Renobust: This is the second time I am sending this question. I wonder why you don’t want to answer me. You are a Christian and a preacher but I have heard you show admiration to Robert Greene’s works. As you know, many preachers and pastors condemn Greene’s works because of the deceptions and dark practices that it teaches but you seem to have fallen in love with his books (and possibly, you love him too). Why is that?
Steve: Hnmmm… I believe you don’t judge a book by its cover. Therefore, you are not eligible to condemn a book whose pages you have not even flipped to at least reason with the author. You are not even qualified to criticize a work which you have not studied. So let’s talk about Robert Greene’s works- his titles are often shocking and seemingly evil, something I believe he does on purpose to command attention. 48 Laws of Power, Art of Seduction, 33 Strategies of War, Mastery, all sound like some mystic books but to me they are not. In fact, unlike many other contemporary nonfiction, self help writers, Greene has not and does not claim to have propounded any new theory, principles or secret per se. He merely looks deep down into human nature across history and digs out what has always been there. He’d turn them into terms and points, using words we can relate with; he’d warn us to see how it plays, why it works, how it works, how to avoid it and how to use it just in case you want to. The concept of seduction for instance is something we’ve either been victims to or have even used subconsciously or consciously. Seduction is a form of persuasion, just that it is “manipulated”. By the way, all persuasions are usually manipulated (depending on who is looking at it). When you hang empty cartons of attractive products in your shop to attract customers and give them the feeling that your shop is “loaded” that is manipulation. It may not be evil but it is deceptive, it gives people the impression that is not there. The 48 laws of power are not new concepts, I mean look around you, look into the organizations where you belong and see how a lot of people have played politics with you or someone you know. You don’t outshine your masters and get away with it, and sometimes you need to play a sucker to catch a sucker.
Renobust: I heard a preacher who said that those books are evil and should not be read by Christians. I used to read such books before but stopped reading them after listening to a preacher.
Steve: I believe we read books for different reasons. Most at times we read books that are in line with our industries or discipline. Pastors study Kenneth Hagin, Politicians study Kennedy, Obama et al, entrepreneurs study Kiyosaki, Trump, et al. You really wanna get into politics; you have to read Robert Greene. He won’t help you win election but he sure will help you know the dirty games and how to avoid being a victim. You are responsible for what you read. Biology Texts may contain adult contents but we still keep them freely at home and read them openly in school. That’s because it is better to know evil and avoid it than be ignorant of it and be victimized. Robert Greene’s works, the three ones I have read, are neither evil nor good- they are neutral. It depends on how you chose to use it. And why you are reading it in the first place. Sure, if you had bad intentions it can give you a good head start and if you don’t you will see how people have been manipulating you. To the evil all things are evil, to the good all things are good.
Renobust: have you read the art of seduction?
Steve: Not yet. But I have researched on it online. It sounds pretty weird but maybe I’m gonna read it when I am through with my priority for now.
Renobust: Would you recommend his works to a Christian?
Steve: that depends. If a Christian’s priority is his or her spiritual growth then Kenneth Hagin, Andrew Wommack, Rick Warren, E.W. Kenyon, Rick Joyner, Watchman Nee and others are good companions. But if a Christian wants to understand the dark side of life and how to play in the world of politics, business and life in general- then Robert Greene, Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins etc may be a better option. We must read to reflect our basic needs at a time. There are many books out there so one must ensure that one is spending one’s time reading the right thing. Again if you are a baby Christian struggling to read your bible, I don’t see a reason why you should be reading things that may be very difficult or contradictory to some of your fundamental beliefs. What you expose yourself to have the capacity to influence your life and determine the way you live. However, there is one Robert Greene’s book that I would readily recommend to anybody, Christian or not and that is MASTERY. This book deals on talents and how to turn ordinary talents into extraordinary success. But bear in mind that Greene is usually excessively detailed. He’s very likely to bore the hell out of you.
Renobust: what do you look out for in a book before you read it? How do you choose a book to read?
Steve: I’m glad you asked (smiles). I usually research any of the books I am going to read- thank God for Google! Once I get to the bookshop, I sit down and flip through the pages of the books I am going to read. I am usually looking for a book that addresses my concerns at a particular time. Right now, I am working on building systems, career development and entrepreneurship; any book outside that may not impress me that much.
So below is how to choose a good book:
- Ask Google about the book and don’t rely on that because some authors actually pay experts to talk about their books online
- Read books written by proven authors but be open to books whose authors you don’t know much about. I was surprised the other day when someone saw one of Tracy’s books with me and he doesn’t even know who Brian Tracy is. Who doesn’t know Brian Tracy? Someone doesn’t. Imagine!
- Ask a mentor or someone who reads very well to recommend the books she has read that made a big difference in her life.
- Read books that address your priority and immediate concerns. There are millions of books out there, you can’t possibly finish them, and you just don’t have that time. So read books that you know would address what is more important to you. Read books that deal on your field, industry or discipline.
- Please please please… DO NOT SWALLOW ANYTHING YOU READ IN A BOOK. The problem with many Nigerian public speakers today is that they digest Western ideologies and try to propagate them in the African soil. Many at times this creates more problem than solution. See reading as reasoning. Question the author, ignore some things, judge others and take your own stand. I usually put a question mark to ideas that I don’t quiet agree with hoping that someday I get cleared on the matter. All you need in a book to make the shift you need is just about 10-20% of the basic ingredients of the book that you can practice consistently.
- Do not read ANY BOOK. Books can shape the way you think and live. Think, plan and make inquiries before reading any book. Again, you are responsible for what you read.
The following interview was restructured because the individual asking the questions wrote it in a long stretch and not in the form of interview. I saw the need to help frame the question in a way that allows me both to answer precisely and comprehensively. Thanks for your understanding.
STEPHEN MICHAEL is a straight shooter. He hates conventions, cherishes innovation and always looks out for balance in an apparently disorganized world. He spends his time learning, unlearning and re-learning. And he enjoys sharing new insights with people often by first of all crippling all they’ve come to believe is true. If you’re looking for a kick ass speaker, he’s be the first to call.
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