The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene
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Book Reviews of The 48 Laws of Power
Book Review: If you read 348 reviews and still didn't buy it...
Summary: 5 Stars
You probably can't be helped by this book anyway. You are incapable of taking action (ie spending 10 stupid dollars) and look too hard for guidance elsewhere. You are are likely an incorrible victim of the very stratagems described in this book.
I write this knowing it probably won't be read, but I'm being paid for my time so it doesn't matter to me. I read this book many times and reread portions of it regularly. I have given more than a dozen copies of it away. It is an incredible book, but it doesn't do the thinking for you. You have to decide when, where and how to apply which laws. Many reviewers missed that point, which explains why so many of them talk about the contradictions in the rules. Those people have missed the point. Life is contradiction. You don't just set the sails and leave them that way, you adjust them with the changing winds. Winds change, women change, your luck changes...even hairstyles change for christsake. Power is a play-it-by-ear game. This book is profoundly thought-provoking, but if you can't think your own way through it then don't waste your time. You'll just wind up another one those moralising reviewers nitpicking at something you feel threatened by because you can't understand it.
I love this book. I literally took it with me to a desert island, where I now live (and no, I am not building a fortress to isolate myself, I am using absence to increase respect and honor while I recreate myself)
Oh yeah, to the guy who said the historical anecdotes are false, go get killed. To say that the nationalists in china did not grind themselves down in war with Japan but instead entered an "unofficial" ceasefire is just plain stupid. That's what you do when you're losing, you call for a truce. And that's why it was unofficial, because they were hoping to go back and kick Japan's ass later. History is also full of contradictions. If you think I'm lying, pick up a history book from England and see how they describe George Washington. Was he a hero or a traitor? It depends on which country you studied your history in, doesn't it?
Ok, I'm done. If you still aren't ready to buy this book you have serious problems. If you really, really can't afford the 10 bucks email me your sob story and I'll buy you a copy.
Book Review: Use for the Defensive not just Offensive
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently purchased The 48 Laws of Power. A useful book indeed! First of all though, one must remember that we only effectively learn from anything when we question what we read/see/hear. So, when I was reading 48 Laws of Power it wasn't so that I could swallow it whole. I asked, 'where could I use that in my life? what benefit would that have to me? why would I want to do that?!'
It's about situational awareness; knowing whats going on around you and then using the good/bad techniques that will help us in that predicament.
I draw a parallel to the book to How to Lose Friends and Infuriate People, which was an adaptation to Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. If you read the former in a literal sense, you'd do just that - lose friends and infuriate people. It is reading between the lines that has all the benefit.
48 Laws of Power has helped me already, even after just a couple of weeks. It's not silver bullet, but it has helped me start the journey to effectively dealing with many of the powermongers around me.
It was interesting to employ one of the techniques Law 4: "Always say less than necessary" - as I read it, I started thinking about someone I know who has _so_ employed this tactic on me! Initially quite frustrated, I decided to try it out myself. So, imagine my suprise when one of our following discussions I put him on the backfoot by giving him very little, but asking questions of him ! He told me stuff about how he felt about colleagues which I'm sure he later wished he hadn't. Its not so that I can use that against him. But it has shifted a balance in my favour, I didn't use it as an offensive technique - but as a defensive.
48 Laws of Power is a good read, with some good stories to illustrate the successful ways to employ these techniques, as well as examples of what happens when you do the opposite of these "laws". I will not employ some of the laws (I have serious problems with anyone implementing Law 7: "Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit" but isn't it amazing - I bet we all can think of someone that does that!).
However, knowing that all these laws do occur somewhere, with someone... means we can be more effective in combatting it when it happens.
Book Review: Master art of manipulation - based on 3000 years of history.
Summary: 5 Stars
For just a few dollars, a lot of time and practice, almost anyone can now learn to manipulate the world around them and gain power. All you have to do is acquire this book, read it and apply the 48 laws over and over again till you start seeing results. It is a small price to pay in terms of time, effort, and money but a big price in terms of morality, ethics, and values. If power is what you want and nothing else - look no further, get this book and put it to use. This book is based on historical research going back 3000 years! The author deserves tremendous respect and applause for such a monumental work.
