Episode · How I Write · 2024-09-18
Books mentioned on How to Tell a Great Story (The Robert Greene Blueprint)
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
The power of the charlatan
Discussed“An absolutely fantastic book, way out of print, although somebody might have brought it back called The Power of the Charlatan.”
Where to get it
-
Frankenstein
Frankenstein by Mary W.
Discussed“So let's say I'm writing a chapter um in in the laws of human nature on envy and the the story that I used for envy is about Mary Shel, the author of Frankenstein and that relationship with that woman who was very envious of her.”
Where to get it
-
The 48 Laws of Power
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers is a provocative exploration of power dynamics, drawing on historical strategies and philosophies to outline how individuals acquire, defend, or navigate power.
Discussed“Like if you look at 48 laws, where do you feel like you've had the largest margin of improvement?”
Where to get it
-
Demons
Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound novel exploring the societal and psychological chaos that erupts when ideological dogmas displace spiritual frameworks.
Discussed“And like one of my favorite novels of his is The Possessed. I think it's also translated as The Demons, but I like the title, The Possessed. What an amazing novel that is.”
Where to get it
-
The possessed
The Possessed by Fyodor Dostoevsky, also frequently translated as The Demons, is a deeply philosophical and political novel that examines the destructive impacts of radical nihilism and ideological fanaticism on Russian society.
Recommended“And like one of my favorite novels of his is The Possessed. I think it's also translated as The Demons, but I like the title, The Possessed. What an amazing novel that is.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (13) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“When I wrote like the 48 laws of power, there's an evil side to it.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“So, in back in the day when I did the 48 laws of power, I'd actually go to a library, if you can believe that, right? I'm that old. And the library, you know, was like a magical journey.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“And um I taught Ryan my system of taking note cards because I discovered when I was doing the 48 laws, I did a lot of research for that book in a very condensed period of time that the material was overwhelming me.”
Own book The Laws of Human Nature
“So let's say I'm writing a chapter um in in the laws of human nature on envy and the the story that I used for envy is about Mary Shel, the author of Frankenstein and that relationship with that woman who was very envious of her.”
Own book Mastery
“So, I wrote about this in mastery. the value of, you know, people now say the 10,000 hour rule has been debugged, which is a bunch of nonsense.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“And when I wrote like the 48 laws of power, it's kind of a, you know, there's an evil side to it. There's a dark side to it. I won't deny it. And the tendency for people nowadays in our hyperartisan environment would be demoralized, to judge, you know, manipulation.”
Own book Mastery
“So, I don't want to talk down to readers, but I actually also feel great empathy for people who have to work in bad jobs, don't feel like they've understood their life's task to quote something from mastery.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“And so for me, I probably had the style prior to the 48 laws. I've been writing my whole life.”
Own book Mastery
“So the the kind of anger and violence of 48 was inappropriate to seduction, a little more appropriate to war, certainly appropriate to the book for 50 Cent, but not for mastery and not so much for human nature and certainly not for the sublime book.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“So the the kind of anger and violence of 48 was inappropriate to seduction, a little more appropriate to war, certainly appropriate to the book for 50 Cent, but not for mastery and not so much for human nature and certainly not for the sublime book.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“Well, you know, some of the stories in in the 48 laws. I mean, there's a story of they had in in in Italy in the Renaissance these men that were called contieres who were like mercenary soldiers...”
Own book Mastery
“So, in mastery, I talk about Leonardo da Vinci and how his paintings are so uncanny and weird because they feel like they're real life. They feel alive and and he does it through detail.”
Own book The 48 Laws of Power
“And so I remember early on when the 48 laws of power maybe I don't know how much later after that but I got contacted by this man who was a librarian head librarian at a library in Dade County Florida in a very urban mostly black neighborhood. And he said there were these kids that would come in they”