Overview
In The Twelve Universal Laws of Success, Herbert Harris argues that success is not random or reserved for lucky people. Instead, he believes that twelve timeless principles govern how we achieve our goals, build relationships, and create the lives we want. I like this book because it takes big ideas about success and breaks them down into clear, learnable rules anyone can follow.
Harris draws from philosophy, psychology, and his own experience to show how laws like attraction, cause and effect, and reciprocity shape our daily results. The beauty of this approach is that you don't need special talent or perfect circumstances. You just need to understand these laws and start working with them instead of against them. Throughout this page, I'll show you what each law means and how to use it in real situations.
My Take: The 12-Week Success Protocol
Most people read about these twelve laws and feel inspired, but then they try to use all of them at once and end up overwhelmed. I wanted this summary to feel more like a 12-week protocol where you master one law each week instead of juggling all of them at the same time. As you read, I'll keep suggesting small experiments you can run with each principle, treating your life like a lab where you test what actually works.
I think of these laws as a toolkit for daily decisions. When I face a tough choice or feel stuck, I ask myself, "Which law am I ignoring right now?" Sometimes it's the law of cause and effect telling me I need to change my actions, or the law of giving reminding me to help someone first before expecting anything back. You can use this same system to diagnose problems and find solutions faster than just guessing and hoping.
Key Takeaways
Success Follows Universal Laws
For me, the core idea is that success is not accidental. Harris shows that the same principles work for everyone, everywhere, regardless of background or resources. When I align my actions with these laws, I get better results, and when I ignore them, I struggle. It's that simple and that powerful.
You Attract What You Are
The law of attraction says you don't get what you want, you get what you are. If I want loyal friends, I need to be loyal first. If I want respect at work, I need to respect others and myself. This law reminded me that my outer world mirrors my inner state, so changing my results starts with changing myself.
Small Actions Compound Over Time
The book helped me see that every action creates a ripple. The law of cause and effect means that what I do today shapes what happens tomorrow, next month, and next year. I can't always see the results right away, but consistent small actions in the right direction always add up to something significant.
Give First, Receive Later
The law of giving flips the usual approach to getting what you want. Instead of asking "What can I get?" Harris says I should ask "What can I give?" When I help others, share knowledge, or offer support without expecting anything back, I create goodwill that eventually returns to me in unexpected ways.
Master One Law at a Time
The hopeful part is that I don't need to apply all twelve laws perfectly starting tomorrow. I can focus on one law for a week, practice it in real situations, and then move to the next one. Over twelve weeks, I build a strong foundation that changes how I think and act in every area of my life.
The Twelve Laws (Simple Breakdown)
Law 1: The Law of Thinking
Harris starts by explaining that thoughts shape reality. What you think about consistently becomes your beliefs, and your beliefs guide your actions. If I spend all day thinking about failure and problems, my brain will find evidence to support that story. But if I train my mind to focus on solutions and opportunities, I start to see them everywhere.
Law 2: The Law of Supply
This law says the universe has more than enough for everyone. Scarcity is a mindset, not a fact. When I believe there's plenty of opportunity, money, love, and success to go around, I stop competing and start collaborating. I also stop hoarding and start sharing because I trust that more will come.
Law 3: The Law of Attraction
Here, Harris teaches that like attracts like. If I radiate negativity, I draw negative people and situations into my life. If I radiate positivity, confidence, and kindness, I attract the same energy back. This law reminds me to pay attention to the energy I'm putting out, not just the results I want to receive.
Law 4: The Law of Receiving
This law says that you must be open to receive what the universe offers. Many people block their own blessings by feeling unworthy, suspicious, or afraid of owing someone. Harris taught me that receiving gracefully is just as important as giving, and that saying "thank you" without guilt or strings is a skill I need to practice.
Law 5: The Law of Increase
The law of increase says that praising and appreciating something makes it grow. If I focus on what's working in my life and celebrate small wins, those things expand. If I only complain about what's broken, I give energy to the problems instead of the solutions. This law pushes me to look for what I can appreciate today, even when things are hard.
Law 6: The Law of Compensation
Harris explains that you are compensated for the value you provide. If I want to earn more money, I need to create more value for others. If I want deeper friendships, I need to invest more time and care. This law is simple: the more I give in terms of quality, service, and effort, the more I receive in return.
Law 7: The Law of Non-Resistance
This law teaches that resistance creates suffering. When I fight reality or refuse to accept what is, I waste energy and make things harder. Acceptance doesn't mean giving up, it means seeing the situation clearly so I can respond wisely instead of reacting emotionally. I've learned to ask, "What is this trying to teach me?" instead of "Why is this happening to me?"
Law 8: The Law of Forgiveness
Harris says that holding grudges only hurts you. The law of forgiveness is about letting go of anger and resentment so you can move forward with peace. Forgiveness doesn't mean the other person was right, it means I'm choosing freedom over bitterness. When I forgive, I free up energy I can use to build something better.
Law 9: The Law of Sacrifice
This law explains that you must give up the lesser to gain the greater. If I want to build a business, I might sacrifice some free time. If I want to get healthy, I might sacrifice junk food. Harris helped me see that every goal requires a trade-off, and success depends on my willingness to let go of what's holding me back.
Law 10: The Law of Obedience
The law of obedience says that you must follow the rules to get the results. If I want to build muscle, I have to obey the laws of exercise and nutrition. If I want financial freedom, I have to obey the laws of money management. Harris reminds me that shortcuts and shortcuts don't work because universal laws don't bend for anyone.
