The Lucifer Principle

In the section, "How Hatred Builds the Walls of Society's Bungalow," Howard Bloom explains that hatred, frustration, anger, hostility, and jealousy are the building blocks of nature. As a 19 year old kid, I could relate to this notion because I have seen it throughout my life. On a macrocosmic level, this is very common throughout men. Men take their roles in groups and build networks in order to become more powerful. They clash with other groups because they know that they need others to achieve the best status possible. These group develop into super social organisms and try to overpower any other group at whatever cost. We are preprogrammed by natural selection to be savage and brutal. On the other hand, the microcosmic aspect of this chapter includes every person in the world. People are always looking to be better than the person next to them. This is illustrated in school, jobs, sports, etc. Anger and jealousy are building blocks for success because they emotions motivate people to work a little harder in order to raise their social status. An example of this is on the soccer field. There is usually resentment when a player is starting or playing more than you. This leads to players working harder in the offseason because they understand that they need to work if they ever want that starting spot. I love this chapter of the book because I could relate to it so much. I am constantly always looking at the person next to me and wondering what I need to do to be better than them.