The 48 Laws of Power

Robert Greene

Rating: 4.0/5 Stars
Rank: 297

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.

About the Author

Robert Greene has a degree in classical studies. He is also a playwright.
Joost Elffers is the producer of Viking Studio's bestselling The Secret Language of Birthdays, The Secret Language of Relationships, and Play with Your Food.

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Editorials(8) | Customer Reviews(227)

Editorials

Sample 3 of 8

The 48 Laws of Power
Robert Greene


	Amazon.com
	"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective," writes Robert Greene. Mastery of one's emotions and the arts of deception and indirection are, he goes on... read full editorial

	From Publishers Weekly
	Greene and Elffers have created an heir to Machiavelli's Prince, espousing principles such as, everyone wants more power; emotions, including love, are detrimental; deceit and manipulation are life's paramount tools. Anyone... read full editorial

	From Booklist
	Greene is a screenwriter, playwright, and professional researcher. Elffers "packages" books; among his "products" are a book on fruit carving called Play with Your Food (1997) and a book of "personology" profiles called... read full editorial

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Customer Reviews

Sample 3 of 227

The 48 Laws of Power
Robert Greene


	Makes you think, makes you dream...
	(Warren, Ohio, USA) February 12, 2004 - 5.0/5 stars
	I took a peek at this book in the psychology section of a book store. I'd heard nothing about it before (even though it was a national best seller). When I read here and there, I could tell this was not a book filled... read full review

	Excellent Treatment, but most of all, Highly Readable
	(Wichita, Kansas) January 13, 1999 - 5.0/5 stars
	Most of the strong and weak points noted by the other reviewers are true. My point is that this book is a pure delight to read for simple enjoyment. Some of the history is just a bit off, but the synthesis of sources... read full review

	An eye-opener
	(London, UK) May 4, 2004 - 3.0/5 stars
	Though not as practical as it purports to be, the book is certainly an eye-opener to the tactics of power-play evident in all avenues of life.

All Customer Reviews(227) | Product Info | Product Listings

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