Summary of Mastery

What did Charles Darwin, once a mediocre student and underachieving second son, do to become one of the greatest naturalists the world has known? How did Mozart, as a young prodigy, shape his unparalleled musical genius? What choices did Caesar Rodriguez, the U.S. Air Force’s last ace fighter pilot, make to reach the pinnacle of his career? In Mastery, Robert Greene’s fifth book, he delves into the biographies of iconic figures to uncover the essential elements of gaining control over our own lives and destinies.

Building on the foundation laid in The 48 Laws of Power, Greene blends years of research, historical anecdotes, and psychological insights to reveal the universal principles that lead to mastery. He draws on the lives of remarkable individuals—Temple Grandin, Martha Graham, Henry Ford, Buckminster Fuller—each offering valuable lessons on how the relentless pursuit of excellence in one field can lead to extraordinary achievement.

Yet, Greene argues that the secret to mastery is already within us. Debunking longstanding cultural myths, he demonstrates that humans are inherently wired for achievement and greatness. For fans of Greene's previous work and Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, Mastery provides an erudite and insightful exploration of what it truly takes to reach the highest level of success.