The 48 Laws of Power
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. This is the only authorized paperback edition in the US.
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.
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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Community Reviews
I often ask at what grade would I have gotten certain books. I then realized that certain books find you. This was one of them. The review and understandings in this book probably should never be taught in school (IMO) as they become the keys to power.
A book worth reading currently shaping my management skills in people at work and equipping me with self management skills
I heard about it like most of us have and was reluctant because it’s not really my forte, but I needed to read it for one of my bookclub groups (that I signed up for so that I can get out of my usual and explore new genres). Took me forever to get through this😩 It is a rather heavy book with tons of references to other works from Aesop’s fables all the way to the Bible. If you’re like me and want to cross-study and co-learn and look everything up as you encounter it then plan to dedicate a good chunk of your life to this piece. Wouldn’t put it in my bookshelf, but now I can say that I read it…
The lessons in this book can look very dark, but they are useful to know so you can recognize them and rise above them. Like all general advice books, some lessons can contradict each other.
Insightful historical analysis but promotes a morally questionable, machiavellian approach to power. Many laws, while engaging, are impractical and unrealistic in today’s collaborative world. Its approach on manipulation and ruthlessness oversimplifies complex human relationships. Yes, sometimes one has to be "ruthless" but that will only take you so far.
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