Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I would like to thank Anna Biller for her
assistance on so many aspects of this book—including her deft
editing, the endless insightful ideas she supplied me during our
discussions, and all the love and support during the writing.
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5:03
Meditate on Our Common Mortality
Meditate on Our Common Mortality
The Law of Death Denial
Most of us spend our lives avoiding the thought of death. Instead,
the inevitability of death should be continually on our minds.
Understanding the shortness of life fills us with a sense of purpose
and urgency to realize our goals.
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Seize the Historical Moment
Seize the Historical Moment
The Law of Generational Myopia
You are born into a generation that defines who you are more than
you can imagine.
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See the Hostility Behind the Friendly Facade
See the Hostility Behind the Friendly Facade
The Law of Aggression
On the surface, the people around you appear so polite and
civilized. But beneath the mask, they are all inevitably dealing
with frustrations
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Make Them Want to Follow You
Make Them Want to Follow You
The Law of Fickleness
Although styles of leadership change with the times, one constant
remains: people are always ambivalent about those in power.
Introduction
If you come across any special trait of meanness or stupidity . . . you must be
careful not to let it annoy or distress you, but to look upon it merely as an
addition to your knowledge—a new fact to be considered in studying the
character of humanity. Your attitude towards it will be that of the mineralogist who stumbles upon a very characteristic specimen of a mineral.
—Arthur Schopenhauer
Portugal