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BONUS: Ryan Talks with Robert Greene On Today's World

Oct 27, 2020

Guest

Robert Greene

Ryan interviews Robert Greene, a bestselling author known for his deep explorations of power and human nature. They discuss the irrationality that permeates society today, unpacking the rise of scams and the importance of evidence-based perspectives. Greene emphasizes the need for empathetic narratives in politics to counter divisive conspiracy theories. The conversation also touches on the challenges of activism, the impact of generational change, and the pervasive influence of gaslighting on rational thought.

01:08:15

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INSIGHT

Entertainment Bias

The entertainment industry's focus on simplified narratives and exciting conclusions has warped our perception of reality.
This leads to a craving for simple, entertaining ideas, even if they're irrational, and an inability to grasp nuance.

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INSIGHT

Nuance vs. Excitement

People desire simple, single-cause solutions to complex problems.
Nuance and multifaceted approaches are often rejected in favor of entertaining narratives, even in science.

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ADVICE

Eastern Philosophy

Explore Eastern philosophy, particularly Zen and its embrace of paradox, to better understand the nuances of reality.
These philosophies challenge Western logic by recognizing the interconnectedness of seemingly opposing forces.

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

Navigating the Irrational: Lessons from History

02:14 • 25min

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Contrasting Eastern and Western Philosophical Strategies

26:55 • 4min

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The Power of Narrative in Conspiracy and Politics

30:30 • 11min

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Navigating Despair and the Call for Generational Change

41:56 • 3min

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Navigating Activism and Ethics

45:21 • 23min

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Conversations on Gaslighting and Rationality

01:08:00 • 3min

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#147

• Mentioned in 144 episodes

Lives of the Stoics

The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius

Ryan Holiday

Stephen Hanselman

This book presents the fascinating lives of twenty-six ancient Stoics, from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius, organized in digestible mini-biographies. It vividly brings to life the stories of key Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Cicero, and demonstrates how their philosophies shaped their actions and legacies. The authors intertwine historical context with philosophical insights, making the book both educational and entertaining. It shows how Stoic principles can be applied to modern life, emphasizing virtues like Courage, Justice, Temperance, and Wisdom.

#139

• Mentioned in 149 episodes

The Fourth Turning

What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny

Neil Howe

William Strauss

The Fourth Turning illuminates the past, explains the present, and reimagines the future based on a provocative theory of American history. The authors identify a distinct pattern where modern history moves in cycles, each lasting about the length of a long human life, composed of four twenty-year eras—or 'turnings'—that comprise history's seasonal rhythm of growth, maturation, entropy, and rebirth. The book offers bold predictions about how America’s past will predict what comes next, particularly focusing on the roles of Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials during times of upheaval.

#77

• Mentioned in 216 episodes

The Art of War

Sun Tzu

• Mentioned in 1,103 episodes

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

#831

• Mentioned in 45 episodes

• Mentioned in 86 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.

#34

• Mentioned in 308 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.

#755

• Mentioned in 47 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.

#130

• Mentioned in 156 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.

On this special bonus episode of the Daily Stoic Podcast, Ryan speaks with Robert Greene about the irrationality that runs through our society, the increasing frequency of scams and cons and how to deal with them, and the best strategy for focusing your political participation.

Watch Ryan's talk with Robert Greene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM3MCxCqq5s

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And follow Robert Greene:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertgreene

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertgreeneofficial/

Homepage: https://powerseductionandwar.com/

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