Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26731 in Books
• Published on: 1992-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

WELL WORTH THE WAIT!
Having read "The Way of Aikido" three times, I was eager to read "Mastery", but had to wait for it to come into stock. Having obtained it, I read it twice in fairly quick succession, and can say that it was without doubt worth the wait!

Rather than being of the super-enthusiastic change-your-life-in-a-flash genre, this book carefully analyses the steps required to achieve any specific goal, realistically analyses the reasons why goals are so often not achieved, and emphasises the need for long term commitment to learning and practice.

I am especially drawn to the author's emphasis on enjoying the journey as much as the destination, and his observation that the most boring thing of all is to be constantly searching for novelty and superficial stimulation.

This is a deeply satisfying book, and an excellent companion to "The Way of Aikido".

Learning the Path
George Leonard may have used Akido as a masterful allusion of life, or any real challenge in it, but his lessons are universal. Being a three time survivor of brain surgery, I have applied his teachings toward mastering my own path and use his terminology regularly. His explanation of homeostasis and how it prevents us from making definitive change in our lives is the essence of the book. Mastering a change in homeostasis is, in fact, what it's really all about. This book will literally change your life and how you see the things in it. Get on your Path, whatever that is.

very good-general advice on how to get very good at anything
Leonard tells us that when we decide to become very good at something, whether it is sport, technical endevour, or whatever, the keys are to locate someone that is already good at that and get advice - basically the apprentice system. Then practice, practice, practice. He gives examples from pro baseball - many top stars weren't that good as kids but had a deep desire to succeed and thru long practice, surpassed the more naturally gifted players. So there's hope for you and me.