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Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment [Paperback]

George Leonard (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1992
"The pracitcal wisdom in George Leonard's book will have a great influence for many years to come."
—Michael Murphy, author of Golf in the Kingdom and The Future of the Body

Drawing on Zen philosophy and his expertise in the martial art of aikido, bestselling author Gorge Leonard shows how the process of mastery can help us attain a higher level of excellence and a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our daily lives. Whether you're seeking to improve your career or your intimate relationships, increase self-esteem or create harmony within yourself, this inspiring prescriptive guide will help you master anything you choose and achive success in all areas of your life.

In Mastery, you'll discover: The 5 Essential Keys to Mastery Tools for Mastery How to Master Your Athletic Potential The 3 Personality Types That Are Obstacles to Mastery How to Avoid Pitfalls Along the Path
. . . and more

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Customers buy this book with Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from EverybodyElse by Geoff Colvin Paperback $10.88

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"George Leonard is a remarkable man who embodies what he teaches: an amazing curiosity, a passionate intelligence, and the rare combination of someone who has both a broad vision and the focused mastery of details."
—Dean Ornish

"If he''s right—and Leonard has been right so many times about prevailing zeitgeists that you have to wonder if he has a third eye—the upcoming decade might be known as the decade of mastery."
—San Francisco Chronicle

"George Leonard translates the wisdom of Zen into a self-help program for sticking with it—whether you want to learn aikido or need support in realizing long-held goals."
—The New Age Journal

From the Back Cover

"George Leonard is a remarkable man who embodies what he teaches: an amazing curiosity, a passionate intelligence, and the rare combination of someone who has both a broad vision and the focused mastery of details."
—Dean Ornish

"If he’s right – and Leonard has been right so many times about prevailing zeitgeists that you have to wonder if he has a third eye 00 the upcoming decade might be known as the decade of mastery."
—San Francisco Chronicle

"George Leonard translates the wisdom of Zen into a self-help program for sticking with it – whether you want to learn aikido or need support in realizing long-held goals."
—The New Age Journal
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Plume (February 1, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0452267560
  • ISBN-13: 978-0452267565
  • Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's George Burr Leonard Page
George Burr Leonard
George Leonard has introduced LET to more than 50,000 people in the United States and abroad. He is the author of a number of books on human possibilities and social change, including Mastery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
253 of 275 people found the following review helpful
Honor Your Life October 14, 2003
Format:Paperback
Are you one of those people who allows your goal or goals to dominate your life? And once your goals are achieved, do you think of your achievements as, "no big deal?"

While the author describes 5 keys to long-term success and fulfillment,as:
1. Instruction;
2. Practice;
3. Surrender;
4. Intentionality; and,
5. The Edge - Push the envelop.

Mastery is:
1. The process where what was difficult becomes both easier and
more pleasurable;
2. Long-term dedication to the journey - not the bottom line;
3. Gaining mental discipline to travel further on your journey;
4. Being goalless;
5. Realizing that the pleasure of practice is intensified;
6. Creating deep roots;
7. Knowing that you will never reach a final destination;
8. Being diligent with the process of mastery;
9. Your commitment to hone your skills;
10. After you have reached the top of the mountain, climb
another one;
11. Being willing to practice, even when you seem to be getting
no where;
12. Making this a life process;
13. Being patient, while you apply long-term efforts;
14. Appreciating and even enjoying the plateau, as much as you do
the progress;
15. Practicing for the sake of practice;
16. Winning graciously, and losing with equal grace;
17. Placing practice, discipline, conditioning and character
development before winning;
18. Being courageous;
19. Being fully in the present moment;
20. Realizing that the ultimate goal is not the medal, or the
ribbon, but the path to mastery its self (The "I am"
stage);
21. Being willing to look foolish;
22. Maintaining flexibility in your strategy, and in your
actions;
23. A journey; and,
24. Determination
Apply this to everything in your life, to claim your authentic self.
Was this review helpful to you?
58 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Leonard is an Aikido instructor in Northern California, and once contributed an article on fitness and athletics to Esquire magazine which I always wished I had kept. Years later, I came across this book, and was thrilled to find that he was the author of that article. There are few pursuits which would not be enriched by the insights and principles of this little book. Unlike the great majority of self-help books, this one looks like the classics: it stays short, and doesn't lose its point in a plethora of unnecessary case studies, examples, and narcissistic autobiographical reflections. Leonard stays focused, doesn't waste his readers' time, yet provides all the information and motivation necessary to put the reader on the slow, steady track to success, whether it be in sports, in business, in the arts, or in a life enriched by all that. It's the antithesis of the quick fix: if you care enough about an endeavor to give your time to it, Leonard will tell you what the learning curve will look like, and will tell you that, if it matters, it's worth giving your lifetime to pursue.
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77 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An easy read that you will share with your friends, family, and business associates. You will learn that todays business focus of "bottom-line" thinking and activity is really destructive and is non-value added in the long-term. In order to get to mastery, whether it's your golf game or family relationships--you must be continuously practicing (learning). When using "bottom-line" thinking--you learn only enough to solve your current problem--and you believe your successful. However, how many times do we have to go back and re-fix or address the problem. If we master the problem (thoroughly understanding it)--we can fix the problem right the first time, completely understanding all the connections. I am convinced this is the book that led Tom Peters to write the "Reinventing Work" series. A great book--you will want to start a reading club / discussion group over this one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Simple Book on Patience
This book hints that you need to be patient in order to master things. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good read as the book brings up some points worth paying attention to. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ki from Salem Beats
Which Are You?
The Dabbler. The Obsessive. The Hacker. The Master. These four types of personalities exist in all of us when we tackle various project. Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. Naim
Great book
I read a summary of this book through the 'Philosophers Note's' from Brian Johnson. I must say the ideas in this book - 'Mastery by George Leonard' are profound and life changing. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Kar
Ex Pectations
The 5 Essential Keys to Mastery

Why...

Will anybody spend Money on such book?
Spend TIME!
To read it...
Spend Reflection... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Margarethe Muraskowsky
An interesting insight: Why people fail in their attempts to change?
The book was warmly recommended to me by my friend Harlen Kilstein and I enjoyed very much reading it, especially because it is a great reminder of what being a learner is about,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ruth Winar
Study, Work and then Study some more
This book is all about the art of working hard and then working even harder. If you don't know the meaning of work, then this book will spell it out for you. Read more
Published 8 months ago by RobertMartin
Practice Practice Practice
Excellent short book exploring the concept of "mastery". Although our media driven culture focuses on "have it your way... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Lodge2
Self Actualization
This book is for anyone who wants to embark on a journey of long-term behavior change. It was recommended to me by my Jungian therapist: I am in the process of using the tools... Read more
Published 10 months ago by FOXY
Mastery: The Eternal Path of Practice
If there ever has been a self-help book wholly antithetical to late-night television infomercials offering "quick fixes", George Leonard's seminal masterpiece titled "Mastery: The... Read more
Published 10 months ago by George
A small book and an easy read with a message that belies it's tiny...
George Leonard delivers a good read that acknowledges being a Master in any task or in life itself is not so much about the grand moments it's the moments in between and the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Thomas J. Cooney
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