The World's Best Book Summaries
Overview of Law #40: Despise the Free Lunch Use money and generosity strategically to achieve your goals. Remember that everything has a price, and don’t accept “free gifts.” But use the desire for a “free lunch” to deceive others. Use gifts to build a reputation of generosity, which creates an aura or power, and also to obligate people to you.
Overview of Law #39: Stir up Waters to Catch Fish Always stay calm and objective. When you get angry, you’ve lost control. But if you can make your enemies angry, you gain an advantage. Rattle your enemies to put them off balance.
Overview of Law #38: Think as You Like but Behave Like Others If you make a show of being different, flaunting unconventional ideas and behavior, people will think you look down on them and will retaliate against you for making them feel inferior. It’s better to blend in; share your real views only with close friends and like-minded people.
Overview of Law #37: Create Compelling Spectacles In addition to words, use visuals and symbols to underscore your power. What people see makes a greater impression on them than what they hear. Put on a show using stunning visuals and powerful symbols that connect with people emotionally. Create compelling spectacles and no one will notice what you’re really doing.
How did the first Impressionist exhibition come about? And what made it so extraordinary? The first Impressionist exhibition, April 15th – May 15th, 1874, was a Paris exhibition of the works of Monet, Renoir, and Degas, among others. Despite being rejected by the prestigious Salon, the Impressionists made history with their exhibition. We’ll cover how the first Impressionist exhibition came to be, why it was a turning point in the history of art, and how the Impressionists benefitted from being Big Fish in a Little Pond.
Every parent knows the benefits of smaller class sizes: more attention, higher achievement, and a sense of community, among other benefits. With so much to love, what could be bad about smaller class sizes? The benefits of smaller class sizes are valuable, but smaller isn’t always better. We’ll look at examples from around the world that demonstrate that it’s possible for a class to be too small.
Overview of Law #36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge Sometimes it’s better to ignore things. You’ll make small problems worse, make yourself look bad, and give your enemy attention he doesn’t deserve if you respond to a minor provocation. By not showing interest, you maintain your superiority.
Overview of Law #35: Master the Art of Timing Anticipate the ebb and flow of power. Recognize when the time is right, and align yourself with the right side. Be patient and wait for your moment when you know you’ll benefit in the long run. Master the art of timing. When it’s time to make your end move against an opponent, strike without hesitation.
Overview of Law #34: Be Royal in Your Own Fashion Act like royalty and people will treat you that way. Project dignity and supreme confidence that you’re destined for great things. If you demand a high price, people will think you’re worth it; you’ll accrue power and respect.
Overview of Law #33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew Everyone has a weakness, a hole in his armor, a thumbscrew. It’s usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need, or a secret pleasure. Once found, it’s leverage that you can use to your advantage.