Then again, this book does deal with the subject of (attaining / keeping) power and these have been strategies in the past to attain that goal, so in my opinion the author has rightfully included these laws in the book.Īnother downside to this book would be the length of it. For instance, taking credit for something someone else has done (law 7) or crushing your enemy totally (law 15) sounds controversial and may even seem brutal.

From a social perspective, several of the laws are unconventional to say the least.

In my opinion, the biggest downside to this book would be the uneasy feeling that you could get by reading some of the laws. This is a law which you could apply straight away tomorrow at work to improve the relationship with your boss. In this law the author explains how you should always ensure that you do not outshine your master (or your boss), but have him outshine everyone else instead. My favorite law in this regard is law 1: Never Outshine The Master. I also think this book has practical value since many of the laws can be applied to day to day life (for instance in your career). In addition to making the book interesting (since it offers a unique insight into different figures of power throughout history) it also gives the book a lot of credibility.Īdditionally, the book is structured in a logical manner (describing every law in a separate chapter and explaining practical examples of how a historical person like Napoleon either gained or lost power through application of a law) and the author incorporates humor into the book as well (my favorite quote is ‘’the human tongue is a beast that few can master’’). As with Mastery (which I have also reviewed) the author clearly spent a lot of time studying historical examples and figures of power to distill the 48 laws and test them on other examples. Lastly, he ends every chapter by explaining how in some instances you should do the exact opposite of the law (reversal). He then offers his interpretation of the examples (explains why this example either lead to an increase or decrease of power) and explains how the reader can use the law to his advantage (through the section ‘’keys to power’’). In this book the author describes 48 Laws with which you should comply if you’re interested in attaining power, keeping power or protecting yourself from people who are out to get power.Įvery law is explained in a separate chapter and each chapter is structured in the same manner: the author discusses the laws through several historical examples that either increased the power of the person / people involved (observance of the law) or decreased their power (transgression of the law). The 48 Laws of Power is the author’s first book and has become an international bestseller. The author of this book, Robert Greene, is a bestselling author and is specialized in writing on strategy, seduction and power. Or are you struggling to get the respect you feel you deserve from co-workers? Maybe you’re just interested in the general topic of power? If any of these questions pertain to you and make your heart beat faster then this definitely is a book you should read! Have you ever wondered how you can more effectively manage the relationship with your boss?

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