In the interview with Robert Greene he shares some of wisdom from his books along with a new book he is working on about love.
Here is the interview.
Some Robert Greene books:
This is the first book of Robert Greene and its also the first book of his that I bought and I would rank it second among his books.
In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.
Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.
33 Strategies of War
This one feels like a manual. I have the hardcover of this and it's got a blood soaked knowledge vibe. The stories are great and packed with historical knowledge that's enjoyable to read. My understanding on the US Civil War is limited so to read it through the mind of Robert Greene is a tremendous treat. And the book has so many great lessons and stories that makes re-reading also enjoyable years later. I keep this one handy and sometimes pick it up for the enjoyment of pouring over Greene's gems of wisdom.
Spanning world civilizations, synthesizing dozens of political, philosophical, and religious texts and thousands of years of violent conflict, The 33 Strategies of War is a comprehensive guide to the subtle social game of everyday life informed by the most ingenious and effective military principles in war. Structured in Greene’s trademark style, The 33 Strategies of War is the I-Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
Abundantly illustrated with examples from history, including the folly and genius of everyone from Napoleon to Margaret Thatcher, Shaka the Zulu to Lord Nelson, Hannibal to Ulysses S. Grant, as well as movie moguls, Samurai swordsmen, and diplomats, each of the thirty-three chapters outlines a strategy that will help you win life’s wars. Learn the offensive strategies that require you to maintain the initiative and negotiate from a position of strength, or the defensive strategies designed to help you respond to dangerous situations and avoid unwinnable wars. The great warriors of battlefields and drawing rooms alike demonstrate prudence, agility, balance, and calm, and a keen understanding that the rational, resourceful, and intuitive always defeat the panicked, the uncreative, and the stupid. An indispensable book, The 33 Strategies of War provides all the psychological ammunition you need to overcome patterns of failure and forever gain the upper hand.
Mastery
This is my fourth pick. The biographies of these people is fascinating and there's bound to be a few people you've never heard of. If you've been great at a skill, you'll know what kind of dedication is required for mastery and this book walks us through many masters while we learn their story along the way.
Each one of us has within us the potential to be a Master. Learn the secrets of the field you have chosen, submit to a rigorous apprenticeship, absorb the hidden knowledge possessed by those with years of experience, surge past competitors to surpass them in brilliance, and explode established patterns from within. Study the behaviors of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci and the nine contemporary Masters interviewed for this book.
Laws of Human Nature
This is my fifth favourite. I think most people would like this book more than I did. My recent reading background comes a lot from Dr Robert Sapolsky and Dr Jordan Peterson. These doctors are heavyweights so when it comes to reading about human nature from an armchair point of view, it loses its potency. But that's just my opinion, man. If you want a great general overview of human nature, this book hits the spot.
Knowing why people do what they do is the most important tool we can possess, without which our other talents can only take us so far. Drawing from the ideas and examples of Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others, Greene teaches us how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control, how to develop the empathy that leads to insight, how to look behind people's masks, and how to resist conformity to develop your singular sense of purpose. Whether at work, in relationships, or in shaping the world around you, The Laws of Human Nature offers brilliant tactics for success, self-improvement, and self-defense.
The 50th Law
This was ok. I was spoiled by the richness of Robert Greene's previous books which made this one seem pedestrian. I shudder at my last sentence because 50 cent is the hottest hip hopper ever and Robert Greene is a super star best-selling author, so why would these two not make something amazing together? Well they did and their work is a sinister fun read and I might have appreciated it more had the previous work never been consumed. I rank it 6th which seems low, but where else would it go?
Here is a more objective review.
The 50th Law is a New York Times bestselling book on strategy and fearlessness written collaboratively by rapper 50 Cent and author Robert Greene. In The 50th Law, hip hop and pop culture icon 50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) joins forces with Robert Greene, bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, to write a “bible” for success in life and work based on a single principle: fear nothing. With stories from 50 Cent's life on the streets and in the boardroom as he rose to fame after the release of his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, as well as examples of others who have overcome adversity through understanding and practicing the 50th Law, this deeply inspirational book is perfect for entrepreneurs as well as anyone interested in the extraordinary life of Curtis Jackson.
The Daily Laws
This is my least favourite so it gets ranked 7th out of his seven books. Daily Laws offers a page of refined and concise wisdom for each day of the year, in an easy-to-digest lesson that will only take a few minutes to absorb. Each day features a Daily Law as well—a prescription that readers cannot afford to ignore in the battle of life. Each month centers around a major theme: power, seduction, persuasion, strategy, human nature, toxic people, self-control, mastery, psychology, leadership, adversity, or creativity.
The Art of Seduction
These are the seven books written by Robert Greene, listed in the order of their publication.
The 33 Strategies of War (2006)
The Laws of Human Nature (2018)
The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy (2020)
