The Laws of Human Nature
by Robert Greene
Greene's longest book catalogues human nature through eighteen laws, each illustrated with a historical figure: irrationality, narcissism, envy, grandiosity, conformity, aggression. It is encyclopedic, often brilliant and sometimes exhausting. Read as a field guide to people, including yourself, rather than a manual to be followed.
Read it if…
you are repeatedly blindsided by people's behavior and want a deep, if cynical, education.
Skip it if…
you want a short read or an optimistic view of people; the book is neither.
Three things you will actually use
- Study people's patterns, not their words.
- Recognize your own shadow traits before judging others'.
- Hold back the impulse to react; observe first.
Do this first
Read the chapter on the law you recognize most in yourself, not in others.
Our verdict
Vast and uneven; a reference you will dip into for years.
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