The World's Best Book Summaries
Overview of Law #29: Plan All the Way to the End Make detailed plans with a clear ending. Think far ahead, take into account all possible developments, plan all the way to the end, and don’t be swayed by wishful thinking. Then pursue your plans and don’t be tempted from your path.
A surprisingly high percentage (one study says ⅓) of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders are dyslexic. Are they successful in their careers despite their dyslexia or, perhaps, because of it? Is it possible that there are some dyslexia benefits? We’ll look at unexpected dyslexia benefits and examples of real-life entrepreneurs who have used their dyslexia to their advantage.
Can money buy happiness? Some might say it depends on who you ask, but social scientists might say it depends on how much you have. Learn how money affects your levels of happiness, why more isn’t necessarily better, and why more might actually be worse.
Do you get tongue-tied when asking for what you want? Do you find effective communication in negotiation difficult? You’re not alone. Many people find communication in negotiation difficult, or they find that their negotiations are unsuccessful and they don’t know why. Learn why miscommunication issues occur and what you can do to more effectively communicate in negotiations.
Overview of Law #20: Do Not Commit to Anyone Do not commit to anyone except yourself. By maintaining your independence, you remain in control — others will vie for your attention, and you can play one side against another.
Overview of Law #28: Enter Action with Boldness If you hesitate before doing something, your doubts will undermine your efforts. When you act, be bold — and if you make mistakes, correct them with even greater boldness. Everyone admires the bold.
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.