The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the principle of legitimacy? And why should you pay special attention to it if you’re a police officer, government worker, manager, or employer? The principle of legitimacy states that a government’s ability to govern is based on its perceived legitimacy. If the public perceives the government as illegitimate, it will rebel. Learn why the principle of legitimacy is so important and how it can dramatically lower crime rates.
Is more of something good always better? The inverted-U graph says no, not always. An inverted-U graph is a curve that models the point at which something “good,” like money or effort, starts to make a situation worse. Learn why it’s useful in predicting the point at which you might have too much of a good thing.
Who was André Trocmé? And what can we learn from him about finding the advantages of disadvantages? André Trocmé was a French pastor who preached pacifism and saved thousands of Jews during the Nazi occupation. We’ll cover why André Trocmé and the townspeople of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon had the courage to stand up to the government, and what you can learn from his life story.
Overview of Law #27: Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following People desperately want to believe in something. Offer them a cause to follow. Promise the world but keep it vague; whip up enthusiasm. Mimic a religious structure with a hierarchy, rituals, and requests for sacrifice (donations). Create a cultlike following. You’ll have untold power over your followers, who will worship you.
Overview of Law 13: Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to Their Mercy When you need help from someone in a position of power, don’t talk about your needs or something you did for them in the past. Instead, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy. They’ll be glad to help if they’ll get something important to them in return.
Does negotiating work in extreme situations? Is negotiating with terrorists effective? Many Western governments refuse to negotiate with terrorists, or at least say they do. This may be a mistake. Learn why negotiating with terrorists is usually the best option a government has, even when it’s a bad option.
Overview of Law #19: Know Who You’re Dealing With—Do Not Offend the Wrong Person There are many different kinds of people, and each will react differently to attempts to deceive them. You need to know who you’re dealing with and avoid the types who will waste your time or exact revenge.
Who was Otto von Bismarck? How did he keep his power in a rapidly-changing Europe? What can he teach us about maintaining power? Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian diplomat and politician who controlled German foreign affairs for 30 years in the mid- to late-1800s. We’ll cover what made Otto von Bismarck so powerful and how you can apply those lessons to your relationships and careers.
Overview of Law #17: Keep Others in Suspense: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability Because people crave predictability and a sense of control, you can throw others off balance and even terrify them by cultivating an air of unpredictability. While your opponents are stressing themselves out by trying the explain and anticipate what you’re doing, you can achieve your objectives almost unnoticed.
What is positional bargaining? And why should you avoid it? Positional bargaining is a negotiation tactic in which each side defends its position and bargains to reach a compromise. Learn why positional bargaining is an ineffective strategy and how to increase your chances of success in negotiations.