The 48 laws of power

by

Hardcover, 452 pages

English language

Published April 4, 1998 by Viking.

ISBN:
978-0-670-88146-8
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OCLC Number:
39733201

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4 stars (1 review)

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power in to forty-eight well explicated laws. As attention--grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws teach the need for prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), the virtue of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many demand the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"), but like it or not, all have applications in real life. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P. T. Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded--or been victimized by--power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

7 editions

reviewed The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Deep, rich, historical.

4 stars

Reportedly banned in some schools and prisons, so it goes.

This book has a chapter for each of the rules. Most of the rules you've likely heard before. Each presents with historical references to ancient Asian or European stories about then famous or important people and how they used or abused each rule. The author adds his interpretations and thoughts on each.

It's a pretty deep read, and has a ton of historical references to second/third level of people then.

Subjects

  • Power (Philosophy)
  • Control (Psychology)