“To some people the notion of consciously playing power games — no matter how indirect — seems evil, asocial, a relic of the past. They believe they can opt out of the game by behaving in ways that have nothing to do with power. You must beware of such people, for while they express such opinions outwardly, they are often among the most adept players at power.” – Robert Greene
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Introduction
Book Name - The 48 Laws Of Power
Author - Robert Greene
Genre - Self-help, Philosophy, Psychology, Nonfiction
In today’s power-hungry world, everyone strives and thrives for power. They won’t admit it willingly, but deep down, hidden in their innocence, they all want to be power players, as no one likes to be a pawn someone else is playing with.
“The 48 Laws Of Power” is the book for the same power-hungry people who want to lead in every aspect of their lives.
The 48 Laws Of Power is a New York Times bestseller, an infamous book written by Robert Greene. The book is a compilation and manual of principles, tactics, or “laws” as the author claims, for power manipulation and how to use it actively in daily life.
The book is nonfiction and a self-help book based on the laws found based on human philosophy, psychology, and Machiavellianism. It comprises the 48 laws by distilling 3000 years of history and the philosophies of Machiavelli, and Sun Tzu, in addition to the lives of influential and popular figures such as Henry Kissinger.
Though The 48 Laws Of Power is a controversial book as some people have raised questions over the morals and ethics of the book, many political leaders, businessmen, high-profile figures, and influencers have confessed their admiration and love for the book.
About The Author
Robert Greene is a best-selling American author and public speaker. He has written international bestsellers based on self-help, power, seduction, and historical literature.
Greene earned a degree in classical studies and observed how power shaped history. Greene’s other widely appreciated works include ‘The 33 Strategies Of War’, ‘The Art Of Seduction’, and ‘Mastery’.
Greene says, “We want to believe we are descended from angels when we are descended from primates. This is a part of our nature and there is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Book In A Nutshell
The Preface of the book reads, “The feeling of having no power over people and events is generally unbearable to us – when we feel helpless, we feel miserable.” Greene writes about how every single person is power-hungry, as no one wants less power; everyone wants more power.
According to Greene, mastering your own emotions is the foundation of power. He mentions, “An emotional response to a situation is the single greatest barrier to power.”
The book gives you insights into the manipulative behavior of others. As the name suggests, the book consists of 48 guidelines or laws to understand, gain, observe, or defend against power.
Each law is supported by historical examples, true-life stories, and anecdotes from various cultures and periods. The various themes of the book are: adopting a power mindset, communicating powerfully, adopting behaviors that enhance your power, et cetera.
Some laws teach the need for cautiousness (Law 1: Never Outshine the Master), others teach the value of confidence (Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness), and many propose the power of absolute self-preservation (Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally). Every law has one thing in common: an interest in total domination and indirection.
While The 48 Laws Of Power offers valuable insights into power dynamics, it has also been criticized for promoting amoral and unethical behavior. Approach the content critically and consider the right implications of each law.
My View
The very first thing I liked about The 48 Laws Of Power is that each law comprises and is supported by a sprawling variety of stories from history and various periods. Another great thing about the book is the prescriptive, handbook-style writing in the ‘Keys to Power’ sections and reversals to teach law at the end of chapters.
When I read this book, I realized and learned how the human mind works and how you can trick it in your favor. Although I am not sure if I have been practicing the laws from this book in my daily life, the fact that I now have such immense knowledge regarding different influential people and personalities is overwhelming for me. Maybe I like History; that’s why.
It is clearly noticeable that the author Robert Greene and his team have done immense and incredible research to put every piece in place in the book. I appreciate them for this. The book is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.
Lastly, “The 48 Laws Of Power” is worth reading in its entirety.
Written By Surbhi Gole
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