The Laws of Human Nature

Why I'd hand it to you

Robert Greene uses history and psychology to explain why people act the way they do: envy, narcissism, irrationality, group behavior, aggression and more. Each chapter pairs a story from history with lessons for spotting these traits in others and in yourself. There is real insight here about reading people. A pair of warnings. It is very long, more than six hundred pages, and Greene's view of people is pretty cynical; he assumes the worst more than most of us want to. Readers looking for warmth or faith-based wisdom will find it cold. Taken in pieces, it can sharpen how you understand people at work.

— Matt Jordan