In this episode of This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, Theo Von and Robert Greene discuss Greene's unconventional journey to success with his book "The 48 Laws of Power." Von and Greene explore philosophical ideas around finding one's purpose, cultivating individuality, and navigating modern life's distractions and societal pressures.
Greene shares insights on forming intimate connections, taking creative risks, and understanding complex power dynamics. The conversation also touches on intriguing topics like animal consciousness and sublime experiences beyond human-centric viewpoints. Greene aims to broaden readers' perspectives through his provocative writing and unique philosophies.
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Greene pursued a range of unfulfilling jobs before finding purpose and success through his bestselling book "The 48 Laws of Power." Although initially doubting its potential, the book resonated worldwide, Greene recalls, attracting acclaim, fame and even attention from influential figures like Jay-Z. This unexpected popularity transformed Greene's solitary life.
Greene believes everyone is born with a unique "primal inclination" that, if nurtured, can blossom into one's life purpose. He recommends reconnecting with childhood interests and inner voices to rediscover this inherent identity. Greene and Von discuss the challenges of maintaining this sense of purpose, especially as societal pressures and technological distractions mount with age.
Greene and Von explore technology's seductive power of instant gratification, like excessive social media and pornography use. Greene argues these distractions erode individuality and intimacy. They also critique Hollywood's shift towards formulaic blockbusters driven by corporate interests and profit motives over creative risk-taking.
Greene's works like "The 48 Laws of Power," banned in prisons for detailing manipulation tactics, provide insights into complex power dynamics. While concerning if exploited, Greene notes prisoners found the books enlightening in recognizing the system's manipulations.
Greene emphasizes the importance of embracing uniqueness and taking creative risks to find success, as exemplified by figures like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. He encourages stepping outside conformity to fulfill one's true purpose.
Fascinated by consciousness, Greene highlights scientific evidence of animal intelligence, suggesting it broadens perspectives beyond human-centric views. He explores the concept of the "sublime" - a transcendent awareness of existence often sparked by psychedelics or near-death experiences. Greene hopes to expand readers' minds through his writing.
1-Page Summary
Robert Greene's career has been a testament to resilience and the pursuit of passion. Greene's early career was marked by unfulfillment, unsuccessful creative endeavors, and a yearning for writing something enduring. His eventual success with "The 48 Laws of Power" was a turning point that thrust him into unexpected popularity and influence as both an author and advisor.
Greene began his career in journalism out of necessity but remained unsatisfied with the transient nature of his writing. Seeking more, he traveled across Europe, dabbling in various jobs—from working in a hotel in Paris to construction in Greece, teaching in Barcelona, and enduring other unfulfilling positions in London and Dublin. During this tumultuous period, he faced loneliness and depression, exacerbated by unsuccessful attempts at novel writing.
Returning to LA to be with his ailing father, Greene entered the Hollywood industry, only to encounter more disappointment and brief escapes into distractions such as cocaine. It wasn't until a girlfriend encouraged him to abandon the precarious balance between creativity and earning a living, and instead, to concentrate on what truly excited him, that Greene found a meaningful direction.
Although specific details about the initial reception of the book were not provided, the narrative shows that "The 48 Laws of Power" eventually found its footing and began to resonate with readers worldwide, even with Greene's own doubts about its potential success.
Before his breakthrough, Greene felt lost and struggled in various jobs where he was underappreciated and exploited. His time as a skip tracer, where he had to adopt false personas to chase down those who had skipped bail, and his experience with the "worst boss" ever, sharpened his understanding of power dynamics, which he later distilled int ...
Robert Greene's personal journey and writing career
Robert Greene and Theo Von explore the profound quest for individual purpose and the struggle to maintain it through various stages of life.
Greene speaks to the idea that each individual possesses a unique DNA that shapes their inherent uniqueness from birth. He identifies this uniqueness as encompassing individual energy, character, sense of humor, attractions, and aversions. This inherent uniqueness, according to Greene, is a seed that, if cultivated, can blossom into a person’s purpose in life. Recognizing and listening to one’s internal voice rather than external pressures is crucial to following this unique path.
Greene introduces the concept of a "primal inclination" that manifests early on in life, much like iconic figures such as Albert Einstein and Tiger Woods exhibited signs of their destinies at a young age. He relates his fascination with words starting at the age of six, indicating a primal inclination toward literary pursuits. He stresses the importance of seeking signs from childhood that reconnect to that original sense of excitement, citing Temple Grandin's deep connection with animals despite severe autism as an example of reconnecting with primal inclinations.
