366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy, and Human Nature
A roadmap to the realities of the modern world.
Consider life as it once was for our distant ancestors.
Food is usually in short supply here in the bush. Danger exists everywhere. The weather may change in a single second. A predator might be crouching in the grass. Threats and difficulties exist everywhere. One lousy judgment, one moment of inattention, and it's game over. Failure to pay attention to reality might result in injury or death. The brain was developed to help humans survive in this environment. It's a tool for navigating a dangerous reality: hunting and collecting while avoiding the fangs of saber-toothed tigers.
Let's fast-forward to today. There is food on the table. We live in cities, away from the elements. The saber-toothed tigers have long died. But we still have the same instrument in our heads: a brain that developed over thousands of years to guide us through a reality we can only fathom.
Today, unlike our forefathers, we may indulge in imaginations and daydreams. We can relax, and our surroundings are unlikely to harm us. Today, rather than dangers from predators, the main threats we face are interpersonal and psychological.
These risks are subtler than the ones of old. It is possible to ignore them and pretend they do not exist. It is possible, in other words, to withdraw from reality and become naïve. However, there are significant risks. And you disregard them at your own peril.
The goal of these booksumaria is to put you in close contact with the world we live in today.
So let's get started with Robert Greene's The Daily Laws.
1. January
First and foremost, why is it named The Daily Laws? Well, Robert Greene's stuff was organized like a calendar. There are 12 divisions, one for each month of the year, and each day of the month has a bit of advice. Greene refers to these pieces of advice as "laws," hence the title: a law for each day, The Daily Laws. Each month, we will look at the most essential legislation. And, to be clear, the first three parts aren't actually about getting you closer to today's interpersonal risks. But don't worry. We will get there.
Ready to get started? So let's start at the beginning: January. And if you're reading this and it's not January, don't worry. Consider this the first month of your adventure and the starting point.
The first stage of the trip is about mastery. And the first step in that process is determining your life task. We will not achieve mastery in a single part. Mastery is the topic of part #3.
This month, there is one law that is vitally essential: reconnect with your early hobbies and discover your life task.
How do you discover your life task? Perhaps it's better to think of it as an archeological excavation—the discovery of something within you—rather than a treasure hunt.
The account of Robert Greene's life mission is an excellent illustration. As a youngster, Greene knew exactly what he wanted to be. He liked language. He aspired to be a writer, perhaps a novelist. Then came high school, college, and graduation. He needed to get a job and make a livelihood. He still liked words—reading and writing. But writing novels was not going to pay the bills. He became a journalist.
Which did not last. Several years later, an editor urged him to change occupations. Greene was heartbroken. His manner was weird, his beliefs were arcane, and he was not "writer material." But he knew the editor was correct. He still liked language and writing. But he was not a journalist. He didn't realize it at the time, but he was a unique type of writer.
And so I started a lengthy search. He journeyed across Europe, from Greece to Barcelona and Paris to Dublin. He took whatever employment came his way, whether it was construction, English teaching, or hotel reception. All this time, he read and wrote. He returned to Los Angeles, his hometown. More weird tasks. Continue reading. Always writing.
By the age of 36, he had worked around sixty jobs since leaving journalism. From the outside, he appeared adrift and unmoored, with bouts of self-doubt and sadness, yet something kept him from feeling genuinely lost. There was always a sense that he was under the control of an inner force.
When his big break arrived, he was prepared. While in Italy, he met a book producer and pitched a concept, which would eventually become The 48 Laws of Power. Suddenly, all of his reading and thoughts came together into a clear, appealing proposal. The rest is history. He secured a book deal, and the book became a big success.
The point is that, even as a child, Greene knew what his life task was. It was to be written. Despite several false beginnings and a lot of apparently useless wandering, he eventually arrived at his life task. If he had not listened to that inner voice, if he had neglected the urge to write, his life task would have gone unfulfilled. So, what is your life task? An excellent place to begin is in your childhood. What were you fascinated by? What did you like doing? If you can't recall, ask a parent, grandmother, or family friend. Even if you don't know what it is right now, your life task is waiting to be revealed.
