Laws of Human Nature - Summary

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power comes the definitive new book on decoding the behavior of the people around you Robert Greene is a master guide for millions of readers, distilling ancient wisdom and philosophy into essential texts for seekers of power, understanding and mastery. Now he turns to the most important subject of all - understanding people's drives and motivations, even when they are unconscious of them themselves. We are social animals. Our very lives depend on our relationships with people. Knowing why people do what they do is the most important tool we can possess, without which our other talents can only take us so far. Drawing from the ideas and examples of Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others, Greene teaches us how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control, how to develop the empathy that leads to insight, how to look behind people's masks, and how to resist conformity to develop your singular sense of purpose. Whether at work, in relationships, or in shaping the world around you, The Laws of Human Nature offers brilliant tactics for success, self-improvement, and self-defense

Content:

1: MASTER YOUR EMOTIONAL SELF - THE LAW OF IRRATIONALITY

STEP ONE: RECOGNIZE THE BIASES

STEP TWO: BEWARE THE INFLAMING FACTORS

STEP THREE: STRATEGIES TOWARD BRINGING OUT THE RATIONAL SELF

2: TRANSFORM SELF-LOVE INTO EMPATHY - THE LAW OF NARCISSISM

THE NARCISSISTIC SPECTRUM

3: SEE THROUGH PEOPLE’S MASKS - THE LAW OF ROLE-PLAYING

OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS

DECODING KEYS

DISLIKE/LIKE CUES:

DOMINANCE/SUBMISSION CUES:

THE ART OF IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT

4: DETERMINE THE STRENGTH OF PEOPLE’S CHARACTER - THE LAW OF COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR

CHARACTER SIGNS

TOXIC TYPES

THE SUPERIOR CHARACTER

5: BECOME AN ELUSIVE OBJECT OF DESIRE - THE LAW OF COVETOUSNESS

THE OBJECT OF DESIRE

STRATEGIES FOR STIMULATING DESIRE

6: ELEVATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE - THE LAW OF SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

FOUR SIGNS OF SHORTSIGHTEDNESS AND STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THEM

THE FARSIGHTED HUMAN

7: SOFTEN PEOPLE’S RESISTANCE BY CONFIRMING THEIR SELF-OPINION - THE LAW OF DEFENSIVENESS

THE INFLUENCE GAME

FIVE STRATEGIES FOR BECOMING A MASTER PERSUADER

THE FLEXIBLE MIND–SELF-STRATEGIES

8: CHANGE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BY CHANGING YOUR ATTITUDE - THE LAW OF SELF-SABOTAGE

THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM

THE CONSTRICTED (NEGATIVE) ATTITUDE

THE EXPANSIVE (POSITIVE) ATTITUDE

9: CONFRONT YOUR DARK SIDE - THE LAW OF REPRESSION

THE DARK SIDE

SIGNS OF SUCH RELEASE

DECIPHERING THE SHADOW: CONTRADICTORY BEHAVIOR

THE INTEGRATED HUMAN

10: BEWARE THE FRAGILE EGO - THE LAW OF ENVY

SIGNS OF ENVY

ENVIER TYPES

ENVY TRIGGERS

BEYOND ENVY

11: KNOW YOUR LIMITS - THE LAW OF GRANDIOSITY

THE SUCCESS DELUSION

THE GRANDIOSE LEADER

PRACTICAL GRANDIOSITY

12: RECONNECT TO THE MASCULINE OR FEMININE WITHIN YOU - THE LAW OF GENDER RIGIDITY

THE AUTHENTIC GENDER

GENDER PROJECTION–TYPES

THE ORIGINAL MAN/WOMAN

13: ADVANCE WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE - THE LAW OF AIMLESSNESS

THE VOICE

STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING A HIGH SENSE OF PURPOSE

THE LURE OF FALSE PURPOSES

14: RESIST THE DOWNWARD PULL OF THE GROUP - THE LAW OF CONFORMITY

AN EXPERIMENT IN HUMAN NATURE

THE INDIVIDUAL EFFECT

GROUP DYNAMICS

THE COURT AND ITS COURTIERS

THE REALITY GROUP

15: MAKE THEM WANT TO FOLLOW YOU - THE LAW OF FICKLENESS

THE ENTITLEMENT CURSE

STRATEGIES FOR ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

THE INNER AUTHORITY

16: SEE THE HOSTILITY BEHIND THE FRIENDLY FAÇADE - THE LAW OF AGGRESSION

THE SOPHISTICATED AGGRESSOR

THE SOURCE OF HUMAN AGGRESSION

PASSIVE AGGRESSION–ITS STRATEGIES AND HOW TO COUNTER THEM

CONTROLLED AGGRESSION

17: SEIZE THE HISTORICAL MOMENT - THE LAW OF GENERATIONAL MYOPIA

THE RISING TIDE

GENERATIONAL PATTERNS

STRATEGIES FOR EXPLOITING THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES

THE HUMAN BEYOND TIME AND DEATH

18: MEDITATE ON OUR COMMON MORTALITY - THE LAW OF DEATH DENIAL

THE BULLET IN THE SIDE

A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE THROUGH DEATH