Why do Robert Greene’s books get so much criticism?
First of all, I understand that these books have been heavily marketed lately, and some of them may have garnered some attention in self help circles. But it’s unfair to judge a book by its alleged fan base. Think for example, of the Intelligent investor. It’s heavily recommended by university professors and well-established experts in the field of finance. It’s also heavily marketed by internet gurus and people selling courses. It doesn’t diminish the value of the books.
You can criticize Robert Greene’s writings because they blend history, psychology and storytelling and thus become neither of the three. But that’s specifically what makes them special. Greene doesn’t pretend to be a psychologist or a historian, just a talented author and an avid student of history. I feel that many people that criticize his books, especially on the internet, never actually read them. They’re the furthest thing from self help books, because they’re not meant to be manuals. Robert Greene never once wrote “follow these steps and you will be promised X” in fact, he often clearly mentions that these laws don’t always apply and may conflict with other laws in his book. He specifically advises his readers to keep an open mind and never follow any set of rules or advice blindly and adapt to the situation.
I started reading Greene’s books when I was a teenager, and throughout the years they truly helped me tremendously. Believe it or not, the 48 laws of power, the laws of human nature and the art of seduction helped me develop empathy, let go of the tendency to judge people rather than try to understand them, and this translated into real world results. In the 48 laws of power, “never outshine the master” “always say less than necessary” “work on the minds and hearts of others” “pose as a friend work as a spy” and “never commit to anyone” proved to be great and tested advice that I never regretted applying. The books can be read purely for entertainment, the way you may read a history book and get no practical education from it. It can however, serve to instill in you some general rules of thumb. It isn’t and doesn’t try to be a manual though, and this is something that many readers and critics don’t realize.
The books aren’t the first of a kind though. The 48 laws of power are heavily based on Baltasar Garcian’s writings. In fact, many of the laws are paraphrased maxims written by Garcian. What Greene does is enforce them with contemporary and ancient examples.
Ultimately, just reading his books won’t make you any more powerful than reading the Intelligent investor will make you rich.
by NeoMachiavell