The 48 Laws of Power reviewed

Seen as a recipe for success by some and a guide to ultimate selfishness by others, The 48 Laws of Power has undoubtedly left a profound impact on reading audiences. This highly successful title by Robert Greene remains divisive and controversial, which might be the best piece of marketing any book could receive.

In this review, we’ll examine the biography of Robert Greene and list the rules he sets out in The 48 Laws of Power.

Robert Greene’s biography and notable works

Robert Greene is a well-known author and motivational speaker. However, his early career consisted of numerous jobs in several different fields. Throughout his experience, Greene gathered plenty of knowledge on how society functions. Plus, his classical studies education gave him a historical view of human nature.

Combining these influences, Greene decided to create a contemporary version of The Prince by Machiavelli. This would be the New York Times bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power – Greene’s first and arguably most influential book.

After finding tremendous success with his first title, Greene went on to write several other books.

The Art of Seduction is Greene’s second book. The title deals with the subjects of attraction, negotiation, and, of course, seduction, with the author listing different types of seducers.

The next title, The 33 Strategies of War draws much inspiration from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While the ancient Chinese teachings are applicable to many life situations, Greene’s book talks about applying “war strategies” to a business environment.

The 50th Law is the fourth title from Greene’s opus and the first book he wrote in collaboration. The famous rapper 50 Cent, an author in his own right, coauthored the work, sharing anecdotes that help flesh out Greene’s final law of power: fearlessness.

The fifth and penultimate book so far is called Mastery. It examines historical figures who were masters in their fields and identifies the universal principles that made those people famous and successful.

Finally, there’s The Laws of Human Nature. As thorough and analytical as Greene’s other titles, this book explains people’s motivations, cognitive biases, drives, and conscious and subconscious factors that influence our actions.

A review of the 48 laws of power

These laws allow the reader to gain power over others and stay in control, always having the upper hand. The author sees them as essential tools in the game of power, which is a social game by nature, not a skill.

  • 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. Create smoke screens to hide your ulterior motives.
  • Law 4: Always say less than necessary. Powerful people impress and intimidate by not revealing too much.
  • Law 5: Guard your reputation with your life.
  • Law 6: Court attention at all costs.
  • Law 7: Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit.
  • Law 8: Make other people come to you and use bait if necessary.
  • Law 9: Win through actions rather than arguments.
  • Law 10: Avoid the unhappy and the unlucky.
  • Law 11: Learn to keep people dependent on you, especially those already in a position of power.
  • Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim and keep them oblivious to your schemes.
  • Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy, gratitude, or goodwill.
  • Law 14: Pose as a friend, and work as a spy.
  • Law 15: Crush your enemy totally.
  • Law 16: Use absence to increase respect and honor.
  • Law 17: Keep others in suspended terror and cultivate an air of unpredictability.
  • Law 18: Do not build fortresses to protect yourself – isolation is dangerous.
  • Law 19: Know who you’re dealing with – do not offend the wrong person.
  • Law 20: Don’t commit to anyone but yourself.
  • Law 21: Seem dumber than your mark.
  • Law 22: Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power.
  • Law 23: Concentrate your forces, and don’t waste time and energy.
  • Law 24: Play the perfect courtier.
  • Law 25: Create a powerful image of yourself, and don’t let others define you.
  • Law 26: Keep your hands clean. Use cat’s paws for your dirty work and scapegoats when things go awry.
  • Law 27: Play on people’s need to believe and create a cultlike following.
  • Law 28: Enter action with boldness
  • Law 29: Plan all the way to the end.
  • Law 30: Make your accomplishments seem effortless.
  • Law 31: Control the options, get others to play with the cards you deal.
  • Law 32: Play into people’s fantasies.
  • Law 33: Discover each man’s thumbscrew.
  • Law 34: Be royal in your own fashion. Act like a king to be treated like one.
  • Law 35: Master the art of timing.
  • Law 36: Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is the best revenge.
  • Law 37: Create compelling spectacles.
  • Law 38: Think as you like but behave like others.
  • Law 39: Stir up waters to catch fish.
  • Law 40: Despise the free lunch.
  • Law 41: Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes.
  • Law 42: Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.
  • Law 43: Work on the hearts and minds of others.
  • Law 44: Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect.
  • Law 45: Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once.
  • Law 46: Never appear too perfect to avoid attracting envy.
  • Law 47: Do not go past the mark you aimed for. In victory, know when to stop.
  • Law 48: Assume formlessness. Be fluid.
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FAQ

Why did prisons ban The 48 Laws of Power?

Prisons decided to ban The 48 Laws of Power since the book was deemed a dangerous tool in the hands of ill-intentioned inmates. In particular, prison authorities wanted to prevent inmates from learning advanced ways of manipulating others.

What is so good about The 48 Laws of Power?

The 48 Laws of Power offer various techniques for staying on top of every situation. The book draws on psychology, philosophy, and history to make 48 rules for success and power. It’s often seen as the ultimate guide in competitive business circles.

Is The 48 Laws of Power controversial?

The book caused some controversy because many of its laws focus on manipulating people and always putting one’s own interests first. These aspects of the title lead some readers to see the book as inherently evil.

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify

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