I used to be concerned about the clear lack of fairness and justice in the world but after reading this book, I just shut up. It is obvious from 3000 years of historical information that the easiest route to gaining power is through that of manipulation. The operative word here is 'easiest'. There are other routes that could achieve a fraction of the results at a much great effort. If one wants to pay the high moral price, the methods are clear and documented. If not, there is no reason to waste energy complaining that life is not fair.
The only caveat to reading this book is that the alternative to power through manipulation is quite fulfilling. Though you may not have as much power as you think you deserve, you will be happy and have some of your higher emotional, spiritual, and social needs satisfied. So it comes down to a choice and only you can make that choice based on your individual situation.
To be fair, not all of the laws involve sacrificing your personal values, ethics, and morality. For example, Law 9 says 'Win through your actions, never through argument'. This makes sense and is the same as the old proverb 'actions speak louder than words'. No great danger in following this law.
There are hundreds of actual quotations by very famous and infamous people spanning the past 3000 years throughout the book. The 400+ page book has a very nice and readable format with the quotations on the side of each page in red. If you wanted to just read the quotes, you could open any page and read the notes on the side written in red.
So explore this powerful journey of a book at your own risk! Good luck!
Book Review: My Bible
Summary: 5 Stars
As I walked around for a month with this book some people said, "Why do you need to read that book? You have a quiet power."
They hadn't read this book.
While many may think that this is about manipulation, or other mean-spirited choices, I'd say it's about socialization.
As human beings we make decisions every second that are largely based upon our interactions with others.
We think what we think, and feel what we feel based upon our interactions with other human beings. Without others around us, we wouldn't have emotions, at all.
To have greater control of our part in relating to others we absolutely must learn the laws in how to lower our interlocutor's resistance to who we are - this is what the 48 laws are about.
Some of my favorite quotes from this book are:
"In the game of power, you are surrounded by people who have absolutely no reason to help you unless it is in their interest to do so. And if you have nothing to offer their self-interest, you are likely to make them hostile, for they will see in you one more competitor, one more waster of their time."
"The highest form of the art of power is the ability to distinguish the wolves from the lambs, the foxes from the hares, [and]the hawks from the vultures."
"Become the magnet, the invisible force that attracts people's imaginations and holds them together."
I have never read a book where every chapter has so many lessons that I was able to see where I've broken the rules either in the past or up to reading that chapter I was still breaking socialization rules.
Also, even though I always write notes whenever I read anything, I have taken more notes in this book than ever before, because the author's lessons are so valuable that I want to adapt them into my psyche.
The parts in which I disagree with this author, I was able to think like I would with a traditional bible - adapt his idea to what will work for me.
If you are looking for a source of information that will allow you to get more out of your life, this book is a must read.
Book Review: why this is excellent and worth every penny
Summary: 5 Stars
Have you ever ?have you ever felt that you did not get credit/success/kudos that was due to you ? perhaps a boss or a colleague or even a 'friend' pulled a fast one on you.
if we were able to think of achieving something as a 2 step process
1) to put in effort and deserve something; and
2) to make sure that you get what you deserve
this book is essential for STEP 2 i.e. to be able to get what you deserve.
i personally had got tired of missing out on what i deserved.
there are so many examples of getting swindled or missing out on something that you will learn/realise/recognize. you will
definitely become an expert at STEP 2 - gettin' what you deserve.
GOOD QUALITIES
1) fables,quotes,stories in red along the columns illustrate the point.
2) covers the wisdom of a very long series of strategists/politicians
3) there are points that will make you want to kick yourself
- because you did the exact same mistake or did not realise what someone else was pulling.
4) even points that people will call immoral - and that is one of the main criticisms of this book - will make perfect sense
once you read it - but please read the whole chapter before complaining about morality
5) please do not pretend you live in a utopia - power struggles are everywhere - you can either choose to use this book to arm yourself and plunge in OR protect yourself (and what belongs to you) from people who can't wait to exploit you
WARNING
This is not a ten commandments type of book - you cannot go out and start following the 48 laws without using your common sense and personal value system as checks/guides, else it might very well harm you
Conclusion
i'd like to end by saying that this book is like having a discussion with the shrewdest and wisest statesmen and strategists of past ages and learning from their experiences.
do not miss this opportunity. If you live in an ideal/dream world then give it a miss - ignorance is bliss.
If you live in the real world - BUY THIS BOOK NOW, YOU WILL
THANK YOURSELF FOR BUYING IT.