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