Mastery: Interviews with 33 Remarkable People

I spent an hour writing a rambling review of this outstanding book and decided that no amount of words could do it justice. There are interesting books, there are good books, there are great books and there are books that can make a profound difference to your life. If you've reached the understanding that there is a dimension to human existence that is very, very rare, then you need to read this book. (I don't mean organisesd religion or a consciousness of a 'God', though all the people here approach their work with a profound awareness of the transcendent). One measure of this rarity is the appalling fact that books on genuine mastery are as scarce as masters themselves. This book was published almost ten years ago and is now, criminally, out of print. Grab a copy while you can. In my humble opinion, this is a much more in depth study of mastery than George Leonard's slim tome (grateful though I am for it) and there is wide agreement among those interviewed here about the path to mastery and its rewards and pitfalls. Interestingly, none of the interviewees regard themselves as masters, and most have a warm sense of humour. Joan Ames has done a masterly job in arranging the interviews, in the focus of her interview questions and in editing and compiling the answers. Anyone interested in the path to mastery can't fail to be deeply indebted to her (and let's not forget the publisher) for this book. It's also beautifully designed. If you're unable to find a copy of Mastery, I'd recommend the following (not in any order): Gene Landrum - Eight Keys To Greatness; Howard Gardner - Extraordinary Minds; Eugen Herrigel - Zen In The Art of Archery; Ken Carpone - The Virtuoso; Terry Orlick - In Pursuit of Excellence; Steven Pressfield - The War Of Art; John Schuster - Answering Your Call: A Guide To Living Your Deepest Purpose; and the most enchanting, Richard Bach - Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Mastery pursues the art of devotion to one's ambitions from a splendid array of vantage points. Regardless of one's individual journey, Ames finds commonality through a diversity of recognized masters from all walks of life. Compelling reading that is insightful, entertaining, and thought provoking. A definite title on my gift giving list.

This book is well worth the time investment. Ames interviewed 30 people who are considered to be at the top of their field, and asked each one how to achieve mastery, what are the components of mastery, and what are the pitfalls along the way. The uniformity of their answers is striking. Every chapter is just wonderful, and equally engaging. This is easily one of the best books I've ever read.