The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene (eBook) – $3 | Amazon Deals

It is just my opinion, but I thought this book was terrible. It is full of pseudoscience and the author glorifies antisocial behavior and narcissism.

Edit to add more.

I'm posting this as an FYI since I got the book a few years ago based on the glowing reviews and my interests in human behavior. I knew nothing about it or the author other than the summary. I skimmed some reviews and decided to get it on Audible. At least I used a free credit so I wasn't out any money.

Robert Greene writes of "laws of human nature" but the book is just his rather cynical and self-centered world view. It's mostly pseudoscience with the author's own or borrowed philosophies. There are some parts backed by science (but nothing that might be called a "law of behavior"), but the author cherry picks from psychology and philosophy to sell a particular worldview. Some reviewers call it a great psychology book. No, it's a popular pseudo-psychology book. Greene builds some of his "laws" on Freud's ideas. Freud has been mostly disavowed by modern psychology because there's essentially no scientific evidence to support his claims. Modern psychology stemmed in part from Freud, but his philosophies were mostly left far behind decades ago.

Ultimately Greene's book is about selfishly manipulating other people. I know it has a 4.8/5 rating on Amazon, but I stand by my professional assessment (no matter how many down-votes or up-votes I receive). I'm a behavioral neuroscientist and psychologist, if that matters. It doesn't mean I know everything (or anything) -- I don't -- but I at least have some background in the science of what Robert Greene writes about.

I haven't read any of his other books so I cannot comment on them; I know there are people who did not like this book but who liked some of his other books. Some people read this to learn how other people are manipulative and antisocial, but I found this book overly-long, unscientific, and encouraging antisocial behavior.

Here's a description of the book: "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."

That makes it sound great. The problem is that description is a rather rosy (the publisher wants to sell the book, after all) and is not an accurate summary of the book. The reality is the book is a how-to guide for manipulating other people for your own gain at the expense of those other people. If that's what you value and want out of life, this might be the book for you. If Machiavelli is your paragon of a person and his ideas your ideal life philosophies, this might be the book for you. It's not for me. My main advice is that you recognize this book as one man's philosophical cynical musings, rather than anything insightful about the "laws of human nature".

By nature, I tend to be cheap—so I looked online at our local library, and sure enough this book was available at every branch location!

Along with his other books "Mastery" and "The 48 laws of power". YMMV…