Summary of The Laws Of Human Nature: A Book By Robert Greene

By Francis Thomas

The Laws Of Human Nature By Robert Greene

In The Laws of Human Nature,Robert Greene offers 18 laws that explain who we are as human beings and why we act the way we do. As in most of his previous literary works,Greene puts special emphasis on the emotional and manipulative qualities

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookSummaryGr
• Release date: Aug 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088258637

Book preview

Introduction

In The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene offers 18 laws that explain who we are as human beings and why we act the way we do. As in most of his previous literary works, Greene puts special emphasis on the emotional and manipulative qualities that human beings possess.

The book is divided into 18 chapters, with each chapter referring to a specific law that defines human nature. Greene begins each chapter by providing a brief explanation of what each law entails. He then narrates a story of a real-life person who embodies a particular aspect of human nature. In every story, there are numerous lessons to learn, with Greene offering insightful and practical strategies on how to adopt the specific law.

The purpose of the book is to show you the best and worst parts of human nature so that you become more aware of them. Greene wants the reader to analyze their own character, see whether they suffer from a particular flaw, and learn how to overcome it. The author also wants you to become more aware of these natural tendencies in the people around you so that you avoid being manipulated and controlled. The book covers a wide range of themes, ranging from evolution, to spirituality, economics, politics, and religion. Greene ties all these themes together to paint a picture of human nature and how we can better understand ourselves.

Chapter 1: Master Your Emotional Self

The Law of Irrationality

You may like the idea of taking control. You may decide it is time to make a change. It’s time to reach out and try something new. So, you make plans. Then your emotions override you. You have a pattern of bad habits and bad ideas. How do you overcome this? How do you make changes when your ego says you cannot possibly accomplish all you set out to do? It is time to allow rationality to rule. Learn how to be reasonable and think things through.

The Inner Athena

The first thing you must learn is to take a look at those emotions which can constantly infect some ideas and decisions. Learn to question yourself: Why this resentment or anger? Where does this incessant need for attention originate from? Under such scrutiny, your thoughts will lose their hold on you.