The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

chevron_right

The Manipulation Expert: Most People Don't Realise They're Narcissists! You're Setting Your Child Up For Misery!

whatshot 5115 snips

Feb 27, 2025

Guest

Robert Greene

Renowned author Robert Greene returns to share his insights on manipulation and human behavior. He discusses how many people unknowingly exhibit narcissistic tendencies and the hidden costs of pornography on motivation and relationships. Greene emphasizes the importance of developing emotional control and self-awareness as tools against manipulation. He also reflects on the struggles of young adults finding purpose in a distracting world, advocating for skill mastery and resilience over the pursuit of instant gratification.

02:43:37

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Learning from Mistakes

After making a mistake, your second instinct should be to analyze your role in it.
Exaggerate your responsibility to learn and correct mistakes.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Responding to Injustice

When facing injustice at work, consider leaving, focusing on your goals, or strategic retaliation.
Choose based on the situation and your long-term goals.

insights

INSIGHT

Chaos and Authority

Chaos creates a desire for authoritarian figures and easy solutions, which can be dangerous.
Be wary of simple answers and maintain a long-term perspective.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Navigating Life's Purpose: The Struggles of Young Adults in a Confusing World

01:33 • 3min

chevron_right

Navigating the Search for Purpose

04:53 • 15min

chevron_right

The Path to Mastery: Embracing Skills Over Instant Gratification

20:08 • 23min

chevron_right

Understanding Multiple Intelligences for Personal Success

Navigating Power and Loneliness in Modern Life

54:13 • 22min

chevron_right

Dopamine, Motivation, and the Struggle for Human Connection

01:16:10 • 6min

chevron_right

Understanding Narcissism and Manipulation

01:21:48 • 18min

chevron_right

Mastering Emotional Control and Self-Awareness

01:39:43 • 29min

chevron_right

Redefining Identity: Beyond Labels and Boundaries

02:08:34 • 5min

chevron_right

Expanding Consciousness Through The Law of Sublime

02:13:59 • 4min

chevron_right

The Power of Confidence and Boldness

02:18:25 • 23min

chevron_right

The Importance of Connection and Engagement

02:41:31 • 2min

chevron_right

#1770

• Mentioned in 24 episodes

Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)

Carol Tavris

Elliot Aronson

This book by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson delves into the psychological mechanisms behind self-justification, using anecdotal, historical, and scientific evidence. It explains how cognitive dissonance leads people to create fictions that absolve them of responsibility, restoring their belief in their own morality and intelligence. The authors discuss various examples, including political decisions, marital conflicts, and medical errors, to illustrate how self-justification can lead to harmful consequences. The updated edition includes new examples and an extended discussion on how to live with dissonance, learn from it, and potentially forgive oneself.

#313

• Mentioned in 85 episodes

The Laws of Human Nature

Robert Greene

In 'The Laws of Human Nature,' Robert Greene delves into the complexities of human behavior, identifying 18 laws that govern our actions and motivations. Drawing from historical figures such as Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, and Martin Luther King Jr., Greene provides insights into how to detach from emotions, master self-control, develop empathy, and see beyond people's masks. The book is designed to help readers become better judges of character, manage their thought patterns, and influence others more effectively. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's own flaws to make better decisions in personal and professional life.

#32

• Mentioned in 304 episodes

The 48 laws of power

Robert Greene

In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.

#7631

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Frames of mind

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner

In 'Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences,' Howard Gardner argues against the traditional view of intelligence as a uniform, static quality. Instead, he proposes that there are several distinct types of intelligence, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. Gardner's theory broadens the definition of intelligence and highlights the various ways in which humans can exhibit intelligent behavior, beyond the conventional measures of 'book smarts. ' The book is a celebration of the diverse ways human beings can be intelligent and has had a significant impact on educational practices and the understanding of human potential.

#762

• Mentioned in 45 episodes

The 33 Strategies of War

Don Leslie

Robert Greene

This book is a contemporary companion to Sun-tzu's 'The Art of War'. It synthesizes strategies from various political, philosophical, and religious texts across world civilizations and thousands of years of conflict. Each chapter outlines an approach to help readers win their life's wars, using illustrative examples from history, such as Lyndon Johnson, Julius Caesar, and Margaret Thatcher. The book provides psychological ammunition to overcome patterns of failure and gain the upper hand in various situations.

#120

• Mentioned in 157 episodes

Mastery

Robert Greene

In 'Mastery', Robert Greene argues that mastery is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through a rigorous process. The book outlines several key stages: finding your life's task, undergoing an ideal apprenticeship, finding the right mentor, acquiring social intelligence, and fusing intuitive with rational thinking. Greene draws on the lives of historical and contemporary masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Temple Grandin to illustrate his points. He emphasizes the importance of deep practice, self-directed learning, and the ability to read and navigate social dynamics. The book challenges the conventional notion of genius as a genetic gift and offers practical steps for anyone to achieve mastery in their chosen field.

