The 48 Laws Of Power

johnnyvega86

I came across a very good book called The 48 Laws Of Power by an author called Robert Greene.

Has anybody else read this great book? I found it to be very revelatory.
These are the 48 laws:

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.
Law 5 So much depends on reputation. Guard it 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; use bait if necessary.
Law 9 Win through your actions, never through argument.
Law 10 Infection: avoid the unhappy and unlucky.
Law 11 Learn to keep people dependent on you.
Law 12 Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim.
Law 13 When asking for help, appeal to people's self-interests, never to their mercy or gratitude.
Law 14 Pose as a friend, 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: 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 Do not commit to anyone.
Law 21 Play a sucker to catch a sucker: play dumber than your mark.
Law 22 Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power.
Law 23 Concentrate your forces.
Law 24 Play the perfect courtier.
Law 25 Re-create yourself.
Law 26 Keep your hands clean.
Law 27 Play on people's need to believe to 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 to people's fantasies.
Law 33 Discover each man's thumbscrew.
Law 34 Be royal in your 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 perfect.
Law 47 Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop.
Law 48 Assume formlessness.

http://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197

phantom_lord

I read it, but wouldn't really recommend it. I'd actually be a bit weary of someone who had it on their bookself or was supportive of it!

BoB_BoT

Sounds like a handbook on how to be a complete prick.

Ellian

Someone a few desks away from me had it on their desk and I was flipping through it one day when I was sitting around waiting for my laptop to be repaired. Based on what I read, Bob Bot's comment seems entirely accurate. It's like The Prince meets Dilbert.

johnnyvega86

It's hard to argue with the thesis of the book that you often have to walk a moral tight-rope in order to survive in the big bad world.

Ellian

From what I understood the thesis of the book was that you had to surrender morals and indeed many other social pleasantries in order to succeed. But as that was based on only a brief perusal. But looking at that list - what's the gist of law number 10? Avoid the unluck and unhappy? Or Law 7 - get others to do the work but take the credit. My shorthand for those is be uncharitable and thieving.

johnnyvega86

Ellian wrote: »

From what I understood the thesis of the book was that you had to surrender morals and indeed many other social pleasantries in order to succeed. But as that was based on only a brief perusal. But looking at that list - what's the gist of law number 10? Avoid the unluck and unhappy? Or Law 7 - get others to do the work but take the credit. My shorthand for those is be uncharitable and thieving.

Regarding law 10 do you see Hollywood stars hanging out with any of us?

Doesn't every boss in the world follow law 7?

BoB_BoT

how does a Hollywood star equate to power. Plenty of unhappy and unlucky Hollywood stars out there.

Regarding law 7, nobody would do anything for anyone if that was always the case, no reward means no effort. If you claim everything I have done is your work, I won't be stung twice and do the bear minimum. If that's the case, law 7 directly conflicts with law 11, as you're dependent on those below you, to do your work.

Also, law 43 doesn't work if you're seen as being a credit stealing prat. There's plenty of contradictions with trying to implement all those rules at once.

johnnyvega86

BoB_BoT wrote: »

how does a Hollywood star equate to power. Plenty of unhappy and unlucky Hollywood stars out there.

They have lots of money, celebrity, they are adored by millions and they can do and often do what they like. That's power. Law 6 Court attention at all costs. Law 25 Re-create yourself. Law 37 Create compelling spectacles.

Regarding law 7, nobody would do anything for anyone if that was always the case, no reward means no effort

You didn't read Law 12:Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim.

If you claim everything I have done is your work, I won't be stung twice and do the bear minimum.

Law 3 Conceal your intentions.

If that's the case, law 7 directly conflicts with law 11, as you're dependent on those below you, to do your work.

Law 43 Work on the hearts and minds of others.

Also, law 43 doesn't work if you're seen as being a credit stealing prat. There's plenty of contradictions with trying to implement all those rules at once.

The book does not say you implement them all at once. You used them when the situation is right. Law 35 Master the art of timing.

paky

sounds like a recipe for a paranoid fool. have you read the art of war?

johnnyvega86

paky wrote: »

sounds like a recipe for a paranoid fool. have you read the art of war?

Robert Greene has written another book called The 33 Strategies Of War.

oscarBravo

(a) Not political theory.
(b) OP is sitebanned.
(c) Thread closed.