Book SummaryThe Daily Laws, by Robert Greene

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Daily Laws

In The Daily Laws, Robert Greene argues that we lead our lives guided by false beliefs: We believe that chasing money will make us happy, that others always have our best interests at heart, and that our flaws are smaller than other peoples’, among other things. However, because these beliefs aren’t based in reality, they leave us miserable and unfulfilled. We one day discover that money hasn’t made us happy, that our colleague has swiped the promotion from us, and that our flaws are more significant than we thought.

Greene elaborates that in the past, humans needed to be acutely attuned to their surroundings—in other words, to their reality—to survive. Lose yourself in a daydream for a moment, and you could be a bear’s lunch. However, since we’ve conquered our environment and eliminated immediate threats to our well-being, so, too, have we eliminated our attunement to reality. This has made us prone to delusions and fantasies and susceptible to the false beliefs outlined above. Greene’s message is that **to lead a meaningful and fulfilled life, we...

The Daily Laws Summary Drop False Beliefs and Reengage With Reality

According to Greene, you can live a happier and more successful life by developing an honest and realistic perspective on the world. He argues that many of us are disconnected from reality—we're guided by false assumptions of what's important. Society floods us with ideas of how to achieve happiness, such as by earning money or becoming socially popular. Additionally, we might believe that most people share...

The Daily Laws Summary Part 1: Reconnect With Reality by Pursuing Your Unique Purpose

Greene writes that you can reconnect with reality and live with more clarity by dedicating yourself to your unique purpose. Your purpose is a task or skill that you’re naturally drawn to do. When you dedicate yourself to your unique purpose, you’ll free yourself from unimportant distractions and find a direction in life that will bring you true happiness.

(Shortform note: In Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues that there are four stages to developing your life’s purpose. The first step in pursuing your unique purpose is to meet your basic needs of survival. Second, Csikszentmihalyi encourages you to seek communities, whether it’s making meaningful connections with your family or a local club. In the third stage, you can begin to differentiate yourself and focus on identifying your personal values and strengths. Finally, Csikszentmihalyi suggests you return your focus to your communities and how you can contribute value with your unique abilities.)

Discover Your Unique Purpose

So what is your life purpose? Greene says that **chances...

The Daily Laws Summary Part 2: Control Your Reality Through Power, Persuasion, and Seduction

In addition to reconnecting with reality by pursuing your unique purpose, Greene contends you must adapt to the reality of power dynamics. According to Greene, power dynamics play a role in all areas of life. You must learn how to navigate them to get what you want and achieve success in both your personal and professional life.

Greene says we falsely believe others are kind-hearted and generally won’t deceive us for personal gain. However, the reality is that everyone seeks power to some degree, and people often resort to dishonest or manipulative tactics to get it. Greene advises you to accept that the “game” of power can’t be avoided and learn how to play it to your advantage. If you refuse to accept this reality, you risk being manipulated or sidelined.

(Shortform note: Psychologists define power as having more control over valuable resources—such as money, information, or status—than others, which allows you to be less dependent on them. How much power you have affects many aspects of your life: Studies have shown that people who feel powerful are more likely to experience positive moods, focus more on rewards (rather...

The Daily Laws Summary Part 3: Live Fully in Reality With a Rational Perspective

At this point, you’ve learned to clarify what truly matters to your life and navigate power dynamics. However, to live a happier and more fulfilling life, you must anchor yourself in the real world in the long term by developing your rationality—the ability to think clearly, see things as they are, and make decisions based on reality rather than emotions. Greene recommends three ways to be more rational.

Behave More Rationally

To view and approach your life more rationally, first learn to control your emotions. Greene explains that it takes more effort to think rationally than emotionally—emotions are strong and cause us to react quickly, preventing us from making rational decisions. The first step in controlling your emotions is to accept this truth of human nature. Because we are human, we all have flaws, inaccurate beliefs, and emotional compulsions, such as the desire to be liked or gain approval. When you acknowledge these tendencies, you gain the awareness and distance to better manage them.

(Shortform note: In Awaken the Giant Within, Tony Robbins says that you can [better control your emotions in the...

Shortform Exercise: Identify Your Unique Purpose

According to Greene, having a unique purpose allows you to reconnect with reality by directing you toward what truly matters. Reflect on your passions and interests to find your purpose.

Think back to your childhood. What natural interests did you have? Are you interested in the same things now?

Shortform Exercise: Craft Your Powerful Appearance

Your appearance influences how other people view you and, consequently, how much power you have over them. Brainstorm ways you can craft a more powerful appearance.

First, you must create a strong reputation. List a unique quality that you can build your reputation around. How might you highlight this quality more in your social interactions?