Product Description

Drawn from 3,000 years of the history of power, this is the definitive guide to help readers achieve for themselves what Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, Louis XIV and Machiavelli learnt the hard way. Law 1: Never outshine the master Law 2: Never put too much trust in friends; learn how to use enemies Law 3: Conceal your intentions Law 4: Always say less than necessary The text is bold and elegant, laid out in black and red throughout and replete with fables and unique word sculptures. The 48 laws are illustrated through the tactics, triumphs and failures of great figures from the past who have wielded - or been victimised by - power. Click here for the author's website.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2248 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 463 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective," writes Robert Greene. Mastery of one's emotions, and the arts of deception and indirection are, he goes on to assert, essential. The 48 laws outlined in this book "have a simple premise: certain actions always increase one's power ... while others decrease it and even ruin us."

The laws cull their principles from many great schemers--and scheming instructors-- throughout history, from Sun-Tzu to Talleyrand; from Casanova to con man Yellow Kid Weil. They are straightforward in their amoral simplicity: "Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit," or: "Discover each man's thumbscrew." Each chapter provides examples of the consequences of observance or transgression of the law, along with "keys to power," potential "reversals" (where the converse of the law might also be useful), and a single paragraph cleverly laid out to suggest an image (such as the aforementioned thumbscrew); the margins are filled with illustrative quotations. Practitioners of one-upmanship have been given a new, comprehensive training manual, as up-to-date as it is timeless.

Sunday Times Magazine
'Invaluable manual on the use and abuse of power... indispensable and often-cited influence on many of America's most successful rappers'

From the Author
The book reflects society--and thus elicits fear
The 48 Laws is designed as a kind of ultimate encyclopedia on the subject. After examining the classic writings on power, from ancient China to modern America, and analyzing the actions of hundreds of historical figures, I deduced certain laws, timeless and definitive. By observing these laws you will gain more power, and by transgressing them you will inevitably suffer a decrease. There are laws that involve pure strategy ("Always make the opponent come to you"), laws that are warnings against dangerous behavior ("Never outshine the Master") and laws that prescribe the use of seduction and deception to cloak the manipulation involved ("Conceal your intentions," "Do not commit to anyone but be courted by all.") These are some of the classic tactics that masters of power inevitably use, but the critic from Kirkus Reviews who critiqued The 48 Laws of Power played one of the oldest power tricks in the book-he or she ignored what the 48 Laws is about, and decided to change the subject, to attack the book for what it isn't. The reviewer, for instance, calls the book "nonsense" because certain laws appear to contradict one another, citing one law that advocates "courting attention at all cost" and another that prescribes "behaving like others" and blending in. But all great writers on power and strategy, from Sun Tzu to Machiavelli, have emphasized the need for constant adaptability and the changing of tactics, never worrying that you might appear to contradict yourself. At one point in your rise to the top you must "court attention at all cost." At other, more dangerous moments, it is critical to blend into the crowd. This is a key theme of The 48 Laws of Power and in fact the last law, Assume Formlessness, advocates complete fluidity. Only those who are inept at power, or hopelessly naive, believe in consistency and are frightened of contradicting themselves. Clearly! the reviewer is one of those types. The reviewer believes ! I have not really ever defined power, but in fact my concept of power is clearly and rigorously developed through the course of the book-the indirect versus the direct variety, nuances of manipulation, the complete amorality of power. Perhaps the reviewer would prefer some pat definition that boils it all down to a formula, but that is not what The 48 Laws of Power is about. Power, like life, is complicated and defies easy answers. The reviewer believes I merely assume that we live in a power-hungry, amoral world, and do not offer evidence of such. But once again that is to ask for another book. This is a book about the essence of Power, and not a discourse on the need for virtue, or the lack of ethics in our world. The reader can make his own judgment on what kind of world we live in. And as I assert in the Preface, those who make a point of trying to deny that power games permeate our world, are often the most adept players of all, critics most definitely included. Perhaps the problem for the reviewer and others who find the book too strong is that The 48 Laws of Power so accurately reflects the society we live in that it elicits fear. They prefer to believe that people generally have good and noble intentions, and any kind of hint that the world is otherwise makes them very nervous and jumpy. They would rather censor the realist and Machiavellians among us, for the truth is far too dangerous.

Customer Reviews

Learn effective alternatives to being always 'nice'.
I was brought up, probably like most people, that the right way to treat people is to be nice and pleasant to everyone at all times. Unfortunately, not everyone you come into contact with has similar views.
All too frequently, I have been subjected to behaviour and attitudes from some others that I have not understood or what motivates them. In short, I was naive in some aspects of the way of the world and resulting in my being ineffective far too often for my own good.
Whilst it is good to learn from your mistakes, too often have I made the same mistake again and again.
Life is too short and too complex to learn everything about human interactions, but this is the best book by far that I have read to help 'nice' people to get switched on to the less wholesome aspects of some human behaviour.
I have made the mistake of trying to improve my interactions with people by reading books of a spiritual nature of which there are many.
Whilst I have learnt much from them I have had to accept that I have been laughed at by the more basic and worldly-wise people with whom I have come into contact.
In my opinion, I have 'got wise' many times quicker after reding this book a couple of times than I have done during 20 years of reading the spiritual books. Sad, but true.

Power in history
What is so attractive about this book is the historical examples of each law. The author has not written a self-help manual full of mumbo jumbo, jargon or modern woolly ideas; he has gone through history to demonstrate just how successful power strategies can be, and how people have been engaging in the pursuit of power for centuries. Both the Athenians and the Chinese were past masters at it thousands of years ago.

To balance the successful use of the laws, he also cites examples where the law was not observed, to disasterous results. The main message of the book is that to obtain power you need a plan. Power doesn't just fall into your lap. You need a strategy, a plan of action, patience and lots of nerve.

Oh, and often, a little luck goes a long way, too.

48 Laws of Power: Is that All.......?
When I first acquired this book, I delved into the text and was fascinated by what is never taught in school, hardly at work, even with people; as this book states wisely, many people would like to keep to themselves and therefore many who have power hardly share it, unless a deal is behind it. The book itself may be a paradox in parts, and the methods used may be controversial; yet it has the essential basic "training" in order to strive to the top.
Sometimes one wonders if this will work, or does this author fool us into purchasing this book. It may show a pessimistic world of beguile, secrecy, envy and greed; however this portrays a realistic view of the world while rising up in power.
Brilliantly written, with worthy examples of great thinkers, philosophers and military officials of history; this concise edition will keep you on the ground reading, whilst teaching you how to propel in the air and on top of the world.