Aleksa's Book Review: The Laws of Human Nature

This is one of those books that really makes you ask whether or not you're a good, honest person. Why? Because Robert Greene's books are about power and manipulation to get ahead in life. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wealth, influence, and success. Most importantly, Greene talks about Mastery as a massively important part of our nature.

However, I have to start doubting whether or not one can act in the ways highlighted in this book and be a happy, good person. Greene puts forward examples of massively influential, charismatic and powerful people throughout history: from Howard Hughes, to Stalin, Chekov, and Coco Chanel. There's something that kept gnawing at me in these stories from history: none of these people were happy.

Sure, they could charm, schmooze, and conquer with the best of them. But Stalin was a paranoid, alcoholic mess. Hughes was a painkiller-addled failure who never made money except through his family's inherited business. Chekov had the worst on-again-off-again relationship with his wife that I've ever heard of, and Chanel died a childless spinster mourned only by business partners.

Greene does a good job of communicating the rules of human nature and how to tap into them, but something is off about this book. It says that even those completely honest and curious about themselves are playing some sort of malevolent game. Fundamentally, this book is pretty close to a dangerous nootropic: yes, it'll make you do more. But is it stuff worth doing, and is losing yourself worth the price? You be the judge.
8/10