Human Nature has been on my mind lately because I’m in the middle of an Audible book, The Laws of Human Nature, by Robert Greene. I can’t enthusiastically recommend it—it is an unusual book and unusually long (over 28 hours), and the paperback is 624 pages. It is, nonetheless, an interesting take on the laws of human nature that, whether we know it or not, shape most of our actions.
My main objection to Mr. Greene’s book is his overly pessimistic interpretation of the motivations or interpretations of human behavior. I believe he writes through the lens of someone who does not believe noble causes, intentions, or good deeds ever exist altruistically. I don’t think Mr. Greene could accept a simple “good morning” without attributing the salutation to a devious, power-hungry human’s attempt to lower your defenses so as to rule over you. His book can sometimes be very dark—Machiavelli would be proud. But, thanks to my father’s influence, I had to finish the thing since I had paid “good money” for the book.
But this is a financial newsletter, not a book review. So, let me move on to how human nature affects our financial planning and investing. Read More