2. February
February is the month for apprenticeships. If February could only have one law, it may be this: you cannot skip the apprenticeship phase. If you wish to go to the next stage, mastery, you cannot skip the apprenticeship phase. Consider a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Bruce Lee, or even Robert Greene. In almost every case, there was a lengthy apprenticeship phase prior to mastery. Geniuses are not born fully developed.
In Greene's instance, he read and wrote extensively before publishing his first book.
Or take Napoleon. He was recognized for his nearly-superhuman military prowess.
A simple glance at the map or the enemy's distant encampment, and he'd instantly know whether to retreat, advance, or merely delay for the time being. His subordinates found him to be impressive. Did their leader possess supernatural abilities or what?
You understand where this is headed.
Napoleon's talents were not supernatural. They were the result of a lengthy and intensive apprenticeship.
He was full of ambition at the military academy, and he was given major tasks at such a young age. He gradually developed his skills over many years of grueling study and practice.
So, what is the law? You cannot skip the apprenticeship phase! People may appear to be natural geniuses, yet they are nearly certainly not. Remember this and accept that you will be an apprentice several times in your life, such as when you set out to acquire a new talent or take on a new responsibility. Don't let the apprenticeship phase annoy you. Embrace it. Learn everything you can. And, gently but surely, you'll make it through it and onto the next step.
3. March
What is the definition of mastery? After the apprentice phase, there is mastery. But first, a little word on mastery. It is not a destination. You don't just arrive and leave. It is a continuous process, a practice, and a condition of being. It could be more appropriate to talk of "maintaining" mastery rather than "attaining" it. In some respects, mastery is simply an extension of the apprenticeship phase, because even as a master, you must stay dedicated to learning, growing, and expanding your talents. The only distinction is that you are not apprenticed to a master; rather, you are apprenticed to mastery—the act of learning itself, the act of striving for mastery. The moment you stop learning, you will begin to lose your hold on mastery.
So, what is March's major law? Mastery is a process. But also, constantly strive to go inside.
What does this mean? Consider acquiring any complex skill. For example, consider learning to play the piano. At first glance, the piano appears to be a collection of black-and-white keys. At this time, that's about all you have. You do not know how to play a chord or scale. You are on the outside.
The aim is to go inside. This entails going through the tedious, monotonous, and sluggish process of mastering the fundamentals. This is not always an enjoyable procedure. It's frequently perplexing and annoying, but the piano gradually ceases to be a tangle of keys. You start thinking about chords. You stop thinking about where your fingers should be. You've immersed yourself in the instrument, playing instinctively and knowing it from the inside out rather than the outside in. This is what it means to get inside.
And it is about as excellent a description of mastery as you can get. Whatever you're doing, whether it's a sport, a literary assignment, or studying the piano, you must go to the inside.
Remember, though, that this is a process. You can reach the inside, but you can always go deeper. You can always learn more. A master is never satisfied with where they are. Real masters are always chasing mastery, striving to get even more inside.
4. April
It's time to shift the subject. The previous three months have been about the journey to mastery. The following five—through August—are about the never-ending game of power, both within and outside the workplace, and how to negotiate it. So, let's get started.
If there were only one rule for April, it would be this: never outshine the master.
Prior to writing The 48 Laws of Power, Greene worked as a researcher, gathering unique life experiences for inclusion in a series of films.
Greene was in his mid-twenties at the time, and he was entirely inexperienced in the world of power plays and office politics—the never-ending game of power. He had no notion it was a game. He paid a price for that.
He was excellent at his profession. He was ambitious. He was friendly. He has made some fantastic suggestions. But for some reason, his supervisor appeared to despise him.
So Greene tried everything he could to make her like him. He spoke to her more. He sought to include her more in the development of his ideas. This did not help. Actually, it seemed to exacerbate the condition. Finally, bewildered and disappointed, he stopped.
So, what did Greene do wrong? In short, he'd outperformed the master. He'd been too eager, too ambitious, and just too excellent at what he did. His accomplishment made his employer feel nervous, and he broke this month's commandment, which is "Don't outshine the Master."
It was difficult at the moment, but in the long run, it benefited Greene. He lost his innocence and became an observer and player in the game of power, which we will discuss further in the next section.
