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 peoples 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 peoples 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-defenseContent:1: MASTER YOUR EMOTIONAL SELF - THE LAW OF IRRATIONALITYSTEP ONE: RECOGNIZE THE BIASESSTEP TWO: BEWARE THE INFLAMING FACTORSSTEP THREE: STRATEGIES TOWARD BRINGING OUT THE RATIONAL SELF2: TRANSFORM SELF-LOVE INTO EMPATHY - THE LAW OF NARCISSISMTHE NARCISSISTIC SPECTRUM 3: SEE THROUGH PEOPLE’S MASKS - THE LAW OF ROLE-PLAYINGOBSERVATIONAL 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 BEHAVIORCHARACTER SIGNSTOXIC TYPESTHE SUPERIOR CHARACTER 5: BECOME AN ELUSIVE OBJECT OF DESIRE - THE LAW OF COVETOUSNESSTHE OBJECT OF DESIRE STRATEGIES FOR STIMULATING DESIRE 6: ELEVATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE - THE LAW OF SHORTSIGHTEDNESSFOUR SIGNS OF SHORTSIGHTEDNESS AND STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THEMTHE FARSIGHTED HUMAN7: SOFTEN PEOPLE’S RESISTANCE BY CONFIRMING THEIR SELF-OPINION - THE LAW OF DEFENSIVENESSTHE INFLUENCE GAMEFIVE STRATEGIES FOR BECOMING A MASTER PERSUADERTHE FLEXIBLE MIND–SELF-STRATEGIES8: CHANGE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BY CHANGING YOUR ATTITUDE - THE LAW OF SELF-SABOTAGETHE ULTIMATE FREEDOMTHE CONSTRICTED (NEGATIVE) ATTITUDETHE EXPANSIVE (POSITIVE) ATTITUDE9: CONFRONT YOUR DARK SIDE - THE LAW OF REPRESSIONTHE DARK SIDESIGNS OF SUCH RELEASEDECIPHERING THE SHADOW: CONTRADICTORY BEHAVIORTHE INTEGRATED HUMAN10: BEWARE THE FRAGILE EGO - THE LAW OF ENVYSIGNS OF ENVYENVIER TYPESENVY TRIGGERSBEYOND ENVY11: KNOW YOUR LIMITS - THE LAW OF GRANDIOSITYTHE SUCCESS DELUSIONTHE GRANDIOSE LEADERPRACTICAL GRANDIOSITY12: RECONNECT TO THE MASCULINE OR FEMININE WITHIN YOU - THE LAW OF GENDER RIGIDITYTHE AUTHENTIC GENDERGENDER PROJECTION–TYPESTHE ORIGINAL MAN/WOMAN13: ADVANCE WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE - THE LAW OF AIMLESSNESSTHE VOICESTRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING A HIGH SENSE OF PURPOSETHE LURE OF FALSE PURPOSES14: RESIST THE DOWNWARD PULL OF THE GROUP - THE LAW OF CONFORMITYAN EXPERIMENT IN HUMAN NATURETHE INDIVIDUAL EFFECTGROUP DYNAMICSTHE COURT AND ITS COURTIERSTHE REALITY GROUP15: MAKE THEM WANT TO FOLLOW YOU - THE LAW OF FICKLENESSTHE ENTITLEMENT CURSESTRATEGIES FOR ESTABLISHING AUTHORITYTHE INNER AUTHORITY16: SEE THE HOSTILITY BEHIND THE FRIENDLY FAÇADE - THE LAW OF AGGRESSIONTHE SOPHISTICATED AGGRESSORTHE SOURCE OF HUMAN AGGRESSIONPASSIVE AGGRESSION–ITS STRATEGIES AND HOW TO COUNTER THEMCONTROLLED AGGRESSION17: SEIZE THE HISTORICAL MOMENT - THE LAW OF GENERATIONAL MYOPIATHE RISING TIDEGENERATIONAL PATTERNSSTRATEGIES FOR EXPLOITING THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMESTHE HUMAN BEYOND TIME AND DEATH18: MEDITATE ON OUR COMMON MORTALITY - THE LAW OF DEATH DENIALTHE BULLET IN THE SIDEA PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE THROUGH DEATH