Mastery Book Report

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mastery by George Leonard. The book is about a finding a permanent solution to long to term fulfillment. I think this is something we would all hope to achieve in this life. Leonard makes it clear from the very beginning that this is not a book about “instant success, quick fixes, or immediate gratification”. He then goes on to explain that that our road to mastery may often be filled with setbacks or failures, but in the end it will be worth the struggle.

In chapter one Leonard explains what mastery is, and how we can get on its path. I learned from his writing that mastery comes in many ways. Just like the gospel, it follows a number of unchanging laws, and if followed properly it will reap you great rewards. Most importantly what I got out of the book is that mastery is not an event but more of a process. It is a journey that we are continuously working on to better ourselves. If we are persistent we can find enjoyment in the things that matter most to us. This seems like it could be a daunting task at times. I almost felt that the skills of mastery could only be learned and applied by those with exceptional skills and abilities. As I continued to read, I found that these skills can be used or applied by anyone who is dedicated to the learning process and is willing to stay on that path.

Another principle of mastery outlined by Leonard is practice. Someone who is first learning how to hit a baseball will have to go to a hitting coach and receive instruction to gain experience in those particular skill requirements. The same goes for the obtaining the skills of mastery. As you continue practicing the needed techniques and skills, it will become second nature over time. Regarding this, Leonard says that “there’s no way someone can improve without practice, but the secret to mastery is when one begins to practice for the sake of practice.”

Another section of the book that I found really helpful was when Leonard wrote about...