Voices in the Dark

Law 8: Make Other People Come To You, Use Bait If Necessary

Just who's in control here? Grab your insecurities and self-worth and join us as we invite you to step into our office or call on us at your earliest convenience... This law is all about controlling the terms of engagement and making sure to tip the balance of power in your favour, whatever the circumstances. Can you remain the ruler of your domain, or will you be forced onto the defensive by a more skilful player in the game of power? We delve into the interpersonal dynamics of making others come to you, asking what this means in everyday life, politics, and negotiations. Plus we delve into Jon's failures at doing relationships and personal identity crises – not to be missed!

This episodes includes:

• How to keep people 'coming to you' even when you walk onto their territory
• Keeping people off-balance by addressing their fears indirectly
• Playing a game so long that you make your opponents entrap themselves without you lifting a finger
• The benefits of stirring up others' emotions... and the need to restrain your ego to avoid the same being done to you
• The spaces between instinct and analysis; how to be comfortable with silence
• Why pickpockets put up signs warning about pickpocketing
• The importance of actually using 'Fuck You' money to say 'Fuck You'
• Hillary Clinton's less than perfect application of the Law
• How this Law plays powerfully into romantic relationships; ignore it at your peril!
• The paradoxes of anger and insecurity
• What does it mean to be a man?
• Where does your identity come from and can it ever be separate from other people's perceptions?
• The thin line between saying 'that's just the way it is' and actively promoting it
• The cardinal rules of negotiation
• The importance of having a personal code

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Once again, George R.R. Martin's amazing tale of political intrigue and human nature, A Song of Ice and Fire (aka Game of Thrones)
• The grand statesman Otto von Bismarck – the moment when we dreamt up our bestselling t-shirt featuring him surfing the current of events!
• Ronda Rousey's quick wins and shock loss
• The ancient philosophy of Stoicism – here's an excellent overview of its central values
• The Orlando Figes saga – in which he praised his own books and slandered his rivals' books on Amazon
• Where Jon finally got his piece on humour under Stalin published (sadly behind a paywall because academia is awful. If you actually want to read it, email us!)
• The West Wing's advice on how not to answer questions that might entrap you: Episode 1 of Season 7.
• Finding the right language to communicate without conflict: check out this beautiful and indispensable book on how: Changing the Conversation: The 17 Principles of Conflict Resolution
• How (not to) be Italian: Jersey Shore
• A brilliant book on duelling and conflict: The Professor in the Cage: Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch
• The card exercise we mention in which you discover the roots of your emotional behaviours: we're rewriting this and will upload it soon!

Join us as we continue our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they've either observed or transgressed them).

For all links and material: http://voicesinthedark.world/2016/07/13/make-other-peopl…power-episode-08/

For our Funny T-shirts: 48 Laws of Power T-Shirts

Law 7: Get Others To Do The Work For You, But Always Take the Credit

One of the most controversial Laws in the book, this one makes people very squeamish, evoking the same kind of moralising outrage that so often faces Machiavelli's The Prince. But all is not quite as it seems, as Jon and Dre reveal: this Law is ultimately about self-worth, escaping The Matrix, teamwork, knowing when to give as well as to take the praise, depending how far along the road to power you are… Are you ready?

This episodes includes:

• Why craving the credit can actually be a very bad idea if you want to follow this Law
• Overcoming your ego to make use of others' expertise
• When to take, but also when to give the credit away
• Breaking the informal rules to your advantage will ultimately define the norms
• Nikola Tesla as cautionary tale rather than heroic martyr
• Are we being mind-controlled by Hollywood and the media to crave official approval?
• How the book and its creation itself exemplifies this Law
• Don't assume anyone's interested in the source of your knowledge or achievements
• Google it… and deny everything
• Originality is not automatically the same as creativity
• Why humanity is actually a dwarf pyramid
• Is your power diminished if other people are inspired by you?
• The blurry lines between plagiarism, giving thanks, and appearing weak
• Be the conductor and reap the praise without anyone considering you a credit thief
• How Apple has observed the Law by stealing the idea of outstanding customer service
• How to take a compliment and why it's important to be able to

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Our coolly cutting t-shirts, Misanthrotees!
• Some of Michael Schumacher's most controversial moments in the pursuit of victory.
• Ryan Holiday's excellent and mind-changing books,The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy
• Disney does Hamlet, aka The Lion King
• The 'Blurred Lines' vs Marvin Gaye plagiarism case
• The two books on Stalin's secret police written at the same time: Policing Stalin's Socialism and Stalin's Police
• Dre was right to attribute this cool quote to Pablo Picasso: 'Good artists copy; great artists steal'.
• The Bismarck quote ('Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others' experience') is on our snazzy T-Shirt for this episode – check it out below!
• Jon's series of personal Ayahuasca vlogs, from depression to meeting Mother Ayahuasca in the Amazon

Join us as we continue our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they've either observed or transgressed them).

