The perfect gift book for the power hungry (and who doesn't want power?) at an excellent price. The Concise Edition of an international bestseller. At work, in relationships, on the street or on the 6 o'clock news: the 48 Laws apply everywhere. For anyone with an interest in conquest, self-defence, wealth, power or simply being an educated spectator, The 48 Laws of Power is one of the most useful and entertaining books ever. This book 'teaches you how to cheat, dissemble, feign, fight and advance your cause in the modern world.' (Independent on Sunday) The distilled wisdom of the masters - illustrated through the tactics, triumphs and failures from Elizabeth I to Henry Kissinger on how to get to the top and stay there. Wry, ironic and clever this is an indispensable and witty guide to power. The laws are now famous:- 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
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"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective", writes Robert Greene. Command 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 Casanovato 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. -- Jake Bond. --This review refers to the hardback edition of this title. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction (both from Profile), has a degree in Classical Studies and has been an editor at Esquire and other magazines. He is also a playwright and lives in Los Angeles.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Isis
Format:Paperback
At first this book seems to be of more use in the previous two centuries, but with perserverance it really does have immense use in life today. Many of the laws do appear to go against being charitable and generous, but the authors are merely advising to be cautious about who your friends are, sound advice even today. I love the use of fables and parables, many of which have been handed down through the ages and stood the test of time.
I would recommend this book to the reader who wants a huge "leg up" in the business world, and who wants to be indispensable in a disposable world.
I would recommend this book to the reader who wants a huge "leg up" in the business world, and who wants to be indispensable in a disposable world.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By David Askew
Format:Paperback
I can't really fault the book at all.
Robert Greene has established 48 laws of power, and they are all very interesting, powerful and fact based. Throughout the book I feel as if Robert knows completely what he's saying and he's done acres of research.
This book however, is to be taken very carefully. It doesn't seem as if he has written the book to any moral guidelines. If books can have age restrictions on a person buying them, I would definately give this one an 18. I could definately see someone young, greedy or just suggestable individual obsessing over the book and becoming a pretty immoral person. I believe it takes a certain level of maturity and moral understanding to be aquired in order to not abuse information in the book.
The 48 laws of power, generally focuses around methods you can use and themes you can engrain into your personality, in order to get things. Whilst the book is absolutely brilliant at delivering this, the fact is that if everyone applied all the laws to themselves (or even just a handful), the world would be almost at a standstill... as an example one of the rules is to "Get others to do work for you but always take the credit" - is this really a mode people should follow for the good of the world? If everyone was doing that, there would be no work to take credit for and economies would halt. Imagine a planet full of conmen, what a great place to live that would be... hmmm... not.
Robert Green indicates some key resources he's used and one to mention is the famous "The art of war by sun tzu" - I believe Robert is extremely interested in books like these and he's only gone and made pretty much, a brilliant book himself.
It's a very good buy, for it's purpose. But can you really find true happiness by being powerful?... Read more ›
Robert Greene has established 48 laws of power, and they are all very interesting, powerful and fact based. Throughout the book I feel as if Robert knows completely what he's saying and he's done acres of research.
This book however, is to be taken very carefully. It doesn't seem as if he has written the book to any moral guidelines. If books can have age restrictions on a person buying them, I would definately give this one an 18. I could definately see someone young, greedy or just suggestable individual obsessing over the book and becoming a pretty immoral person. I believe it takes a certain level of maturity and moral understanding to be aquired in order to not abuse information in the book.
The 48 laws of power, generally focuses around methods you can use and themes you can engrain into your personality, in order to get things. Whilst the book is absolutely brilliant at delivering this, the fact is that if everyone applied all the laws to themselves (or even just a handful), the world would be almost at a standstill... as an example one of the rules is to "Get others to do work for you but always take the credit" - is this really a mode people should follow for the good of the world? If everyone was doing that, there would be no work to take credit for and economies would halt. Imagine a planet full of conmen, what a great place to live that would be... hmmm... not.
Robert Green indicates some key resources he's used and one to mention is the famous "The art of war by sun tzu" - I believe Robert is extremely interested in books like these and he's only gone and made pretty much, a brilliant book himself.
It's a very good buy, for it's purpose. But can you really find true happiness by being powerful?... Read more ›
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Dyfusion
Format:Paperback
Very good read, easy to digest... a very powerful book, practice with caution..."Knowledge is power, but Power without knowledge" is a harmful weapon, and he who wields it shall be vanquished in the course of time. :)
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Allen Baird
Format:Paperback
This book has been out for so long now that there seems little point in adding to the multitude of reviews. However, I want to for two reasons. (1) Judging from the review content of those who have given it a low number of stars, it sticks me that they don't know what they're talking about. (2) I gained great nourishment from 48 LoP and would like to encourage others to share in the feast.
