The 48 Laws of Power
Description
In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.
Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.
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Reviews (9)
9 reviews for The 48 Laws of Power
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Richard –
Das Buch ist einerseits eine gute Form aufzuzeigen, wie andere Menschen uns im Alltag manipulieren können und wir uns selbst davcor schützen können, andererseits gibt das Buch einem einen speztifischen Leitfaden, wie man andere Menschen gnadenlos ausnutzt um seine eigenen Ziele zu erreichen, was ich äuserst kritisch zu betrachten finde. Dennoch faszinierte mich das Buch und gab mir Einblicke in das menschliche Denken und Verhaltensweisen. Daher finde ikch das Buch super gelungen. Es ist nur wichtig zu betonen, dass man einige der Ratschläge aus diesem Buch nicht in jeder Situation seines Lebens anwenden sollte, um toxischen Verhaltensmustern zu entgehen. Wenn Menschgen erst einmal in so eine defensive gelangen und ihr eigenes Leben im Angriffs und Verteidigungs Modus spielen, wird es nicht lebenswert. Daher bleibt euch bitte immer selbst treu, egal wie sehr euch eine Handlung dieser Richgtung auch zum Erfolg verhelfen mag.
Julie A. –
This isn’t a book for you if you expect to read it and suddenly become president, it is a book for you if you expect to read it and allow it to shape your character to be fit for president.
This book is a collection of “laws” the author has observed from personal experience, alongside historical accounts and various interviews. The book generally follows this format: Introduction to the law, example of a the law being followed, interpretation behind that, broken, interpretation behind that, and a “key to power. This also has notes throughout the pages in red text, some of them are certainly distracting, but overall I think they’re a good addition and easily ignorable if you don’t like them.
The laws themselves are applicable to life, but you have to put some thought behind it. the first law is rather simple, especially for my current context of adhering to it “Never outshine the master” I’m in College, so I should make sure I don’t make the professors feel challenged or rivaled. Others will need thought, selective absence immediately makes you think of physical presence, but in college it’s not ideal to skip. As such classroom and social presence are good interpretations. I’ve found that reading the laws, typing them out, and then interpreting to your circumstances is the best way to really understand the inherent value behind them, and think of more creative ways to use them.
This book may seem like an edgy book teenaged boys buy while day dreaming of angst, rebellion, riches or whatever it may be, and there’s truth to that. But it’s also a very grounded interpretation of social dynamics all through life. In personal relationships, business, even social media. It’s worth a read, if nothing else, so you can spot and understand when they’re done to you.
10/10 book
Creative Reviews –
My son wanted The 48 Laws of Power to be part of his library collection, and I can see why. This book is a deep dive into the dynamics of power, influence, and strategy, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to understand human behavior and relationships, especially in the context of leadership and personal growth. Robert Greene’s writing is engaging and filled with historical examples that bring each law to life.
While the book can be intense and, at times, controversial with its candid approach to power dynamics, it’s an excellent resource for building a strategic mindset. It’s not just for business or political leaders—it offers practical advice for navigating personal relationships and decision-making as well.
It’s definitely a thought-provoking read, and my son is already finding it to be a worthwhile addition to his collection. If you’re interested in mastering the art of influence, this book is a must-read!
Matthias Rochlitzer –
The 48 Laws of Power offers an intriguing exploration of power and strategy. Greene’s historical examples and practical advice make it a compelling read for those interested in understanding human behavior and influence. A thought-provoking book that challenges conventional wisdom.
Jaydon B –
Readable but its not in a perfect condition. I guess it’s not worth the wait to return the book and receive a new one. Can’t wait to start reading!
PS : poor packaging @Amazon
Sudhakar kadiyala –
I recommend reading 1 law per day, as there is A Lot to digest, and you need to absorb what your read before going to the next chapter.
Jaydon B –
Every one of us secretly desire to hold Power.As human beings we always wish to have our way and expect other’s to follow us and holding power is the best means in having our way.It instills fear or awe in others,making most of the job easier, and the great feeling of wow! — as nothing can be more stronger or powerful .The 48 laws of Power by Robert Greene is all about
gaining Power by various means and enjoying its fruits .The laws are defined by taking key points from the ancient past to that of the modern day world, where the laws mentioned are followed by various references to the people who attained power through different means viz fighting wars,ruling ruthlessly,conning successfully,leaving a mark of their own through painting,writing and so on.These references help to understand the laws of gaining power in different ways as well as act as a tip to the readers in guarding against falling prey to scams and tricks.The laws while dwelling deep in to the human nature,brings out various aspects of manipulation,selfishness,deceit,treachery,back stabbing,masking the real intent ,conning,tricking and many more things.These laws act as a tool in understanding the mind games being played in different situations at different places by different people.On hindsight when I look into my past,I personally felt the laws giving me the clarity,much to my satisfaction and perhaps may aid in my future decisions.The stories like that of Arnold and Slack (P158,L21) or Sheriff Richard’s and Lustig (the conman (P74,L9))are not only informative but much fun to read.and laugh.
