Robert Greene

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. 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.

The 48 Laws of Power

Draws on the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Von Clausewitz, and others, combining them with the legacies of powerful people throughout history to offer essential ideas of the ways of power.

Two stars in one company indeed always clash.

Cha Mi-Ri

This is a lesson that the stars in the sky teach us - they may be related to the sun, and just as brilliant, but they never appear in her company.  (Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658)

Timeo Williams

I found this book to be an inadvertent history lesson of stories from a range of cultures and time periods. They were delightful. 

Prior to reading the book,I was interested in what exactly "laws of power" was referring to. 

After reading the book, I've come to recognize that indeed many situations are power battles.

Mohatdy Mahdy

In the Arab world, power is often used to oppress and dominate others. However, this book helped me understand how power operates and how to use it to my advantage without being oppressive or controlling.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about power and how to use it effectively. It's a valuable resource for those who want to succeed in business, politics, or personal relationships.

This is a fascinating book, despite its sinister tone. Robert Greene presents strategies for dealing with human beings that 

are reminiscent of Machiavelli's The Prince or Hitler's Struggle, but in a more accessible and concise manner.

However, I would like to kindly suggest avoiding following these strategies, especially in today's workplace where managers tend to avoid conflict. 

This book may present some challenges in your relationships with others, but it can also equip you with the tools to handle difficult situations. Without this book, I may have been less prepared to deal with certain types of people in real life. 

I particularly appreciate the second rule in this book which states:
Law 2: It's important to be cautious when trusting friends, and sometimes it's better to learn how to use your enemies.
Surprisingly, hiring a former enemy can lead to greater loyalty than a friend because they have more to prove. In fact, sometimes friends can be more dangerous than enemies. If you don't have any enemies, it might be worth considering ways to create some.

This is a rule that I believe we should keep in mind in our lives.

01010111 01000010

Well, I don’t know what went into Mr. Greene’s mind when writing this. But given to the wrong person, and suddenly this can and will become “the 48 laws of abusing power”.

following these laws will bring both achievements and loneliness.

Toni Romero

Althea Trixie

Idk. I don't agree with most of what was said. I am no emperor, I have no need for enemies or desire to create a cult. But I did agree with some of the written. 

Jovana Gjekanovikj 

matej yangwao

Power is not always ethical, and it doesn’t have to be.

How to win a funding at Sillicon Valley. Probably re:read one more time.

Dimitris Papastergiou

What I really liked in this book was the historical moments mentioned inside for each of the 48 laws that you'd have to follow of some sort and execute to be successful or get what you want in life. 

Each "law" is described as what to do or not to do and then it gives you a little example of it with what happened at a certain point in history.

Tough act to follow for those who say this book is evil and shit. Difficult to stay true to what this book says and just be an asshole. If you're an asshole, you don't need a book to tell you how to be one. And if you're not, you won't be. Even though it tells you what to avoid to do or to get what you want with any means necessary and that means be an asshole to people around you/you work with or whatnot.

But anyway, at the end of the day, it's nice to read about what happened back in the days with some of the most known people throughout the history. Most of it accurate of course, but you know, you never know in SOME cases what exactly happened or if there was anything behind some motives of the people the book it talks about.

rumbledethumps

Early in my career, an executive arrived early to a meeting  and asked one of the finance people for a department’s quarterly numbers. He listened, then nodded silently about the bad numbers. When the other people arrived, including the manager of the aforementioned department, he called the meeting to order.

He asked the manager for his quarterly numbers, though he already knew them. When the hapless manager finished his report, the executive glared at him across the table for a few seconds. Then he stood up, picked up the report, slammed it down on the table and said simply, “F**k!” It was a performance I will never forget. He was observing Robert Greene’s Law 17:

"Keep others in suspended terror: cultivate an air of unpredictability….

"You sometimes need to strike without warning, to make others tremble when they least expect it. It is a device that the powerful have  used for centuries."

Robert Greene has been called “a modern Machiavelli”  primarily because of his cult classic, The 48 Laws of Power. At its core, the book attempts the same thing Machiavelli’s book attempts: to describe how to get and keep power. It is not concerned in the least with morality.

