Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8777 in Books
• Published on: 1992-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

The antidote to 'Get somewhere quick' nonsense
This book was recommended reading for developing 'potential leaders' from my erstwhile, fad-centered, American employer, so my expectations were low. When I saw it was written by someone who was into the totally alien world of marital arts, my expectations fell lower still.
But in fact it's a really simple, sensible book about gradual and long-term development, being prepared to listen to someone else, taking your time, always looking to be better.
As someone versed in the Christian monastic way, I was struck by the parallels with the Rule of Benedict. Here is a practical reflection on stabilitas and the journey.

Thought provoking and effective
I expected yet another booh-yah you-can-do-it self help book but I was very wrong. This book has a powerful message delivered in a clear and yet subtle way. The narrative style is almost gentle yet the strength of what's being said can hardly be argued with.

Leonard states explicitly why Mastery is out of vogue, why we've come to want it even more than ever but have forgotten what it actually is. Advise such as how many years it takes to just become good at something let alone master it might unsettle us at first. We wouldn't be reading this book if we weren't desiring mastery in some respect.

Yet it is presented in a way that encourages the reader. Yes, it will take a long time to attain mastery, but he shows why this is the only way and the best way. He reminds us the journey and the destination are non-different and leaves us looking forward to engaging in it.

Mastery
After the excellent 'Way of Aikido' I found 'Mastery' to be a bit of a let down. It didn't seem very coherent and took a whole book to say what could have been expressed in an article or essay. Considering this is based on an article the author wrote you can see why this would be. The ideas aren't especially original or new and if you've read other management or martial arts books then these ideas will have been expressed before and often in a clearer way. My advice would be to buy and read 'Way of Aikido' which is great, but you can miss this and not be too worried.