5. May
May's law is simple: the power game is never-ending. Always. That is the fact. You can pretend that the game does not exist. However, this does not mark the end of the game. This provides you with three options: embrace it, deny it, or accept it. It might be difficult to embrace and truly love the game. I'm talking about the Machiavellians among us, the folks who like manipulation and deception while simultaneously believing that these are the sole weapons necessary to get through life. They fail to see that, while individuals are power-hungry and manipulative, they can also be sympathetic and cooperative. Not comprehending this implies that the true-blue Machievellis will almost always fall from power. They never go beyond a certain stage since they do not comprehend all aspects of the game.
Denying the game has its downsides. That is, if you seek power. It makes no difference whether you honestly believe there is no game or find participating in the game unpleasant; absolute nonparticipation will result in you being pushed away over time. You may be okay with it. You may not desire power and responsibility because they involve game-playing.
If you desire responsibility or authority, there is one technique that is superior to the others: acceptance. Want to be powerful? That is simply part of human nature. It has always been. It always will be. You do not have to like it. You do not have to despise it. All you need to do is accept it. The game is always being played. With this acceptance, you might occasionally opt to stand on the sidelines and observe. Other times, you might participate and use your understanding of the game to better your position. Others are continually playing this game, so you should study the rules and comprehend the principles of power.
Remember that the game of power is continuously being played. There is no option to opt out. And it's better to just accept it.
6. June
So, let's pretend you desire power. That is understandable. It is only natural. What tools will you use to obtain it? Deception is a useful talent.
We officially disapprove of dishonesty. Good individuals are upfront, open, and honest. They tell the truth, whether it serves their interests or not. Lies and masquerades, on the other hand, are the domain of cowards and conmen. Or at least that is the official narrative.
In fact, human contact is based on deception: bluffs, half-truths, and, in some cases, blatant falsehoods. If you desire power, you should acknowledge it and exploit it to your advantage. You don't have to continuously deceive others, of course. But you should not delude yourself. Deception is part of the game.
So, what is the June law? Never accidentally insult someone's intelligence.
Intelligence and ego are tightly intertwined. Consider how difficult it is to admit that someone is smarter than you. Not to give lip respect to their brilliance, but to truly recognize your intellectual inadequacy and their intellectual superiority. We quickly begin to come up with justifications, correct? For example, "Sure, she has a PhD, but she's not that brilliant in everyday life" or "Well, he got an expensive education, and if I'd had such possibilities..." You get the idea." Intelligence is fundamental to how people perceive themselves; thus, making someone feel dumb is never a smart idea. They'll despise you and yet believe they're smarter.
So it's considerably preferable to fool them. Even if you know you are brighter than someone else, you should make them believe that their intelligence is greater than yours. This will soften them up and cause them to relax their guard, resulting in a situation conducive to obtaining what you seek: power.
7. July and August
The legislation for July and August is similar. July is all about seduction. August is all about persuasion. Both of these abilities are essential to the game of power.
Power has many forms, but some are more difficult to discern than others. We've grown accustomed to thinking of power as sheer force, but it's typically a more nuanced phenomenon.
The capacity to captivate people, to pique their interest—in other words, to seduce and convince them—is a type of power that is often as powerful as the ability to frighten or repress, and it is generally considerably more successful. It is preferable to persuade someone to join your cause. So, what are the most significant laws about seduction and persuasion?
Delaying gratification is a very effective seduction method. We may learn from the figure of the coquette.
A coquette is a flirt, a lady who can entice men while still keeping them away. She appears to hold out fulfillment—in the form of sex, attention, or love—only to disappoint her admirers by changing her mind once more.
She understands all too well that attraction builds when it is unfulfilled and that keeping her distance is sometimes the best way to win.
When it comes to persuasion, let us look back to history's greatest figure: Napoleon. Napoleon, history's greatest manager of men, kept his followers on edge, promising gratification but never quite delivering it.
Here's how: He understood exactly how to employ reward and punishment to affect behavior. He seldom scolded others, yet this made his rebukes all the more forceful. Their rarity gave them an added edge. He also seldom awarded praise or promotions, and when he did, it was always based on merit. Again, the praise's rarity boosted its worth tenfold.
