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gabmarie101's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
kruplinger's review against another edition
4.0
wow there was a lot in here! really liked how Greene incorporated stories to prove his point. lots of good things to take away from this one
nebrah's review against another edition
4.0
I got The Laws of Human Nature in a three book bundle along with some of Greene’s older books. From the beginning to the end, I understood this book as an account and analysis of some characteristics and deeply ingrained mindsets existing in our common person as well as the spectrum of expression and impact they have. Rather than condemn and act aloof and removed from what makes us the way we are, Greene wants the reader to hone in and embrace that nature to develop a self-awareness and mindset toward becoming a better person with some of the techniques he offers. Furthermore, this book was well written for a wide audience and so has something for everyone to enjoy and learn from.
Looking at the content, Greene covers much that can feel like, and is, common sense, but like with most works in the field, it is the methodology that distinguishes one from another. Every single chapter follows the same 5 element outline of information type and delivery, a choice that certainly makes reading fluid and straightforward. First, there is a short blurb that summarizes the general idea of the chapter’s chosen characteristic and Greene’s take on it. Second, a detailed case study of a notable person in history who goes through events--internal and external--that exhibit that particular characteristic at play. Third, Green’s interpretation of why that person succeeded or failed in the case study, often linked to how they expressed or acted on the characteristic. Fourth, a short lecture on that quality with some insight from experts that is then followed by Greene’s own thoughts and understanding of the quality in different contexts. Occasionally, he even provides suggestions that cover both sides of the coin: for people who exhibit it in a dangerous or harmful way and for people who are experiencing it from someone else. Lastly, a quote that gives a final thought before transitioning to the next chapter. Within each section, Greene generally uses concise and simple language over flowery and clever setups. I did notice that some anecdotal choices do not seem as well suited to the chapter’s focus as well as it could be. Additionally, there was a hefty use and definition of technical vocabulary that did not always seem particularly relevant and rather tried to make something straightforward more complex than it read as in order to write more about it. All in all, the writing was very well matched for a general audience and serves as a strong pillar in the book’s success.
Moving on to the characteristics themselves, they are mostly a mixed bag of “oh, that makes sense” and “wait, what?” When I first looked at the table of contents, I was a bit perplexed at the choice and order of some of the chapters. The first half of the book starts off covering very ubiquitous and varied traits like narcissism, irrationality, shortsightedness, all of which are tricky to cover in one chapter but Greene makes it work for the most part. For some others, not so much. The biggest oddball I perceived was Chapter 5 on covetousness. Perhaps it was there for variety as well as its own individual message, but that whole chapter certainly stuck out away from the introspective feel of many other traits; if anything, it felt like a lost chapter from a psychological marketing guide. While Greene does have a hybrid style of showing and then telling, the balance is somewhat tipped in favor of telling the reader about how to be this or that. Some other chapters felt like they were a vestige of an earlier chapter only with a narrower focus like Chapter 11 and Chapter 4. Is the writing fun to read? Yes. But was the overarching point strong enough to stand on its own? Probably not.
Of all the chapters, the only one I found problematic was Chapter 12, which covers gender norms. Greene brings in different models that identify a masculine spirit and feminine spirit that we have and describes how in actions, especially romantic ventures, people may be attracted to those of the opposite spirit and why that occurs. The main issue with such an approach is that there is no acknowledgement of how thin the argument on sex correlating to complex behavior is and certainly no tie in to the influence of society and the historical development of human society. Another issue lies in that Greene’s anecdotes and cases also are all strictly focused on opposite sex pairs and cisgender people. We are in 2021 and whether you believe it or not, there are people who love themselves and others in ways that age-old societal stereotypes around the world said they cannot. I’m specifically referring to the LGBTQ+ community who has gained more prominent attention and respect in recent decades despite existing for far, far longer. It’s a bit hard to detract from the fact that this chapter does not openly name these identities e.g. nonbinary in the discussion on gender.
