Robert Greene is a master guide for millions, 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-defence.

Listening Length

28 hours and 26 minutes
Author

Robert Greene
Narrator

Paul Michael
Audible release date

23 October 2018
Language

English
Publisher

Profile Audio
ASIN

B07HGG62TT
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	28 hours and 26 minutes
Author	Robert Greene
Narrator	Paul Michael
Audible.com.au Release Date	23 October 2018
Publisher	Profile Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07HGG62TT
Best Sellers Rank	204 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 1 in Sociology (Audible Books & Originals) 1 in Sociology of Social Theory 2 in Political History & Theory

Customer reviews

5 star		84%
4 star		10%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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GOODVIBES

Not Laws just the Authors Selections

Reviewed in Australia on 17 July 2020

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The book reads as if its advice for 15 year olds . I should have realized after reading much Taoist stuff , that we aren't going to get some guy to just sumize it all .
Faulse advertising .

3 people found this helpful

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Lackshu Bala

Great for understanding why people operate the way they do.

Reviewed in Australia on 9 January 2021

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Typical of RG's books, well researched. Illuminating yet depressing to some extent. A long read but well worth it. It helps you navigate relationships, however I feel it swings towards a more pessimistic view.

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MickeyT

Treat your ears....

Reviewed in Australia on 17 January 2020

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I'm barely 1/3rd of the way through, but I'm still listening to the opening chapters... and find relief at the ideas. How I never learned this stuff, at school.... I'll never know.

3 people found this helpful

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Noor

The most highlighted book by me

Reviewed in Australia on 9 April 2019

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This is the most highlighted book by me.

I read it over a period of two months and almost got addicted to it.

2 people found this helpful

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Kallin

Timeless! A must read

Reviewed in Australia on 7 March 2019

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You always feel with Robert Greene that he has dedicated his entire life to each of his books, this is no exception. Maybe his best yet! Essential reading for understanding yourself, others and history!

2 people found this helpful

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M.H

Excellent Book. Filled with history and wisdom

Reviewed in Australia on 26 November 2021

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Great book. Highly recommend for anyone that wishes to take a step outside themselves and become a little more self-aware.

One person found this helpful

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Nilton

Great book!!

Reviewed in Australia on 11 July 2019

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I am suspected of saying, but this but brings a lot of wise knowledge from the past in modern words.

One person found this helpful

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Betty Filmer

True classic essential for those into what makes us humans tick

Reviewed in Australia on 31 July 2021

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Awesome intellect information essential for all into what makes us tick

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Dr. Irene

On Greene and Human Nature

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2018

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Human nature, since the existence of men, is a hot topic shrouded by critical inquiry and analysis. What motivates us? What makes some float in negative bubbles and make others grow tall in positivity? There’s no one answer. Humans are fallible.

After six years of research on the subject of human nature, Robert Greene places his findings in a new gem, The Laws of Human Nature. He advises us, with copious historical examples, to let go of our tendency to judge people but rather to open our mind to seeing people in a new light.

Why six years?

In a digital age, where one could get books written in seconds, why would Greene choose to spend six years working on a book?

First, and this is my guess, Greene uses absence to create respect (Law 16 in The 48 Laws of Power). Second, he understands the dangers of not saturating the market with quantity but rather with quality books. With five classical books under his belt, he surely doesn't need to increase his reputation by publishing anything of mediocre quality.

What’s more important, Greene’s books are well researched. And good research in any subject takes time. The book speaks for itself.

Tell me more about the book…

Any Greene fan knows his books are punctuated with anecdotes. The Laws of Human Nature follows suit—in a typical Greenian structure—historical analogies, important keys and explicit summaries.

Whether or not Greene’s books should be found in the self-help shelves is a moot point. That said, The Laws of Human Nature, carries within it that motivational undertone. In Law 8 (Change Your Circumstances by Changing Your Attitude), for example, the author gives away free hint that helps the reader to elevate their minds from current realities. This is something you’d find in Jack Cranfield book, The Success Principles(2004). In this bright chapter, he advices us to go though life by understanding that attitude colours our perceptions. With example of the Russian author, Anton Chekov, the reader is reminded that life is what he/she desires it to be. These little sprinklings some would argue is un-Greene-like. Sentences like “get in the habit of writing your dreams down and pay deep attention to their feeling tone” would read strange to those who only see Greene as that Machiavellian lecturer. However, I would personally argue that this is refreshing.

