Psychology | Human Behaviour | Life Lessons
5 Books That Contain More Knowledge Than a Psychology Degree
One author has a spell on me
I’m into psychology. I’m into self-improvement. I like bridging technology and psychology to increase my network topology.
In mid-2023, I set a goal to read an hour daily. Upon discovering Medium, I expanded my reading time to exceed that goal. I love reading. It’s the ultimate workout for your mind.
Our brains are built for continual social interaction. Involving yourself less with others has a negative effect on the brain and atrophies your social muscle. Whether you like it or not, developing social skills is essential in today’s attention-deficit culture.
Psychology arms you with tools to navigate the complex and nebulous nature of human behaviour.
So let’s get into it! 3 of these books come from one of my favorite human beings ever, Robert Greene:
1) The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene
I love how the author takes you through the annals of history to describe the principles outlined in this book. Would you believe that this book is banned from American prison libraries.
It’s captivating. It’s amoral. Power exists in the world. This book teaches you how to arm yourself from manipulation. My main takeaway is that the majority of people are self-absorbed. Self interest is the lever that will move most people.
“Keep your iron fist in a velvet glove”
Napoleon Bonaparte
2) Mastery, by Robert Greene
I love this book. I will commit to reading this at least once a year. Why? It’s inspiring. It urges you to discover your life’s task and takes you on a captivating journey through the stories of past masters such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Mozart, Benjamin Franklin, Temple Grandin, Marcel Proust.
Your epiphany can occur at any age. The fertile, prepared mind can take advantage of serendipity when it comes calling. You must cultivate that inner voice inside you that is nudging you towards your life’s task. Masters become masters because they are willing to sit through tedium to develop and hone their craft.
“Let us state it in the following way: At your birth a seed is planted. That seed is your uniqueness. It wants to grow, transform itself, and flower to its full potential. It has a natural, assertive energy to it. Your Life’s Task is to bring that seed to flower, to express your uniqueness through your work. You have a destiny to fulfill. The stronger you feel and maintain it—as a force, a voice, or in whatever form-the greater your chance for fulfilling this Life’s Task and achieving mastery.”
Robert Greene
3) The Laws of Human Nature, by Robert Greene
If you understand yourself and others around you deeply, you unlock a universe of possibilities. It took me a long time to read this one and for good reason. I believe it may have taken Greene 20 years to research and write this book. I really enjoyed reading about the backgrounds of various people in this book such as Martin Luther King, Mary Shelley, Anton Chekhov, to name a few.
Human nature is omnipresent because we are surrounded by other people almost all the time. It is an honest appraisal of our species, dissecting who we are so we can operate with visceral awareness.
Similar to Mastery, I will definitely be revisiting this one.
“Man will only become better when you make him see what he is like”
Anton Chekhov
4) Surrounded by Idiots, by Thomas Erikson
The author describes how there are four main behaviour types using the DISA method — Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Analytic ability. He groups these traits into colours — Reds who are dominant and commanding, Yellows who are social and optimistic, Greens who are laid back and friendly, and Blues who are analytical and precise — and explains practical tips on interacting with others who are different than yourself. I found it very enlightening.
“We see what we do, but we do not see why we do what we do. Thus, we assess and appraise each other through what we see that we do.”
Carl Jung
5) Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith
Dr. Julie Smith, a clinical psychologist from the UK is a social media sensation. I follow her on Instagram. She has a huge following and for good reason. When she released this book, I didn’t hesitate to buy it. In this best selling book she articulates how to navigate life’s challenges and take charge of your mental health.
I love how Dr. Julie provides summaries for each chapter in case you want to skim-read a section. If you struggle with mental health, then this book is for you. And even if you don’t have anxiety, depression, or anything else, you’ll probably find her book useful!
“Thoughts are not facts. They are a mix of opinions, judgements, stories, memories, theories, interpretations, and predictions about the future.”
Dr. Julie Smith
There are many more psychology books I could add, and who knows how many must-read books that I myself have never heard of? I honestly don’t even want to think about it!
I hope I was able to stir up your curiosity a little bit by recommending these. Do let me know your thoughts in the comment section.