The associations with gangsters and manipulative techniques put people off it. The first is the fault of the book's publishers who saw this as a selling point, albeit a misleading one. Gangsters are 'sexy' and sex sells. The second is to underestimate the book's guiding spirit, Nicholo Machiavelli, who was not some immoral fiend but a diplomat and political philosopher of the highest order.
Better reasons to regard the book negatively are the clichés and contradictions it seems to contain. Laws such as "play a sucker to catch a sucker" (21) and "despise the free lunch" (40) seem like truisms or the folk wisdom of some annoying, smart-arse uncle. I counsel patience here; read the content first.
As for the contradictions, how can you "make your accomplishments seem effortless" (30) while at the same time never appearing too perfect (48)? Or how could you "use selective honesty" (12) while keeping your hands clean (26) and guarding your reputation with your life (5)? But remember, Greene is not presenting us with some system here, some self-contained method that breaks if you foil any single part. It is rather a tool kit. A wrench does not 'contradict' a hammer. They perform different functions at different times for different people. So it is here.
The main point I want to stress is the quality of Greene's sources.... Read more ›
The associations with gangsters and manipulative techniques put people off it. The first is the fault of the book's publishers who saw this as a selling point, albeit a misleading one. Gangsters are 'sexy' and sex sells. The second is to underestimate the book's guiding spirit, Nicholo Machiavelli, who was not some immoral fiend but a diplomat and political philosopher of the highest order.
Better reasons to regard the book negatively are the clichés and contradictions it seems to contain. Laws such as "play a sucker to catch a sucker" (21) and "despise the free lunch" (40) seem like truisms or the folk wisdom of some annoying, smart-arse uncle. I counsel patience here; read the content first.
As for the contradictions, how can you "make your accomplishments seem effortless" (30) while at the same time never appearing too perfect (48)? Or how could you "use selective honesty" (12) while keeping your hands clean (26) and guarding your reputation with your life (5)? But remember, Greene is not presenting us with some system here, some self-contained method that breaks if you foil any single part. It is rather a tool kit. A wrench does not 'contradict' a hammer. They perform different functions at different times for different people. So it is here.
The main point I want to stress is the quality of Greene's sources.... Read more ›
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well wrote
Delivered with prime! Excellent service and the book it self is well writ, helps a lot, reccomended to everyone and good for the shelve.
Published 16 days ago by Numan
5.0 out of 5 stars
wicked book infact need a next one for friend
very very good book must read and must have need the next one for a friend she will be very happy to recive it as a gift
Published 2 months ago by RAYMOND WEBB
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREATTTTTT
an amazing book, a must read at some stage, some fascinating things in it and definitly very interesting read by greene.
Published 4 months ago by Nikita
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some interesting observations
There are some genuinely intersting observations in this books but there is also a lot of cod psychology that doesn't stand up to too much scrutiny. Read more
Published 5 months ago by cornutus
4.0 out of 5 stars
The smyler with the knyf under the cloke
A short primer on how to prosper in a cut-throat environment until you either get to the top, wind up dead or do something you enjoy. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Charles Vasey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Power Games
It is said that 'Life Is A Game'.
THE CONCISE 48 LAWS OF POWER by ROBERT GREENE, is a book on tactical moves on playing and winning The Game Of Life. Read more
THE CONCISE 48 LAWS OF POWER by ROBERT GREENE, is a book on tactical moves on playing and winning The Game Of Life. Read more
Published on 25 May 2011 by Worthwich
1.0 out of 5 stars
I was bored by the time I got to Law 10
This is a philosophical, theoretical book short on practical examples, though it does contain short quotes from classical works. I gave up after Law 10. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2010 by J. Sawyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very geopolitical, very interesting, very thought provoking
This book is very Machiavellian and very pessimistic because the assumption is that you must always 'get one over' the other person (the enemy) in order to be a success. Read more
Published on 13 July 2009 by Powerbaby01
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's a knife... use it to benefit you and others
The concepts which were discussed in this book are all about how we can overcome certain challanges by equipping us with correct knowledge and understanding of the theory.... ie. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2009 by Prince Of Sword
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pick the right battle and the
This is a great read for anyone who doesn't know when to hold back. It teaches you to plan your thoughts and your actions. Fantastic for anyone who wants to win the war. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2007 by Smart Cookie
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