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

George Leonard (Author)

Book Description

Release 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

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

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Reissue edition (February 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452267560
• ISBN-13: 978-0452267565
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 77 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars you can now throw out all your other self-help books December 16, 2002

By John McAndrew

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.

287 of 312 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Honor Your Life October 14, 2003

By Carmen Matthews

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.

77 of 82 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Though Published in 1992--Still Way Ahead of its Time! January 16, 2000

By "frankkr"

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.