48 Laws of Power

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Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

Our Top Reviews

Reviewer: Polarbear
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I think this is one of those books every thinking person should own.
Review: This is a great book. I’ve been reading it for myself and to my kid. He isn’t necessarily old enough to worry about leading an army, seducing a French noble girl, or pleasing the Emperor of China, but the lessons in this book are worth learning. I fear this book probably gets a bad rap as a cynical, Machiavellian practical manual for being a bad guy, but the lessons in this book do apply to nearly all aspects of your life, even if you find some of the approaches and reasoning objectionable. It’s better to learn these rules from others’ experiences, rather than your own blunders. One thing I love about this book is the historical examples used to justify the rules. The author pulls from all over the world’s cultures to show you how politicians, business men, military commanders, politicians, and royals played the game of power. It helps bring history to life and makes historical figures more approachable. The sections on P.T. Barnum, for instance, made me laugh at his audacious showmanship. The sections on Louis the XIV brought him to life as more than just some old French guy with a cane and a blue cape lined with ermine (the Hyacinthe Rigaud portrait). The proverbs and anecdotes and quotes sprinkled throughout the margins also add another layer of context to the book. I like seeing how these rules are essentially universal to the human experience and they’re found in Aesop and African proverbs and Chinese anecdotes and Shakespeare, etc.I believe everyone ought to read this book, even if you don’t personally like the lessons it contains. Additionally, I recommend getting the hardcover version. For me, this book is one I’ll be proudly adding to my library for re-reading and I like the larger format the hardcover version offers.

Reviewer: MBS
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: May Cause Strategic Thinking (Proceed with Caution)
Review: Before reading The 48 Laws of Power, my approach to navigating the social and professional world was… let’s call it “optimistically naive.” I figured being nice and hoping for the best was a solid strategy. Then this book landed on my desk, and my brain did a complete 180.Robert Greene doesn’t pull any punches. This isn’t a feel-good guide to making friends; it’s a deep, unflinching look at the dynamics of power throughout history. Distilling centuries of human interaction, strategy, and occasional backstabbing into 48 concise “laws,” the book is like getting a crash course in the less-talked-about aspects of human nature.It’s filled with fascinating historical anecdotes, from cunning courtiers to ruthless emperors, illustrating each law with vivid examples. While some of the laws might seem Machiavellian at first glance, the value isn’t in becoming a villain, but in understanding the game so you can navigate it more effectively and protect yourself.Reading this book felt like gaining a new superpower – the ability to recognize power plays and understand motivations that were previously invisible to me. It’s incredibly insightful and, frankly, a little bit thrilling to read about the high-stakes games of the past.If you’re ready to move beyond simple pleasantries and understand the deeper currents of influence and strategy, The 48 Laws of Power is an absolutely essential read. It’s challenging, sometimes unsettling, but ultimately incredibly empowering. Just be prepared to see the world, and the people in it, a little differently. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be a more strategic player in life.

Reviewer: bebe a.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great book!
Review: Great book for leisurely read and nurturing empowerment. Kinda thick. Brought it to a 11hour flight and it took good amount of space in my bag. I recommend this book for women in corporate. It’s rough out there so tough up queens.

Reviewer: The Baddest Liz
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Timeless Classic – Eye-Opening and Strategically Insightful
Review: The 48 Laws of Power is not just a book—it’s an education in human behavior, strategy, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways power moves through the world. Whether you’re in business, leadership, or just want to better understand social dynamics, this book is a must-read.Each law is packed with historical examples, sharp analysis, and real-world relevance. I found myself highlighting entire sections and reflecting on how these principles show up in everyday life. Some laws may feel controversial or even ruthless, but that’s the point—Greene doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of power.It’s not a book you read once and forget. It’s something you return to over time as your experiences deepen. The writing is compelling, the layout is well-organized, and it really challenges the way you think about influence, relationships, and ambition.Whether you’re looking to gain an edge in your career or simply want to sharpen your understanding of how power works—this book delivers. Highly recommend!

Reviewer: T. J
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Rekommenderas varmt, underbar Bok, Tack Säljaren o Amazon.

Reviewer: Augusto Assalin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
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Reviewer: Sudhakar kadiyala
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Every one of us secretly desire to hold Power.As human beings we always wish to have our way and expect other’s to follow us and holding power is the best means in having our way.It instills fear or awe in others,making most of the job easier, and the great feeling of wow! — as nothing can be more stronger or powerful .The 48 laws of Power by Robert Greene is all aboutgaining Power by various means and enjoying its fruits .The laws are defined by taking key points from the ancient past to that of the modern day world, where the laws mentioned are followed by various references to the people who attained power through different means viz fighting wars,ruling ruthlessly,conning successfully,leaving a mark of their own through painting,writing and so on.These references help to understand the laws of gaining power in different ways as well as act as a tip to the readers in guarding against falling prey to scams and tricks.The laws while dwelling deep in to the human nature,brings out various aspects of manipulation,selfishness,deceit,treachery,back stabbing,masking the real intent ,conning,tricking and many more things.These laws act as a tool in understanding the mind games being played in different situations at different places by different people.On hindsight when I look into my past,I personally felt the laws giving me the clarity,much to my satisfaction and perhaps may aid in my future decisions.The stories like that of Arnold and Slack (P158,L21) or Sheriff Richard’s and Lustig (the conman (P74,L9))are not only informative but much fun to read.and laugh.A book that increases your knowledge of power,subtle actions of the people around and their nuanced meaning behind it.Ultimately though the laws reflect individuals personal benefit and even show the ‘basic instincts’ , of humans in seeking power but also enrich the readers with knowledge of power I.e the power to see through the masked faces of others and act .A book that fills the reader’s with admiration and respect for the writer for the enormous amount of information and the profound meaning behind each law. A ‘must-read’, book to be read multiple times to understand the Power. and finally,quoting one of my favourite quote mentioned in the book (L19,pg-138) — “When you meet a swordsman.draw your sword.Do not recite poetry to one who is not a poet.

Reviewer: JH
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Readable but its not in a perfect condition. I guess it’s not worth the wait to return the book and receive a new one. Can’t wait to start reading!PS : poor packaging @Amazon

Reviewer: I actually received a different book to the one I ordered. I did make the decision to keep it rather than go through the process of returning it
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Only two chapters in and am enthralled

Price effective as of Jun 18, 2025 03:57:21 UTC

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