The 48 Laws of Power

Description

THE MILLION COPY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

The bestselling book for those who want power, watch power, or want to arm themselves against power…

A moral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.

In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.

Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.

Drawn from 3,000 years of the history of power, this is the definitive guide to help readers achieve for themselves what Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, Louis XIV and Machiavelli learnt the hard way. 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. The text is bold and elegant, laid out in black and red throughout and replete with fables and unique word sculptures. The 48 laws are illustrated through the tactics, triumphs and failures of great figures from the past who have wielded – or been victimised by – power.

Table of Contents

1. Title Page
2. Copyright Page
3. Dedication
4. Acknowledgments
5. PREFACE
6. LAW 1 – NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER
7. LAW 2 – NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES
8. LAW 3 – CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS
9. LAW 4 – ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY
10. LAW 5 – SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION—GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE
11. LAW 6 – COURT ATTENTION AT ALL COST
12. LAW 7 – GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT
13. LAW 8 – MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU—USE BAIT IF NECESSARY
14. LAW 9 – WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT
15. LAW 10 – INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY
16. LAW 11 – LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU
17. LAW 12 – USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR VICTIM
18. LAW 13 – WHEN ASKING FOR HELP, APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S SELF-INTEREST, NEVER TO THEIR …
19. LAW 14 – POSE AS A FRIEND, WORK AS A SPY
20. LAW 15 – CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY
21. LAW 16 – USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR
22. LAW 17 – KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENDED TERROR: CULTIVATE AN AIR OF UNPREDICTABILITY
23. LAW 18 – DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF—ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS
24. LAW 19 – KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH—DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON
25. LAW 20 – DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE
26. LAW 21 – PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER—SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK
27. LAW 22 – USE THE SURRENDER TACTIC: TRANSFORM WEAKNESS INTO POWER
28. LAW 23 – CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES
29. LAW 24 – PLAY THE PERFECT COURTIER
30. LAW 25 – RE-CREATE YOURSELF
31. LAW 26 – KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN
32. LAW 27 – PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULTLIKE FOLLOWING
33. LAW 28 – ENTER ACTION WITH BOLDNESS
34. LAW 29 – PLAN ALL THE WAY TO THE END
35. LAW 30 – MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEEM EFFORTLESS
36. LAW 31 – CONTROL THE OPTIONS: GET OTHERS TO PLAY WITH THE CARDS YOU DEAL
37. LAW 32 – PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES
38. LAW 33 – DISCOVER EACH MAN’S THUMBSCREW
39. LAW 34 – BE ROYAL IN YOUR OWN FASHION: ACT LIKE A KING TO BE TREATED LIKE ONE
40. LAW 35 – MASTER THE ART OF TIMING
41. LAW 36 – DISDAIN THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE BEST REVENGE
42. LAW 37 – CREATE COMPELLING SPECTACLES
43. LAW 38 – THINK AS YOU LIKE BUT BEHAVE LIKE OTHERS
44. LAW 39 – STIR UP WATERS TO CATCH FISH
45. LAW 40 – DESPISE THE FREE LUNCH
46. LAW 41 – AVOID STEPPING INTO A GREAT MAN’S SHOES
47. LAW 42 – STRIKE THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER
48. LAW 43 – WORK ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS
49. LAW 44 – DISARM AND INFURIATE WITH THE MIRROR EFFECT
50. LAW 45 – PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER REFORM TOO MUCH AT ONCE
51. LAW 46 – NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT
52. LAW 47 – DO NOT GO PAST THE MARK YOU AIMED FOR; IN VICTORY, LEARN WHEN TO STOP
53. LAW 48 – ASSUME FORMLESSNESS
54. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
55. INDEX

Reviews

“Machiavelli has a new rival. And Sun Tzu had better watch his back. Greene . . . has put together a checklist of ambitious behavior. Just reading the table of contents is enough to stir a little corner-office lust.” — New York magazine

“Beguiling . . . literate . . . fascinating. A wry primer for people who desperately want to be on top.” — People magazine

“An heir to Machiavelli’s Prince . . . gentler souls will find this book frightening, those whose moral compass is oriented solely to power will have a perfect vade mecum.” — Publishers Weekly

“Satisfyingly dense and . . . literary, with fantastic examples of genius power-game players. It’s The Rules meets In Pursuit of Wow! with a degree in comparative literature.” — Allure

Author Biography

Robert Greene, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The Art of Seduction, Mastery, The 50th Law (with 50 Cent), The Laws of Human Nature, and The Daily Laws, is an internationally renowned expert on power strategies and human behavior. He lives in Los Angeles.