In addition, his past works, especially Arts of Seduction(2001), Mastery(2012) and 33 Strategies of War(2006) stream into the pages of The Laws of Human Nature. Especially the part of self-mastery which is a strong thematic feature in Greene’s works. In Laws of Human Nature he reminds us to gauge our strengths and weaknesses and work on annihilating those weaknesses. Knowing ones character will help one in breaking what he calls “compulsive patterns”. However, our ability to find them in others puts us on another pedestal as we are able to sniff false fronts in this social media age. He reminds us that we must avoid weak characters as they are prone to quenching the good qualities an individual might possess. These individuals are enumerated in the toxic types, including but not limited to: the big talker, the personalizer, the pampered prince/princess. Anyone who has read Strategies of War would see some of these advice as a reminder.

What’s more, Greene has the capability to paint pictures in simple sentences. For example, on in Elevate Your perspectives (law 6)
He quips:
“In a world that is complex, with myriad dangers that loom in the future, our short term tendencies pose a continual threat to our well-being and as our attention spans decrease because of technology, the threat is even greater. In many ways we are defined by our relationship to time. When we simply react to what we see and hear, when we swing from excitement and exuberance to fear and panic at each new piece of dramatic news, when we hear our actions toward gaining as much pleasures as possible in the moment without a thought for future consequences, we can say that we are giving in our animal nature, to what is primitive and potentially destructive in our neurological makeup.” (Greene, 2018:161). Such paragraphs leaves us with moments to reflect on contemporary nature of human coexistence.

For further discussion:

On Narcissistic Spectrum, Greene argues that another level of narcissism exist in entrepreneurs and “for many of these leader types,” he argues that their instability and chaos will be mirrored in the company or group they lead. They cannot forge a coherent structure or organisation. Everything must flow through them.” (Greene,2018:46) This argument is double edged: on one hand, he argues that they can’t build organisations. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, just to mention these three come to mind here. Although these business icons fall under this spectrum but one could argue that they created companies and, sometimes, coherence exists. Narcissism carries its own advantages and perhaps, it needs to be buoyed for one to know how to use it one's satisfaction.

Why Four Stars?

As a Greene fan, I would have loved to make this five stars. But, in comparison to his other works, I don’t think The Laws of Human Nature has that sharpness the other books carry. However, I’d still recommend it to friends who are particularly interested in finding the self and understanding the human in others.

Conclusion

Well, Greene, as always in his works, leaves the reader to take his work as it is or leave it. Explaining a lot and leaving the audience to do the thinking themselves. There are a lot of open ended advices in the book but, overall, the book delivers it's message and shines a new light on features of human nature.
******
As Greene convalesces (after suffering from a fatal stroke), I wish him speedy recovery and more importantly, I’d give a piece of advice from his book: “people can recover much more quickly from illness through sheer desire and willpower.” I hope he recovers quickly.

142 people found this helpful

Sudha.S

A Great Revelation

Reviewed in India on 1 December 2018

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Firstly, I must start off by saying that I am a great fan of Robert Greene and have waited for this book for nearly 2 years. And the reason for me picking up this book was mainly to understand other people and to protect myself from some of the bad people there can be. But honestly, the book was a revelation to me. The book is FAR more than just understanding others; to me at least, it helped me introspect myself and understand myself and my behaviours on a more deeper level. I'm a young person and want to be a really good mother when I have a child. This book clearly showed me how our own parents' behaviour can affect the way we deal with our children. If you have had bad parents, you at least become aware of your behavioural pattern that could affect your children and try to correct yourself.

And other than introducing yourself to you, it also helps you understand other people's character based on their behavioural pattern. One major change I have observed in Mr. Greene's writing is that in 48 Laws, the major theme was people would consciously try to harm you. But here in this new book, he goes on to say that most of the times, they might not even do it consciously. I really loved that concept as that is the reality.