As devil’s advocate, I can stretch the writing so it appears Greene is using convenient, old divisions to implicitly show that they are just that: convenient and old but not all-encompassing. Yet the brutal counterattack is in the following chapter extensively covers social conformity. Despite the enlightening messages of the other chapters, I feel like Chapter 12 took a step back.
All in all, I would recommend this book for Greene’s introspective, analytical perspective tied in with real-world examples and hypotheticals. Whether or not you agree with all his remarks and takes, you will certainly get a mental workout.
Looking at the content, Greene covers much that can feel like, and is, common sense, but like with most works in the field, it is the methodology that distinguishes one from another. Every single chapter follows the same 5 element outline of information type and delivery, a choice that certainly makes reading fluid and straightforward. First, there is a short blurb that summarizes the general idea of the chapter’s chosen characteristic and Greene’s take on it. Second, a detailed case study of a notable person in history who goes through events--internal and external--that exhibit that particular characteristic at play. Third, Green’s interpretation of why that person succeeded or failed in the case study, often linked to how they expressed or acted on the characteristic. Fourth, a short lecture on that quality with some insight from experts that is then followed by Greene’s own thoughts and understanding of the quality in different contexts. Occasionally, he even provides suggestions that cover both sides of the coin: for people who exhibit it in a dangerous or harmful way and for people who are experiencing it from someone else. Lastly, a quote that gives a final thought before transitioning to the next chapter. Within each section, Greene generally uses concise and simple language over flowery and clever setups. I did notice that some anecdotal choices do not seem as well suited to the chapter’s focus as well as it could be. Additionally, there was a hefty use and definition of technical vocabulary that did not always seem particularly relevant and rather tried to make something straightforward more complex than it read as in order to write more about it. All in all, the writing was very well matched for a general audience and serves as a strong pillar in the book’s success.
Moving on to the characteristics themselves, they are mostly a mixed bag of “oh, that makes sense” and “wait, what?” When I first looked at the table of contents, I was a bit perplexed at the choice and order of some of the chapters. The first half of the book starts off covering very ubiquitous and varied traits like narcissism, irrationality, shortsightedness, all of which are tricky to cover in one chapter but Greene makes it work for the most part. For some others, not so much. The biggest oddball I perceived was Chapter 5 on covetousness. Perhaps it was there for variety as well as its own individual message, but that whole chapter certainly stuck out away from the introspective feel of many other traits; if anything, it felt like a lost chapter from a psychological marketing guide. While Greene does have a hybrid style of showing and then telling, the balance is somewhat tipped in favor of telling the reader about how to be this or that. Some other chapters felt like they were a vestige of an earlier chapter only with a narrower focus like Chapter 11 and Chapter 4. Is the writing fun to read? Yes. But was the overarching point strong enough to stand on its own? Probably not.
Of all the chapters, the only one I found problematic was Chapter 12, which covers gender norms. Greene brings in different models that identify a masculine spirit and feminine spirit that we have and describes how in actions, especially romantic ventures, people may be attracted to those of the opposite spirit and why that occurs. The main issue with such an approach is that there is no acknowledgement of how thin the argument on sex correlating to complex behavior is and certainly no tie in to the influence of society and the historical development of human society. Another issue lies in that Greene’s anecdotes and cases also are all strictly focused on opposite sex pairs and cisgender people. We are in 2021 and whether you believe it or not, there are people who love themselves and others in ways that age-old societal stereotypes around the world said they cannot. I’m specifically referring to the LGBTQ+ community who has gained more prominent attention and respect in recent decades despite existing for far, far longer. It’s a bit hard to detract from the fact that this chapter does not openly name these identities e.g. nonbinary in the discussion on gender.
As devil’s advocate, I can stretch the writing so it appears Greene is using convenient, old divisions to implicitly show that they are just that: convenient and old but not all-encompassing. Yet the brutal counterattack is in the following chapter extensively covers social conformity. Despite the enlightening messages of the other chapters, I feel like Chapter 12 took a step back.
All in all, I would recommend this book for Greene’s introspective, analytical perspective tied in with real-world examples and hypotheticals. Whether or not you agree with all his remarks and takes, you will certainly get a mental workout.