He talks about the difficulties in maintaining a sense of purpose over time, acknowledging that as people age, they tend to lose touch with their primal inclinations, making it harder to redisconnect with that inner direction.
Von discloses that as a child, making his mother and others laugh was a deep-seated part of him that resonated profoundly. He recalled a pivotal moment in India, clearing land for a children's playground, and the joy derived from service. This reflection sugge ...
The search for purpose and identity
Robert Greene and Theo Von examine the profound influence technology and media exert on human individuality, behavior, and creativity, highlighting the challenges of preserving genuine human essence in a world dominated by instant gratification and profit-driven content production.
In their discussion, Greene and Von explore the negative effects of online distractions and instant gratification, particularly through social media and pornography. Greene suggests that social media is contributing to a loss of individuality, as people focus too much on others and struggle to understand themselves. He describes the time spent on platforms like Instagram as soul-sucking, leading to a warped self-perception and the loss of the human essence.
Von speaks about the captivating nature of algorithms and the entertainment value of online content, which often leads to a trance-like state and detracts from self-discovery. Greene acknowledges the common desire to better understand oneself, but notes it's often overwhelmed by the allure of online distractions.
Furthermore, they discuss the detrimental consequences of pornography, which can degrade skills in seduction and create unrealistic expectations in intimacy. Von shares his experience of how pornography consumption made him view sexual activity as detached rather than being present in the moment.
Greene and Von delve into the homogenizing effect of algorithms and corporate interests on the entertainment industry, noting Hollywood’s decline in risk-taking and independent creativity. Greene points to the immense power of Hollywood and technology in shaping society, possibly surpassing government influence. He also observes the convergence of different forms of power, citing the example of the CAA building's varied representation across politics, sports, tech, and entertainment.
According to Greene, Hollywood's focus on profit has led to a trend of producing big-budget franchise and superhero movies since they sell well internationally. This focus on financial success has resulted in les ...
The Impact of Technology and Media on Human Behavior and Creativity
Robert Greene's body of work opens up discussions on the complex dynamics of power and manipulation, exploring themes that have led to controversial perceptions and actions, such as the banning of "The 48 Laws of Power" in prisons. In his works, Greene also emphasizes the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and the personal growth that comes from risk-taking and resisting social pressure to conform.
Greene's "The 48 Laws of Power" has been banned in many prisons, as it delves into manipulation tactics, which has stirred concern that inmates might misuse this knowledge. Greene describes this law which is considered "nastier", advising to "get other people to do the work but always take the credit," a sentiment that could be exploited for personal gain at the expense of others. Such insights highlight the problematic power dynamics and manipulation tactics individuals may use, reflecting the book's controversial nature.
Another instance from his work that exemplifies these dynamics is the law around playing on people's needs to create a cult-like following. Greene uses this law to explain how cults manipulate followers through strategies like creating an "us versus them" mentality and evolving cryptic terminologies. Despite the ban, Greene notes that he's received feedback from prisoners who found that his book helped them recognize the manipulative games played by the prison system, including wardens and guards.
These books explain how such tactics are used in various environments, including prisons where power is exercised by dividing and controlling prisoners. Greene's accounts, including the anecdote of a female prisoner in Texas, suggest that understanding the power plays detailed in his books is liberative and enlightening for those within such systems.
Greene and Theo Von explore the theme of individuality and risk-taking. Greene highlights the importance of ...
Exploration of power, manipulation, and risk-taking
Robert Greene explores the profound aspects of human consciousness and experiences that offer an expanded awareness of our place in the universe, often referred to as the "sublime."
Greene dives into the concept of consciousness not as a uniquely human attribute but something shared with the animal kingdom.
He cites experts in neuroscience and animal behavior who provide compelling evidence of animal consciousness. Discussing animals like spiders and octopuses, Greene highlights the latter's distributed consciousness as an impressive and alternate form of life. He suggests that such consciousness in octopuses, with neurons in their arms, could mirror what alien intelligence might be like, thereby humbling the human-centric view of consciousness.
Greene sheds light on the concept of the "sublime" as an experience that elevates individuals beyond the mundane and provides a deepened sense of existence.
He shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how altered states of consciousness and near-death experiences can lead to an appreciation of the sublime. Describing his peyote use as "totally transcendent," Greene recounts how this and other spiritual sensations from his youth have had a lasting impact on his perspective.
Greene reflects on how psychedelic drugs, such as peyote, can positively serve as gateways to what Aldous Huxley called "the doors of perception," enabling deeper insights into our existence.
In discussing the sublime further, Greene reflects on 50 Cen ...
Philosophical and existential themes, including the concept of the "sublime"
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