Law 11: The Law of Success
Here, Harris defines success as the progressive realization of a worthy goal. Success is not a destination you reach one day, it's the daily act of moving toward something that matters. If I'm working toward a meaningful goal, I'm already successful, even if I haven't "arrived" yet. This law takes pressure off perfection and puts focus on consistent progress.
Law 12: The Law of Cause and Effect
The final law ties everything together by saying that every effect has a cause. Nothing in my life is random. My current results are the effects of past actions, and my future results will be the effects of what I do today. This law gives me power because it means I can change my outcomes by changing my actions right now.
Main Concepts
The Laws Work Together, Not Separately
Once I understood all twelve laws, I realized they're not isolated rules. They overlap and reinforce each other. For example, the law of thinking shapes what I attract, and the law of giving influences how much I receive. Harris shows that success is not about mastering one trick, it's about understanding how these principles form a complete system for living well.
You Can't Violate the Laws Without Consequences
One thing I appreciate about this book is its honesty. Harris doesn't promise instant results or magic shortcuts. Instead, he explains that ignoring these laws always leads to struggle, while respecting them leads to flow and progress. If I plant bad seeds (negative thoughts, selfish actions, resistance to change), I will harvest bad fruit. But if I plant good seeds consistently, the harvest is guaranteed.
Small Daily Choices Create Your Future
The most practical insight for me is that these laws show up in tiny daily decisions. Do I complain or appreciate? Do I resist or accept? Do I hoard or share? Harris helped me see that I don't need to overhaul my entire life at once. I just need to make slightly better choices each day, knowing the laws will amplify those choices over time.
How to Apply the Ideas This Week
I don't want you to just read this and feel inspired for ten minutes. Here are some small, practical ways I use these laws in my own life. Pick one or two to try this week and see what shifts for you.
- Choose one law to focus on. Don't try to master all twelve at once. Pick one law that resonates with your current challenge, maybe the law of attraction if you feel stuck in negativity, or the law of giving if you want better relationships. Spend this week noticing how that law shows up in your daily life.
- Run a small experiment. If you choose the law of giving, commit to helping three people this week with no expectation of anything back. If you choose the law of increase, write down three things you appreciate every morning. Treat it like a test to see what happens when you align with that law.
- Track cause and effect. At the end of each day, write one action you took and one result you noticed. Over time, you'll see patterns between your choices and your outcomes. This simple practice makes the law of cause and effect feel real instead of abstract.
- Ask better questions. When something goes wrong, instead of blaming luck or other people, ask "Which law did I ignore?" When something goes right, ask "Which law was I honoring?" These questions turn every experience into a lesson about how the laws work.
Memorable Quotes
"You don't get in life what you want, you get what you are."
"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal."
"Every action has a reaction, every cause has an effect."
"The universe operates on a system of laws, not a system of luck."
Who I Think Should Read This Book
- Anyone feeling stuck or frustrated: If your current approach to success isn't working, this book gives you a new framework based on timeless principles instead of trendy tactics.
- People who like structure and systems: If you prefer clear rules and logical cause-and-effect thinking over vague motivation, these twelve laws will give you a roadmap you can trust.
- Entrepreneurs and business owners: If you're building something from scratch, understanding laws like compensation, giving, and attraction will help you create value and grow sustainably.
- Personal development fans: If you've read a lot of self-help but still feel scattered, this book connects the dots and shows how different principles fit together into one complete system.
- Anyone who wants lasting change: If you're tired of short-term fixes and want to build habits and mindsets that create long-term success, these universal laws provide a solid foundation.
What Other Readers Are Saying
I always check what other readers think before diving deep into a book. On Goodreads, The Twelve Universal Laws of Success has a rating of around 4.1 out of 5 stars from several hundred readers. Many reviewers say the book is straightforward, easy to understand, and practical for everyday use. Some readers appreciate that Harris doesn't use complicated language or academic theories, he just explains each law clearly and moves on.
On Amazon, the book holds a rating of approximately 4.8 out of 5 stars across various editions. Common themes in reviews include that the laws are timeless, the book is quick to read, and the principles work when applied consistently. A few readers mention that the book is short and some concepts feel basic, but even those reviewers often say the simplicity is part of what makes it useful because you can actually remember and apply what you learn.
- Read reviews on Amazon: The Twelve Universal Laws of Success on Amazon
- Read reviews on Goodreads: The Twelve Universal Laws of Success on Goodreads
Final Thoughts
For me, the biggest gift of The Twelve Universal Laws of Success is that it turns success into something I can understand and practice every single day. Instead of hoping things work out or blaming circumstances, I can ask myself, "Am I honoring these laws or fighting them?" That one shift makes me feel less like a victim of chance and more like a student of principles that always work when applied correctly.
If you use this summary as a 12-week protocol, focusing on one law at a time and running small experiments, you'll walk away with more than knowledge. You'll have a tested, personal understanding of how these laws show up in your own life, and you'll know exactly which principles to lean on when you face new challenges. That's the real power of universal laws: they don't change based on mood or trends, so once you learn them, you have them forever.
Ready to Apply the Universal Laws?
If this summary helped you, the full book is worth reading slowly, one law at a time, with a notebook ready to track your experiments. You can use it as a 12-week guide to master each principle and see real changes in your life.
Get The Twelve Universal Laws of Success on Amazon