Some key principles you’ll learn: Use your enemies, keep others dependent on you, say as little as possible, take credit for others’ work, control all the options, don’t take sides, create a cult following, and don’t get your hands dirty. To turn you from an amateur into a master player, Greene has codified the 48 laws of power based on historical examples of people who’ve excelled or failed at wielding power, with glorious or bloody results (or both). So what are the 48 Laws of Power, and how do you use them? These laws are for those who prefer to be players rather than pawns. You’re either striving for and wielding power, or you’re a pawn being played by someone more powerful than you. Greene asserts that whether you like it or not, you’re part of a never-ending game of power. Keep reading for the complete list of the 48 Laws of Power, with explanations. The 48 Laws of Power come from Robert Greene’s book The 48 Laws of Power, in which Greene culls lessons from the lives of powerful historical figures to distill a set of laws that you can follow to become powerful in your own life. What are the 48 Laws of Power? How can I use them to succeed? Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries of books you should be reading. (Sept.This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of 'The 48 Laws of Power' by Robert Greene.

Although gentler souls will find this book frightening, those whose moral compass is oriented solely to power will have a perfect vade mecum. These historical escapades make enjoyable reading, yet by the book's conclusion, some protagonists have appeared too many times and seem drained.

Illustrations are drawn from the courts of modern and ancient Europe, Africa and Asia, and devious strategies culled from well-known personae: Machiavelli, Talleyrand, Bismarck, Catherine the Great, Mao, Kissinger, Haile Selassie, Lola Montes and various con artists of our century. Each law, with such allusive titles as ''Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy,'' ''Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit,'' ''Conceal Your Intentions,'' is demonstrated in four ways-using it correctly, failing to use it, key aspects of the law and when not to use it. Elffers's layout (he is identified as the co-conceiver and designer in the press release) is stylish, with short epigrams set in red at the margins. Anyone striving for psychological health will be put off at the start, but the authors counter, saying ''honesty is indeed a power strategy,'' and ''genuinely innocent people may still be playing for power.'' Amoral or immoral, this compendium aims to guide those who embrace power as a ruthless game, and will entertain the rest.

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.

The 48 laws of power barnes and noble