A book that increases your knowledge of power,subtle actions of the people around and their nuanced meaning behind it.Ultimately though the laws reflect individuals personal benefit and even show the ‘basic instincts’ , of humans in seeking power but also enrich the readers with knowledge of power I.e the power to see through the masked faces of others and act .A book that fills the reader’s with admiration and respect for the writer for the enormous amount of information and the profound meaning behind each law. A ‘must-read’, book to be read multiple times to understand the Power. and finally,quoting one of my favourite quote mentioned in the book (L19,pg-138) — “When you meet a swordsman.draw your sword.Do not recite poetry to one who is not a poet.
Creative Reviews –
Introduction:
Today’s world is full of individuals who will lie, cheat, and steal to take the clothes off your back. They will go to any length to manipulate you or others around you, twisting the truth and bending others to their every whim. Undoubtedly, ‘you’ who is drawn to this book, have experienced the misfortune of being victimized by one of these individuals.
Perhaps you have thought to yourself…
“They’re always 2 steps ahead!”
“Somehow, they made ‘me’ look like the bad guy!”
“Eventually they’re going to get fired for this!”
You always find yourself playing defense, you never know what they’re going to do next, and you simply cannot understand why another person would be so horrible.
Take your power back – Read this book!
“What is good? All that heightens the feeling of power in man…” – Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Antichrist. 1888.
Synopsis:
The 48 Laws of Power is a book comprised of tactics, concepts, and lessons which successfully created or maintained power. Supported with stories from history, both modern and ancient, from the most powerful people and empires which have ever existed, each chapter is crammed page to page with value. For 430 pages you will be inundated with information which is crucial for all of life’s situations where power plays a dynamic (work, social hierarchies, politics, etc.). Written with “the old aristocratic courts” as the backdrop and Machiavelli to set the scenery, this book contends with our darkest inner thoughts during our least favorite interactions with those who have more power than us.
Things I love:
Writing – The writing is very casual so that it is available to the widest possible audience. It can be read easily, flowing almost as smoothly as regular conversation. You will not be left wondering what a word meant or stopping yourself to grab a dictionary.
Printing – This book has some extremely creative printing, placing supporting stories, poems, proverbs and more in the margin and printing “images” using text at the end of each law for visualizing a concept. I have not seen anything similar in a formal book like this.
Information – Clearly all 48 Laws took an extremely long time to compile and write. You simply cannot comb the annals of history for compelling stories, retelling them concisely, in a brief period of time. This book is a labor of love, and it shows in every chapter.
Originality – This book comes off as very genuine and creative. Everything about it from the cover, the red text inside, the formatting, it’s all unique. You can tell a lot of thought was put forth to conceptualize this work.
Who Should Listen Instead of Read:
Relevant to everyone, “The 48 Laws of Power” is excellent, however I believe there are a few people who would not enjoy their time reading this book.
– If you do not enjoy reading or learning history, this book will be difficult for you. The main content of the text consists of historical examples. The book is of medium length at 430 pages, so if this sounds like you, consider switching to audio.
– As mentioned above the text is 430 pages, so if you simply do not have the time in your day to dedicate to reading, you will spend a long time on this book. Again, in this instance I recommend switching to audio for efficiency.
Note: My product images were taken after reading the entire book over many months. The book was flawless when first received.
Joseph –
I found this book very interesting. Certainly has been useful in my career dealing with others. Yes the world is filled with all sorts of personalities looking to use you as a tool or feed off you before you see the reality of the situation. Know when you are being gamed or you need to advance in the game.
I have been a union contract negotiator in the past and a career in banking involving corporate and business banking. Now a real estate owner and run a real estate management & maintenance company. Know how to navigate the behaviors in corporate management and negotiating deals with successful high-end multi business owners. This book exposes and open concepts that are worth reading about and implementing as needed. Protecting yourself as you advance is critical.