Each chapter is only a few pages, and the book can easily be dipped into now and again, rather than read from front to back. A chapter will focus on one of the 48 laws, and each is composed of 5 subsections. First is the Law, a one-sentence statement of how to behave. Then follows Judgment, a brief, 2-3 sentence interpretation of the law.

Transgression of the Law, the third section, is usually a historical story about someone who failed to observe the law, and an interpretation of how that person could have saved himself from the consequences of the transgression.

Observance of the Law is also a historical story, but this time of a person who observed the law and the rewards reaped from doing so.

Finally is Keys to Power. Greene uses examples from history to explain how to observe the law, pitfalls to be wary of, and quotes and images to help further illustrate the law and its importance.

This isn’t Dale Carnegie. Most of the laws describe behavior that one might describe as immoral or deceitful. A few of the Laws:

Law 3: Conceal your intentions

Law 14: Pose as a friend, work as a spy

Law 33: Discover each man’s thumbscrew

Law 42: Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter

The 48 Laws of Power is considered by some to be an underground classic. I recommend it, and think it should be read in the same spirit as The Prince: you can follow all of the laws to the letter, pick and choose those you find to be useful, or learn why others might behave in ways you don’t quite understand. But, unlike The Prince, you probably know someone who has actually read it.

Jannis M

This book is pure evil. Not the thing I need in my life right now…

Athena

Some people don’t like this book because they believe their life isn’t a battle, that might be true; some are privileged. But even if they should keep these laws in mind, since they might someday be used against them or they might have to use them. 

For people with similar experiences as me, life is a war. This book has given me such amazing advice and information i could use. I will probably read it multiple times throughout my life.

Keven Wang

I just listened to the book first time . This is my 2nd run through on paper is much better

Arturo Hernández

The set of rules this book talks about are profound and rooted in war and business strategies. Some of them are still valid even after centuries have passed from their origin, however others are not so translatable for modern times. Even though one may not be looking for power (although the book tells you everyone does) at least you can understand the techniques that other could be using against you. It’s a must read in terms of people relationships, rich of stories and interesting examples.

Ahmed Salem

Should we follow the instructions in this book? This will depend on your moral compass and personal preferences.

Should we read this book? I say yes. we need to know evil. not for sake of applying it. but to be able to avoid it. to defeat it.

Josh Clement

Painful to read, partly because of the structure, partly because of the tone and partly because of the content.

I pushed through and finished, can’t say I’m happy I did. 

Not much I can add that hasn’t been said by other reviewers.

Positives? Greene is famous for his research, and it shows. Some of the anecdotes were really enjoyable and sparked a curiosity in histories I would have passed over otherwise. So, if there’s one good thing about this book - it would be it encouraged me to read something else.

Fatima Zahra

this book is written by the devil himself in the hottest place in hell.

Nadine 

Interesting for the historical perspectives and stories, but repetitive and contradictory at times.

Cindy Augusty

Seseru itu!! sukaaa bgt sama penjelasannya, gak nyangka cepet bgt baca buku ini💗💗

Omar Fernandez

This was an insightful book. I stopped reading it a few times simply because the author's style put me off. He seems to condone and encourage you to seek power at all costs, even if it is through disingenuous and malicious methods. However, I kept reading and found the book to be insightful. I'd approach the book as a study into human behavior and how we instinctively choose leaders. What we as a society seek and what we'd ignore or accept in order once we find a leader that has the desired qualities. It's also a study into the politics that permeate in many organizations, both corporate and government. The author approaches it all as a game, asking you to strategize every detail of who you favor, interact with, ingratiate, etc. Again, it is off-putting at times but insightful.

Ivaylo Durmonski

If you're looking for a way to grow as a person and acquire more power along the way, you can't go without reading 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green. This piece of art contains extremely valuable information about how to influence others. Full of examples from our history, inspiring quotes, and actionable tactics, this book is an essential tool in your arsenal to conquer the world. 5/5 stars. Read my full review: https://corehustle.com/48-laws-of-pow...

The 48 Laws of Power

Reviews

Highlights