This strategy had the following effect: his men were always on edge, fearful of disappointment, and eager to please. You are undoubtedly familiar with the outcome. Napoleon led millions of young men, none of whom were especially disciplined or soldierly, and converted them into an army of unrivaled force and efficiency.
So that's August's main rule: keep the people you wish to dominate guessing. Also, don't forget about delayed fulfillment; the longer you make someone wait for something, the more they'll desire it.
8. September, October, and November
Sometimes life feels like a battlefield. There are challenges, difficulties, trials, and tribulations on all sides of us. Sometimes just getting by seems to need more power than we have.
That is why it is critical to be able to rise beyond the petty difficulties of each day—to adopt a higher and broader viewpoint, a point of view from which life's everyday challenges appear minor and manageable.
Taking this approach entails thinking strategically, with an eye on our long-term goals and innermost values. When we fail to raise our ideas in this way, we get trapped in tactical hell, mired down in trivial matters, and react unthinkingly to every stressor life throws at us.
Bickering couples frequently find themselves in tactical hell. They get so focused on winning each conflict and proving themselves right that they lose sight of the long-term harm they are causing to their relationship. Instead of elevating their viewpoint, they become fixated on the present misery.
The only way out is to stand back and acquire some distance. Ask yourself: Do I need to be involved in this conflict, or is there another, higher perspective I may take?
That's September's law: adopt a higher view of life. October's law is similar. It encourages us to connect with our unpleasant emotions, such as fear or anger, and evaluate them rather than linger on them. One method to accomplish this is to simply take a step back, as per November's legislation.
Pause for a minute when you feel yourself being sucked into an emotional maelstrom and being engaged in some unexpectedly disturbing passion. Wait before responding to the SMS. Go ahead and type the email, but wait a little before sending it.
Refraining from acting becomes easier the more you do it; think of it as a muscle you're building. By avoiding the draw of little yet tiring events, you may devote more time to what is truly important.
9. December
This is the last part, and it focuses on bringing the previous part's themes to the next level.
What are the things that are truly important in life? What should you do with your precious time? If you're not disputing or fighting, what are you going to do with your free time?
You may begin by enjoying life more—by increasing your feeling of amazement at the vastness of the cosmos and thinking of your good fortune to exist within it. Too frequently, we allow our imaginations to circle the same mundane, uninspired issues day after day, such as our debts, duties, and reputation.
But what if you made a conscious effort to focus on greater things instead, such as the limitlessness of time and space, the ages of evolution that led to our creation, and the incredible power and complexity of the human mind?
The author refers to this grandeur as the cosmic sublime, or the splendor of the cosmos. How much richer life appears when we focus on its beauty rather than the media's celebrity cycle!
The novelist Virginia Woolf serves as an excellent role model in this regard.
When she was 23, she visited her family's seaside home for the first time in years. In the meantime, her mother, father, and closest stepsister had died. The vacant house and the constant sound of waves on the coast reminded Woolf of the unstoppable march of time.
Listening to the waves, Woolf was filled with a sense of the infinite, the antiquity, and the sea's eternality. Woolf would return to the same site several times over the following three decades, finally capturing her experience of the cosmic sublime in the novel To the Lighthouse, a challenging but stunningly beautiful work.
These book were mostly about the game of power and how to best play it, but it's important to relax, to take a step back, and to recall that the game, although continually being played, is just a human fabrication. In the best-case scenario, it leads to a breakthrough—a creative effort such as Woolf's novel. At the very least, it will recharge you for the next round.
Final Summary
The first three parts addressed the route to mastery. First, you must identify your life task. Second, the apprenticeship phase cannot be skipped. Finally, mastery is achieved through a process. Next, never outshine the master, and keep in mind that the game of power is never-ending; there is no way out. Deception is an effective strategy in the game. This does not imply you should deceive others all the time, but don't fool yourself into believing that others aren't attempting to deceive you. Seduction and persuasion are two of the more effective methods. Delaying gratification allows you to charm and convince others. Avoid tactical hell by shifting your perspective, assessing your negative emotions, and, if necessary, taking a step back. Finally, connect with the cosmic sublime. Who knows? You could compose a literary gem. In the worst-case scenario, you'll be refreshed for the following round of the game.