FULL NOTES: http://voicesinthedark.world/2016/07/07/get-others-to-do…power-episode-07/

Law 6: Court Attention At All Costs

They say all publicity is good publicity, but how do we deal with that in real life? How can we cope emotionally with others thinking ill of us? And doesn't this clash with Law 5's incitement to guard your reputation with your life? This Law presents us with an array of bizarre stories and emotional sticking-points, ranging from exotic dancers of dubious backgrounds, hiring terrible musicians to build your business, to Jon's inability to keep a consistent opinion on just about anything... and why that might be a good thing. We also dig into:

• Why it's better to be known, even if people don't like you
• Blow your own trumpet, because no one's going to blow it for you
• What's the right kind of attention to court?
• If you don't have a reputation, then publicity of any kind can work for you
• Consider Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and the Kardashians – what image/character are you trying to play?
• Why burning bright is something you cultivate, not something you're born with
• How trolling yourself can reinvigorate your work
• The power of charisma and how to pressure-flip a negative situation
• Why you have to retain an air of mystery, or everything is lost
• The danger of letting mysteriousness turn into a reputation for deceit

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Gordon Ramsay and the 'Idiot Sandwich'
• Dan Peña on how Donald Trump will 'rock the world'
• Check out Dre's self-consciousness busting performance at a bodybuilding contest!
• The amazing 'Wrestling isn't Wrestling' video – if you don't 'get' WWE, watch this
• The moment when The Rock was born
• Thomas Pynchon's
• Donna Tartt's The Secret History, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch
• Eminem's movie 8 Mile and the final rap battle

Join us as we continue our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they've either observed or transgressed them).

For All links and Notes go here: http://voicesinthedark.world/2016/04/05/court-attention-…power-episode-06/

48 Laws of Power T-Shirts

Law 5: So Much Depends On Reputation - Guard It With Your Life

Reputation can make or break you, but how can you keep control of it when it's ultimately all about the opinion of other people? In this episode we set our crosshairs on the cult of 'authenticity' and explore where the line lies between creating an image and losing touch with yourself. We puzzle over the cult of social media, the importance of cat videos to our moral lives, and what pro wrestling has to teach us about being genuine. We also dig into:

• How having a reputation can be a self-fulfilling prophecy... for better or for worse
• Can you be generous with your reputation to help others, or does it always backfire?
• Why we can never truly know another person
• Why Edison lost to Tesla on paper, but won in the long-run
• The dangers of pettiness, and the slippery slope towards it
• If you don't craft how other people see you, they'll paint the picture for themselves
• Why you can be completely honest but still be seen as a liar
• Jon's top tip for first dates
• Why you should have multiple reputations and use the right one for the right context
• Why curating your online reputation is often at the cost of real life interactions, and is usually BS anyway
• Authenticity versus performance
• Is it OK to like someone's art if they're also a horrible person?

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Mikhail Bakhtin's idea of the 'alien landscape' of other person's mind features in The Dialogic Imagination.
• The quote Dre was recalling was: 'If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart' – Nelson Mandela.
• The quote Jon mentioned was from George Orwell, but was slightly different: 'The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.'
• Kanye West's somewhat maligned album, Life of Pablo.
• The movies that ruined careers: Alicia Silverstone (and others) in Batman and Robin; Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four; Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in Gigli.

Join us as we continue our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they've either observed or transgressed them).

Full Episode Notes: http://voicesinthedark.world

Get your 48 Laws of Power T-Shirts

Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary

Don't be fooled: this is a very dangerous Law in the wrong hands. What sounds like simple good manners can quickly become weaponised. Why is it powerful to say less than you need to? And why is withholding the truth good for friendships?

Climb aboard as we wantonly transgress the Law by having good long chat about 'saying less than necessary', the times we should've kept our big mouths shut, and admit how frequently we forget to ask after your kids. This revealing episode includes:

• Once you're pigeon-holed, can you escape?
• Why Tai Lopez is effective but vacuous
• How the power of manipulation lies in the silences
• Why decisions and democracy don't mix
• Apologise… but don't explain
• How being too open can drive your friends away

Join us as we continue our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they've either observed or transgressed them).

Come chat to us about this law here: http://voicesinthedark.world

Check out our T-shirts: https://misanthrotees.com

Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions

Sex and seduction, politics and warfare… This episode has all of that and more!

Disagreements emerge as Jon and Dre discuss the Third Law of Power and what it means to put up a smokescreen and keep honesty in lockdown, including:

• Sex and deception… Can you have one without the other?
• How honesty can ruin relationships
• Creating a smokescreen to hide your true desires
• Why exposing your emotions is like exposing your body
• Control your face or lose your power
• Letting your audience complete the performance for you – revel in their uncertainty
• How honesty can be a blunt instrument, hurting more than it helps anyone
• Why seduction and warfare are almost the same thing

Join us as we continue our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they've either observed or transgressed them).

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Neil Strauss's brutally honest and brilliantly written The Truth: An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships
• Robert Greene's superb (and occasionally disturbing) The Art of Seduction.
• The classic Scottish drink aware ad on how not to chat someone up.
• Putin and the Nightwolves.
• Alan Moore's graphic novel, Watchmen, plus the movie.

48 Laws of Power T-Shirts

Our website: http://voicesinthedark.world/

Our T-shirts: https://misanthrotees.com

Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends Learn How To Use Enemies

In this episode we take a look at the first of many Laws which on the surface seem to completely contradict social norms and ideas of decent behaviour: 'Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends; Learn How to Use Enemies':

• Is this just a sociopathic approach designed to get ahead in business at the expense of friendship?
• Are friends actually trustworthy, or do we always hurt the ones we love?
• Why should we separate the personal and professional?
• What does it really mean to use an 'enemy' in the 21st century?
• How vulnerable friendships can be whenever change comes along
• What The Sopranos can teach us about morality
• Why not caring about the result actually gets you the best result
• Get someone to do something nice for you… and they'll think you must be their friend
• Going beyond friendship and finding brotherhood

48 Laws of Power T-Shirts

Our website: http://voicesinthedark.world/

Our T-shirts: https://misanthrotees.com

Law 1: Never Outshine The Master

Join us as we begin our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the 'modern Machiavelli', we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.

Our website: http://voicesinthedark.world/