The Silverback's Guide
The Ninety Principles
What are the ninety principles of the Silverback?
Chapter 21 of the Expanded Manifesto, 'The Silverback Code - Ninety Principles to Practise': ten short principles for each of the nine arenas, numbered 1 to 90 and grouped by arena.
The chapter's own subtitle is 'Nine arenas. Ten principles each. Something useful to return to.' The lines are short so you can remember the point when life interrupts, which also means they cannot know your circumstances. Principle 1: 'Keep promises within your control, and tell people early when circumstances change what you can deliver.' Principle 82: 'Verify important identities through independently found contact details, rather than links or numbers inside unexpected messages.' The book's warning comes first, though: 'Do not turn this into ninety reasons you are failing.' Pick one that connects to something happening now, try it, and review what happened.
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What this covers
01
Being a Man, 1 to 10: promises, accepting help, the standard you keep in private
02
Money, 11 to 20: what comes in and what is owed, total costs, how an investment can lose money
03
Selling, 21 to 30: needs first, clear offers, respecting a clear refusal
04
Conflict, 31 to 40: safety first, specific behaviour rather than character, useful pauses
05
Bullies, 41 to 50: safety before a clever comeback, records kept safely, no laughter for humiliation
06
Dating, 51 to 60: honest presentation, consent, accepting rejection without bargaining
07
Divorce, 61 to 70: advice for your circumstances, children kept out of adult disputes, following orders
08
Leadership, 71 to 80: clear expectations, owning decisions, sharing credit accurately
09
Spotting a Con, 81 to 90: slowing down under urgency and secrecy, independent checks, no mockery for the deceived
The Silverback says
The sign can stay on the wall. Just make sure the bloke standing underneath it is doing his share of the work.
Book One · The lead volume
The Silverback's Guide
Nine arenas. One code. A standard worth practising.
The lead volume and the foundation of the first ten books. The code, the map of all nine arenas and ninety principles to practise, in one place.
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Questions about the ninety principles
Are the ninety principles in every book?+
The ninety are in the Expanded Manifesto. Each companion volume carries its own longer set: fifty principles in Being a Man, forty golden rules in Money & Investing, fifty golden rules in Selling, forty scripts and thirty laws in Conflict, fifty comebacks rated for comedy (not safety) in Bullies, fifty pickup lines rated for comedy and ten conversations worth having in Dating, forty laws of marriage preservation in Divorce, fifty laws in Leadership and fifty laws in Spotting a Con.
How should I use them?+
One at a time. The chapter's field drill: write down the number of one principle connected to a problem you are facing now, translate it into an action you can actually take, then check what changed. 'You do not need ninety new rules running your day.'
Can I get the list on its own?+
It is chapter 21 of the manifesto, with the nine arena chapters around it. The principles are prompts for judgement, not individual legal, financial or health advice, and the book's advice is to 'Go back to the relevant chapter when you need the reasoning around the line.'
The Nine Arenas
Which arena is on fire?
01
Being a Man
Character, purpose and the daily work of becoming dependable, including asking for help.
The field manual →
02
Money
Habits, risk and financial decisions, from the bottom of the world.
The field manual →
03
Selling
Listening, explaining value and following through. Remember the person across the table.
The field manual →
04
Conflict
Difficult conversations, composure and repair, without demanding the last word.
The field manual →
05
Bullies
From the sandpit to the nursing home. Strength without becoming another bully.
The field manual →
06
Dating
Honesty, curiosity, consent and rejection. Meet people without an exhausting performance.
The field manual →
07
Divorce
Separation, children and rebuilding. Keep your head and protect what matters.
The field manual →
08
Leadership
Decisions, responsibility and listening. The standard others experience.
The field manual →
09
Spotting a Con
Pressure, flattery and missing information. Pause before committing.
The field manual →
All 9
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- ✓ The Silverback's Guide to Spotting a Con
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