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Book Review: 48 Laws of Power

Updated: Mar 26, 2022

48 Laws of Power has a series of fantastic stories that are broadly applicable to success in life; though a bit overwhelming in scope and heavy to work through, it is worth every reading second. I didn't want my 48 laws of power to lay on the shelf anymore. It was time I dusted the book and studied its contents. Reading it was the best decision because what I have learned about the game of power is immense.

Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power has been lauded highly by a few of the world's most influential people. This book describes how to build political influence in any scenario. It demonstrates how to obtain this authority acceptably.


Many of Greene's fans and rivals feel that Machiavelli's laws are similar to Greene's. The difference is that the latter uses real-life examples to teach the laws. Furthermore, he uses theoretical references to clarify his points.


The author: Robert Greene


A well-known novelist from the United States, his novels are primarily about strategy, power, and seduction. Zen Buddhist themes underpin many of his views. He is the author of six international best-sellers at the moment. Before attending the University of California, Berkeley, Greene was born and raised in LA. He earned a degree in classical studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Greene claims that he did 80 jobs before being a novelist, working in construction sites, editing magazines, writing movie scripts, and translating. Greene encountered Joost Elffers, a book package.


Elffers accepted Greene's concept for a book regarding power, and he prepared a manuscript that became The 48 Laws of Power which he got to publish on May 12th, 2016. Robert Greene has also written The Laws of Human Nature and The 33 Strategies of law while still a writer at some art institution in Italy.


The main idea of the book

I noted some key points from the book that caught my eye. They include:

  • People lose all power over people if you allow them to feel they dominate you in every manner. Don't pledge to any side or agenda except your own. It's a widely used strategy to start a war of words between two groups and then exert influence by acting as a mediator.

  • Stop using vocabulary to sound smart. The more you talk, the more regular you seem and have less command. Even if you're going to say something dull, make it ambiguous, wide, and vague. Trying to say less makes you appear more intelligent and mysterious. Occasionally, playing the buffoon may help someone fit in well.

  • How can you tell whether one is a double agent or deceiving? You can get the upper hand over your opponent by behaving unpredictably. To outwit your foe, you must first befriend them. Learn about their shortcomings and strengths, as well as their desires, by observing their decision-making techniques. It will leave them in the dust as they wait to find out your approach.

  • Spend lots of time as possible with people who please you with their intelligence, accomplishments, and expertise. Permit their positive traits to "infect" you and feel great. Don't try to assist someone, explain yourself, or argue with them. Don't even give them to your friends if you suspect you're linked to an "infector," Greene calls them. Cut your connections and save yourself the trouble.

  • It is prudent to recognize faults and minor vices regularly. · The more one attempts to 'appear' immaculate, the more someone is examined. The best reaction is to admit your shortcomings in minor areas openly. This tries to deflect envy and makes you appear more relatable.

  • Nonetheless, as you develop power, the limelight will invariably shine on you. According to the text, it would be best if you did not take all of the praise. Act in such a way the" target" believes success is "easily achievable.

Analysis of the 48 laws of power

The book teaches us how to gain and keep power. The preceding important ideas may be summarized into these underlying primary points:

  1. To exert authority, you must first establish trust with the folks you wish to impact.

  2. Resilience and timeliness are critical for maintaining power.

  3. To develop a relationship with the mighty, generate spectacles, and fuel the audience's belief in the impossible.

  4. Synchronization and controlling the possibilities for the action of the opponent are just two of many strategies to obtain dominance.

  5. Use preferential honesty, distraction, and sufficiency of concealment to gain a tactical advantage.

  6. Develop pictures of influential people to get respect and erase any residual concerns about your ability.

  7. To be a maestro in this game of power, you need to engage in the following activities:

  8. Embrace all masquerades and deceits as a natural part of human interaction.

  9. Examine the happenings in the past and future to uncover difficulties.

  10. Learn and develop new skills, such as emotional control.

  11. Change your perception.

  12. People should not be judged solely on their stated intentions but instead on their real results. Many persons who purport to be powerless are either ignorant or deceptive.

Greene's quotes in 48 Laws of Power

The author has no doubt a great choice of words. I found the following quotes very insightful in the 48 laws of power:

  • "Never trust anyone completely and study everyone, including friends and loved ones."

  • "Reputation is the cornerstone of power."

  • "You must learn to always take the indirect route to power."

  • "One sincere and honest move will cover dozens of dishonest ones."

  • "If the game of power is inescapable, better to an artist than a denier and bungler."

  • "Playing with appearances and mastering the art of deception are among the aesthetic pleasures of life."

Conclusion

This book targets those who believe in ultimate integrity. They will most certainly shake their heads in astonishment when reading this book. I recommend reading its synopsis before diving into Robert Greene's 452-page masterpiece! The original is a self-help book on how to acquire and hold on to power.


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