.
on “Ask HN: How did you realize your ambitions?” ↗