#1084

• Mentioned in 35 episodes

The 50th law

50 Cent Staff

Cristina Pizarro Mato

Robert Greene

50 Cent

The 50th Law is a semi-autobiographical account of 50 Cent's life, combining his experiences as a young hustler and musician with lessons and anecdotes from historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Sun Tzu, and Malcolm X. The book focuses on the principle of fearlessness, illustrating how embracing and overcoming fear can lead to success in both personal and professional life. It is divided into ten chapters, each exploring a different aspect of fearlessness and how it can be applied to achieve one's goals.

#1564

• Mentioned in 27 episodes

Power

Why Some People Have It—and Others Don’t

Jeffrey Pfeffer

In this book, Jeffrey Pfeffer provides insightful and often counterintuitive advice on how power is successfully built and maintained in organizations. Drawing from his extensive experience in consulting and teaching, Pfeffer argues that power is not just for a select few but can be harnessed by anyone. The book dispels the myth that power is only for those in charge and instead reveals the true paths to career success, emphasizing the importance of personal networks, reputation, and effective social interactions. Pfeffer uses numerous examples from various countries and industries to illustrate his points, making the book an essential organizational survival manual and a new standard in the field of leadership and management.

Are you being manipulated without knowing it? Robert Greene reveals the silent tactics of influence and how to take back control

Robert Greene, returning for his third time on DOAC, is a world-renowned expert on human psychology and behaviour. He is also a multiple New York Times bestselling-author of 7 books such as, ‘The 48 Laws of Power’, ‘The Art of Seduction’ and ‘The 33 Strategies of War’.

In this conversation, Robert and Steven discuss topics such as, how most people don’t realise they’re narcissists, the hidden cost of porn, why you’re setting your child up for misery, and why good people never win.

00:00 Intro

02:14 The Most Important Decision of Your Life

04:53 Is There a Strategy for Finding Your Purpose?

09:52 Is It Harder to Find Your Purpose When You're Older?

14:30 The Only Way to Learn Anything!

15:50 Why Do We Procrastinate?

17:11 We Need to Develop Toughness and Set Limits

20:08 Skills Are the Gold of Today's World

23:02 The Longer Road vs. Shortcuts

26:34 Channeling Your Dark Side

30:31 How Important Is Focus for Mastery?

41:27 Too Many People Want Quick Returns

43:36 The Different Types of Intelligence

47:05 Controlling Your Envy Is Important

52:29 Use Your Envy to Become Better

54:13 Why Mastery Is Still a Successful Book

55:53 What Is the Solution to Loneliness and Powerlessness?

01:01:30 The Difference Between Being Lonely and Alone

01:09:49 How Pornography Hooks You

01:16:10 Ads

01:17:15 Are We Breeding a Culture of Lower Motivation Because of Porn?

01:21:43 What Do We Not Want to Admit About Human Nature?

01:24:28 The Narcissist in Us

01:27:20 Dealing With Narcissists

01:28:47 Do We Have to Be Actors to Get Ahead?

01:30:42 Do You Need Lies and Manipulation to Succeed in Life?

01:33:16 The Contribution Score

01:35:09 Let Others Do the Work, but Take the Credit

01:39:42 The Importance of Self-Control

01:44:00 What to Do When Injustice Is Done to Us

01:48:29 Predators Love Prey

01:49:31 Are We Going Through Dangerous Times?

01:57:16 Wokeism and Trump: Which Side Got Things Right and Wrong?

02:02:47 The Power of the Masses Can Be Dangerous

02:05:56 Are We Caught Up in Maniac Solutions?

02:08:33 Ads

02:09:28 What Does Our Identity Mean to Us?

02:13:59 Our Minds Are Getting Smaller!

02:19:33 Judging Based on Appearances

02:22:54 How Does Someone With Power Behave?

02:25:33 Can You Fake It Until You Make It?

02:26:10 How to Be Confident

02:28:20 How to Believe in Yourself When You Don't

02:34:36 What to Do in Negotiations

Follow Robert:

Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/WLXqDa7GiRb

Twitter - https://g2ul0.app.link/RYo8kigHiRb

Website - https://g2ul0.app.link/s0by34hHiRb

Spotify: You can purchase Robert’s book, ‘The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations from the author of the bestselling The 48 Laws of Power’, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/9s2XkfoHiRb

Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACEpisodes

My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' is out now - https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACBook

You can purchase the The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: Second Edition, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb

Follow me:

https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb

Independent fact check - https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/DOAC-Robert-Greene-Independent-research.pdf

Sponsors:

PerfectTed - https://www.perfectted.com with code DIARY40 for 40% off

Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books