Not a revelation

Any additional comments?

More interesting for the biographies than any insight into mastery and self development. Can literally be summed up as 'work hard at what you enjoy and are best at'. Really wanted to like this book but finished a little disappointed at the lack of developed insight.

12 people found this helpful

An inspirational insight into success

This is an entertaining and insightful examination into what it takes to stand out above the crowd. It helps you to realise that the success of geniuses like Mozart, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michael Faraday wasn't handed to them on a plate and that their natural talents alone did not secure their places in history. The secret ingredients were the love of their subject, their attitude and their determination to succeed despite constant obstacles. This book has helped me to see setbacks and challenges in a different light - often, they are blessings in disguise. Sometimes, they are the very key to success itself.

11 people found this helpful

character building!

First of all I generally don't write reviews but in the case of this book I am making an exception! if you are like me and looked for this book on the recommendation of Elliot Hulse you will not be disappointed! it will get you on the way to becoming "the strongest version of yourself" the main problem i have with this audio-book is that Fred Sanders (i have never heard of him before is he famous in america?) voice get on my nerves but that's probably more of a personal thing! so all in all if you want a book for self improvement or even just to see what other peoples ideas on self improvement are! (like me) its worth ago right?

8 people found this helpful

Meandering

Goes on for a while and entire sections are repeated. All in all it is a book that somewhat confirms the obvious, but in an entertaining way. The narration sometimes droops a bit and the author hasn't quite mastered the art of being concise.

7 people found this helpful

Great and life changing

It is the book that help u get skills life and jobs done. Finding the thing motivates u from feep within your heart.

6 people found this helpful

Mostly nonsense

2 hrs of content stretched out to 16 hours. Not really sure of the point or practicality of it.

5 people found this helpful

Read this when you're 21!

Where does Mastery rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best Audible books I've listened to

What other book might you compare Mastery to, and why?

It's unique researching high achievers that are not all well known and better for it.

What about Fred Sanders’s performance did you like?

His passion made me want to carry on listening

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

10,000 hours to Mastery

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. I particularly enjoyed learning about some of the lesser well know Masters and have been inspired to read and research some of their material. I have learned a great deal. I was left feeling this book should be read in your 20's and there was a sense that by 40 (as I am) it's a little too late!! Nonetheless it is a great read.

5 people found this helpful

fully furnished foray into the science of success

Would you listen to Mastery again? Why?

I regularly return to Mastery. The book contains such a wide range of case studies, full of both informative lessons and unforgettable anecdotes which show empirical truths in the human psyche across the centuries. As a young person beginning my career, I almost follow it as a guidebook at times, keeping me on track and motivated.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mastery?

Each of the case-studies' lives are scintillating biographies, over the last year I have probably cited each of them at various parties and with my friends. I particularly liked hearing the life-story of Benjamin Franklin- who became the polymath he was through making countless bad decisions. He posed as a widow so that his writings would be published by his jealous brother, and then revealed it- then was dismissed and ended up in a printing press in London, where his unwillingness to play along with the other workers led to a 'poltergeist' ruining his work. Each of the stories serves a purpose, they aren't merely anecdotes- I can't praise enough how much I love Robert Greene's 'show, don't tell' approach with this book.

What does Fred Sanders bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Fred Sanders has a wonderfully colourless voice- not putting his own emotional stamp on its contents, which for such an informative book is a real benefit. I felt very comfortable listening to him and could concentrate indefinitely- sometimes a narrator begins to grate after a while. I also got great enjoyment out of his pronounciation of 'von Goethe'.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Greatness is a code. (?)

Any additional comments?

If you are a hard worker and want to get the most out of the brain you have, i recommend this book.

3 people found this helpful

Not for me

Would you try another book written by Robert Greene or narrated by Fred Sanders?

No

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Relief

Was Mastery worth the listening time?

This was a departure for me. The self help aspects of the book I found irritating and there was a lot of repetition in telling the stories of historical masters. However, the philosophy of his main thrust was reasonable, some aspects of brain development, the evolution of intelligence and some of the mini biographies were interesting.

3 people found this helpful

Marvelous insight into some of the greats minds

Really enjoyed this from start to finish. Some brilliant stories on past and present masters of their fields. The narrative of trying to apply your own mind to do the same I took a bit tongue in cheek. I'm definitely not Mozart..

3 people found this helpful