Mr. Greene is one of the greatest interpreters of human behaviour ever. Thank you so much sir for such a great piece of writing. Reading this book was more of a spiritual experience to me.

215 people found this helpful

Mustafa Kulle

Valuable Lessons of Life - Highly Recommend

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2019

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As soon as I heard of this book I ordered it immediately since I am familiar with Robert Greene's previous work 'The 48 Laws of Power'.

There is so much to learn from this book. This tells you all the things to look out for in others as well as yourself.
The end result is you begin to analyse people and you learn to deal with them better.

The structure of the book is brilliant. Each chapter is like the following:
- First he tells the story of a historical figure displaying certain human characteristics.
- An interpretation of the story and events.
- Followed by 'The Keys to Human Nature' as to how and why we display such traits.
- And then it tells you ways of dealing with people who have the aforementioned characteristsics and see how you can find them in yourself.

It says at the back "You are about to become an apprentice in human nature." Indeed.
This is something you can refer to again and again. When you study each chapter and analyse yourself, you begin to see things in yourself that you weren't even aware of. Once you spot the human traits within you, you start to see them in others and this is where you think of strategies of dealing with people. This is what makes the book so enlightening.

It is very hard to look in the mirror and admit your flaws. But what really pays off is once you acknowledge your weaknesses, you become stronger, and a better person. Robert Greene writes in a friendly manner that makes you feel like you are taking advice from a wise teacher.

This book has improved my life. In fact it's getting better at understanding myself and the people around me.
Highly recommend.

50 people found this helpful

Sarvesh Nanjee

It’s dope! Go for it.

Reviewed in India on 26 April 2019

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If you want to achieve something worth while in your life then this book is for you. This book is placed under self help genre but relies intensely on psychology. If you have read Robert Greene’s previous works then this one is the best so far. Robert Greene has maintained his trademark style in his new book. Each chapter gets better than the previous one. It’s important that you apply what you read to get the results. You might encounter some repeated lessons from his previous books but it will be only to support some things he wants to convey.
Once you study the book thoroughly your perspective will change definitely about people and yourself. You will be able to predict people’s moves and also why they act the way they do. You will save time and energy from small as well as grave mistakes you might have committed. And last but not the least you will be able to turn the tables in any adverse situations.

79 people found this helpful

Nein.

Viel Psychoanalyse, kaum wissenschaftlich fundiert.

Reviewed in Germany on 17 September 2019

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Das Buch an sich ist gut aufgebaut und geschrieben. Die Struktur ist immer die gleiche - ein historisches Beispiel, die Interpretation dessen und wie man die Erkenntnisse daraus in das moderne, alltägliche Leben integrieren kann. Die Prämisse ist durchaus interessant.

Positiv:
- Schreibstil (ist Geschmackssache, mir hat er gefallen)
- Aufbau und Struktur
- die Idee mit der Einleitung jedes Kapitels durch ein historiches Beispiel

Negativ:
- die Quellen - teilweise extrem veraltet
- dementsprechend sind auch viele der Infos auf nicht belegten Thesen gestützt
- er benutzt oft als "Beleg" die Aussage von Psychoanalytikern (z.B. Jung und Mahler). Das große Problem der Psychoanalyse ist, dass deren Aussagen weder als falsch, noch als richtig belegt werden können. Das Buch ist somit nicht wissenschaftlich fundiert.
- als Zusatzpunkt zu dem Oberen: er scheint ganz bewusst "Belege" rauszusuchen, die seinen eigenen Standpunkt untermauern, anstatt seine Aussagen differenzierter/aus verschiedenen Blickwinkeln zu betrachten - das Ganze lässt es daher nicht wie "Gesetze" aussehen, sondern eher "meine persönlichen Meinungen, die ich mich Pseudowissenschaft untermauere"
- und ganz besonders negativ, weswegen ich nur einen Stern gebe: in der Einleitung zu seinem Buch bestreitet er genau das und behauptet bei seinen Thesen auf neuste Erkenntnisse der Wissenschaft (z.B. von Kahnemann) zurückzugreifen (was nur bei den wenigsten Kapiteln der Fall ist)

Rundum keine Empfehlung.

62 people found this helpful

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