GETTING WHAT YOU WANT --- THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF RATIONAL LIVING
by Robert J. Ringer. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2000
    INTRODUCTION (p1-4)

        [2] The basis of trust (p46-47)

        Trust is the lubricant for human relations. Without it, the mechanisms of interaction are damaged and grind to a stop!

        The only prudent way to run an organization is to insist that people tell the truth --- to each other, to suppliers, to clients, and to the government.

          Truth has to be one of the leading values of any organization that values its own existence.

          What you must always do is be true to your deepest instincts about what the truth is and how it can best be used as the basis for your actions. Respecting the TRUTH, caring for it, and nurturing it in an organization is not just the job of top administrators --- although they should always lead the way and set the example. It is the job of everybody.
        [3] The truth about excellence --- a powerful idea (p48-66)

      1) PRINCIPLE #1 --- Base your actions on truth! (p5-36)

        The world according to you!

        Human beings have debated the ultimate purpose of life throughout recorded history. You could make a persuasive argument that the ultimate purpose of life is to search for truth. I say "search" rather than "find," because to find truth in the broadest sense of the word would mean that you would have to know everything. (p5)

        As people have been educated about our court systems through recent high-profile celebrity cases, they have discovered, to their considerable dismay, that a legal trial is not a search for truth. The reason this reality has been such a surprise to most people is because truth is the very foundation not only of the legal systems of the Western world, but of life itself! (p5-6)

        Truth is the ultimate certitude. Without truth as a foundation, life as we know it could not exist. (p6)

        Happily, "getting what you want in life" is not about courtroom justice. It is about you! Therefore, even if the whole world goes insane, you have a holy responsibility to yourself to perpetually search for truth. When all about you are losing their heads (from Kipling's famous poem, If), the surest way to keep yours is to be vigilant about basing your actions on the truth. (p6)

    QUESTION EVERYTHING,
    EVEN IF IT REPRESENTS GENERATIONS
    OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM.     (p7)

        [1] Level 1 --- ULTIMATE TRUTH (p7-10)

        [2] Level 2 --- SCIENTIFIC TRUTH (p10-12)

        [3] Level 3 --- SECULAR TRUTH (p12-35)

          "Secular truth" is the way the world works. "Ultimate truth" is very personal in nature, and "scientific truth" is not something most people have to consciously think about in their daily lives. But each of us has to deal with secular truth every day. We therefore have to have a reasonably good ability to deciphering secular truth by ourselves and for ourselves. (p12)

    THE PATH TO PLEASURE IS PAVED WITH
    CORRECT PREMISES AND ASSUMPTIONS, WHICH
    IN TURN LEAD TO CORRECT PERCEPTIONS.     (p14)

      2) PRINCIPLE #2 --- Focus on value, not entitlements (p37-70)

        Get a life

      3) PRINCIPLE #3 --- Make choices with civility, dignity, honesty, and humility (p71-100)

        Character of the soul

      4) PRINCIPLE #4 --- Avoid those who drain your personal resources (p101-144)

        People taxes

      5) PRINCIPLE #5 --- Rid yourself of major encumbrances (p145-188)

        Freedom from

      6) PRINCIPLE #6 --- Develop the self-discipline to act (p189-214)

        Tough choices

      7) PRINCIPLE #7 --- Learn from bad breaks, and move on (p215-244)

        Injustice for all

    ATTITUDE --- THE ENDGAME (p245-258)
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