Book Review #7 – The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Robert Greene’s controversial book, “The 48 Laws of Power” is a self-help book that suggests that achieving power requires subtle, cunning, and democratic yet devious tactics, as feeling powerless is miserable and ultimately unattainable. The source of power is the relationships between an individual and those they seek to dominate. 

Greene suggests that mastering power leads to improved friendship, love, and personal growth by making others feel good about themselves, making them dependent on you for pleasure. Covering a span of more than 3,000 years, “The 48 Laws of Power” by Greene, is a comprehensive guide to becoming more powerful, offering wisdom from various civilizations and a valuable resource for those seeking advancement.

The 48 Laws of Power 

• Law 1. Never Outshine the Master
• Law 2. Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies
• Law 3. Conceal Your Intentions
• Law 4. Always Say Less Than Necessary
• Law 5. So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard It With Your Life
• Law 6. Court Attention at All Costs
• Law 7. Get Others to Do the Work for You, but Always Take the Credit
• Law 8. Make Other People Come to You – Use Bait if Necessary
• Law 9. Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument
• Law 10. Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and the Unlucky
• Law 11. Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
• Law 12. Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim
• Law 13. When Asking for Help, Appeal to the Self-interests of Others, Never to Their Mercy or Gratitude
• Law 14. Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
• Law 15. Crush Your Enemy Totally
• Law 16. Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor
• Law 17. Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
• Law 18. Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous
• Law 19. Know Who You’re Dealing With – Don’t Offend the Wrong Person
• Law 20. Don’t Commit to Anyone
• Law 21. Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Appear Dumber Than Your Mark
• Law 22. Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness Into Power
• Law 23. Concentrate Your Forces
• Law 24. Play the Perfect Courtier
• Law 25. Recreate Yourself
• Law 26. Keep Your Hands Clean
• Law 27. Create a Cult-like Following by Playing on People’s Need to Believe
• Law 28. Enter Action With Boldness
• Law 29. Plan All the Way to the End
• Law 30. Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
• Law 31. Control the Options: Get Others to Play With the Cards You Deal
• Law 32. Play Into People’s Fantasies
• Law 33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
• Law 34. Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One
• Law 35. Master the Art of Timing
• Law 36. Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them is the Best Revenge
• Law 37. Create Compelling Spectacles
• Law 38. Think as You Like, but Behave Like Others
• Law 39. Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish
• Law 40. Despise the Free Lunch
• Law 41. Avoid Stepping Into a Great Man’s Shoes
• Law 42. Strike the Shepherd, and the Sheep Will Scatter
• Law 43. Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
• Law 44. Disarm and Infuriate With the Mirror Effect
• Law 45. Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform Too Much at Once
• Law 46. Never Appear Too Perfect
• Law 47. Don’t Go Past the Mark You Aimed For: In Victory, Learn When to Stop
• Law 48. Assume Formlessness

The 48 Laws of Power Summary

Law 1: Never Outshine the Master

Always put others above you at ease and keep your own abilities hidden to maintain comfort and confidence in order to prevent feeling insecure. The more adept you become at manifesting your master, the more powerful you will become. People in positions of authority want to feel safe and in control of their lives. This might entail committing a few innocuous errors in order to ask your master for assistance. On the other hand, it would be best to stay away from working for them completely if you are more naturally charming than your master.

Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies

Friends are more likely to be envious of you and betray you in a hurry. But, since they have more to prove, hiring a former foe will help them establish their credibility. As such, you should be more afraid of your friends than of your adversaries.Often, you believe that you know your pals better than actually do. This is due to the fact that friends usually conceal their genuine emotions from one another since honesty seldom improves relationships. People may feel undeserving and eventually resentful because they want to believe that they deserve their good fortune in hiring a friend. Hiring an enemy is preferable because your intentions are clear and unclouded by sentimental attachments.

Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions

Always remain ambiguous about your intentions. In this manner, the opposition is unable to defend themselves. If you lead them astray, it will already be too late when they discover your intentions. Take advantage of the fact that people are prone to believing what they see. Your opponents will be blind to your true plans if you present them with a fake set of intentions. People will think you’re amiable and trustworthy if you pretend to be something else. People will think you’re amiable and trustworthy if you pretend to be something else. They will continue down the wrong path as a result of this. Furthermore, since people trust the familiar, they are even less likely to question your intentions if you are unassuming and unobtrusive.

Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary

Rich people know how to make an impression on others by expressing less. The likelihood that you will say something stupid increases with the amount of words you say. Silence unnerves people because they are always trying to figure out what other people seem to be thinking. You have immense power if you control what you reveal. Ultimately, they are probably going to fill in the gaps in your communication, disclosing additional details about their own motivations and vulnerabilities.

Law 5: So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard It With Your Life

The foundation of your power is your reputation. It is something you can use to intimidate and gain the upper hand, but if it tarnishes, you expose yourself to potential attacks. Make your reputation unbreakable and foresee potential attacks. To help you in this endeavour, destroy your enemies by taking advantage of gaps in their reputations and allowing the public to do the same to them. Having a good reputation can help you become twice as strong as you are and keep potential opponents from realising your true nature. It makes you more visible and strengthens your points without requiring much effort.

Law 6: Court Attention at All Costs

Everything is determined by appearance, so you have to be different. Make yourself seem bigger than the crowd, more intriguing, and more enigmatic. Creating a scandalous and sensational aura around your name is one way to achieve this. Remember that power comes with recognition of any kind. Being disparaged is preferable to being disregarded. To counterbalance this approach, create an air of mystery by keeping cards close to your chest, as people are drawn to those who seem enigmatic.

Law 7: Get Others to Do the Work for You, but Always Take the Credit

Instead of concentrating on yourself, use the experience and insight of others to further your cause. You will come across as competent and effective. You should also remember those who have worked for you. If you think that you must finish every task by yourself, you will not succeed. Therefore, look for individuals who have the skills you lack and find a way to either accept their work or hire them so you can validate their achievements. You must, however, be in a secure position in order to accomplish this successfully; otherwise, people will call you out on lying.

Law 8: Make Other People Come to You – Use Bait if Necessary

It is better to force your opponent to come to you rather than the other way around. Keeping your cool and considering the big picture are essential. You have an advantage because the effectiveness of your traps is determined by how appealing your bait is to people. 

Law 9: Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument

Your victory over an argument will be fleeting. Rather than experiencing a sincere shift in viewpoint, your opponents will harbour resentment. Rather, let your deeds do the talking. You are more likely to influence long-lasting beliefs if you act in a way that validates your beliefs rather than just saying them. People have no shortage of words, and they will say anything to support their position. Your beliefs are manifested through your actions.

Law 10: Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and the Unlucky

Just like diseases, emotional states can spread easily. Sometimes bad people bring their own bad luck to themselves, and if you get too close, they can also bring you down. Thus, be sure to surround yourself with positive and fortunate people.

Law 11:  Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

You have to make other people want and need you in order to stay independent. You have greater freedom the more people depend on you. However, exercise caution to never provide people around you with so much knowledge that they can begin taking care of themselves. The best way to get people to do what you want without coercing or hurting them is to use this technique. Once you have dependents, you can discreetly handle them however you please because they are dependent on you.

Law 12: Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim

One sincere gesture can neutralise suspicious people and conceal dishonest behaviour, opening the door to manipulation. The secret to successful deception is distraction. Giving before taking and selective honesty are expert techniques. Establishing trust necessitates an honest façade supported by a string of insignificant actions.

Law 13: When Asking for Help, Appeal to the Self-interests of Others, Never to Their Mercy or Gratitude

Provide an exaggerated benefit for your ally when asking for assistance; this will pique their interest and zeal. Focusing on the needs of others enables you to accomplish boundless goals once you’ve mastered this skill.

Law 14: Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Pretending to be a friend makes it possible to probe opponents indirectly and uncover their motivations and vulnerabilities, which improves forecasting. Others can spy for you if it makes you uncomfortable, but this exposes weaknesses. Spying under the guise of a friend is always preferable.

Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally

An enemy’s recovery and retaliation are partially facilitated by crushing them. When options are taken away, enemies are forced to submit to your will, resulting in peace.

Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Create an atmosphere of scarcity and occasionally withdraw from established groups in order to increase perceived value and become more common. Knowing when to back off will earn you respect and make you look like you’ve come back from the dead.

Law 17: Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Unpredictable actions can tire opponents and give them power because humans look for patterns in the behaviours of others. On the other hand, unexpected movements can confound opponents and the weaker player, intimidating them and possibly leading to a tactical error.

Law 18: Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

Isolation from enemies and the world makes you vulnerable to attack. To become powerful, focus on social interaction and place yourself at the centre of activities. Avoid retreating when uncertain and seek out old allies and new social circles.

Law 19: Know Who You’re Dealing With – Don’t Offend the Wrong Person

Pick your battles carefully to prevent possible retaliation. Before dealing with someone, fully understand their nature and take an accurate measure of their power. Steer clear of appearances and instincts, and observe them over time to fully comprehend their nature.

Law 20: Don’t Commit to Anyone

Retain your independence and dedication to your own cause to earn respect and a reputation for self-reliance. Refrain from small-talk and arguments, pretend to be interested, and serve as a go-between to incite disputes between people in order to obtain authority.

Law 21: Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Appear Dumber Than Your Mark

Nobody likes to feel foolish. Thus, a great tactic is to give the impression that you are smarter than your opponents. They won’t ever suspect that you are acting dishonestly once they start to think of themselves as more intelligent. 

Law 22: Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness Into Power

Power, torture, and plots of retaliation are made possible by giving up before the fight. It disorients adversaries and deters them from acting violently against you.

Law 23: Concentrate Your Forces

For long-term sustainability, concentrate your energies on a single power source. A small number of people hold all the power, which ensures wealth and power. A single strike guarantees a lifetime of prosperity and influence.

Law 24: Play the Perfect Courtier

Courtiers gradually gain more and more influence by subtly influencing and yielding to superiors, as well as by charming and elegantly enforcing their authority. To become the perfect courtier, the following can be involved:

• Maintaining a casual demeanour
• Being economical when flattering
• Modifying your language and style depending on the audience
• Refraining from breaking bad news
• Never belittle those in authority.
• Maintaining self-awareness
• Controlling Your Emotions
• Serving as a joyful source

Law 25: Recreate Yourself

Master your image, challenge society norms, and forge a strong identity. Control your feelings, make characters that people remember, and adjust to different circumstances. Refrain from overacting, as it may have the opposite effect.

Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean

Use scapegoats to hide your involvement so that you can keep a clean image and steer clear of bad reputations. Your reputation is built on the things you keep hidden, so use a handy scapegoat and a cat’s paw to hide your true intentions and align yourself with virtue.

Law 27: Create a Cult-like Following by Playing on People’s Need to Believe

People are drawn to certain beliefs. If you pretend to be this cult-like entity, they will follow you and grant you immense power. To become such a figure these steps need to be followed:

• Stay vague, straightforward, and full of promise when you speak.
• Place more emphasis on passion than on knowledge and reason.
• Organise your group according to the different types of organised religion.
• Disguise your revenue sources
• Establish an adversarial relationship 

Law 28: Enter Action With Boldness

Bold individuals are admired and respected, while timid ones are frowned upon. It’s crucial to act boldly, as doubts can damage reputation. Both traits are learned, and if timid, replace it with boldness.

Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End

Plan out your entire strategy, taking into account any possible roadblocks to achieving your objective. This safeguards your future and leaves room for surprises. Steer clear of vague plans and make sure your final objective is well-defined.

Law 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Success comes from keeping secrets and not giving away how you got where you are. By doing this, you will deter potential threats by making your power seem more exclusive and mysterious. Remaining silent can help you gain more authority and influence.

Law 31: Control the Options: Get Others to Play With the Cards You Deal

Opponents may feel more in control of their fate when given a choice, but in reality, you are merely manipulating them to select one of two outcomes that suit your interests, which breeds anxiety and reduces their sense of agency.

Law 32: Play Into People’s Fantasies

Offer an alternative to disillusionment by embracing the fantasies of the masses rather than the unpleasant reality in order to draw people. You can generate strong fantasies that contradict reality by observing disgusting things in daily life.

Law 33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Determine your opponent’s weakness, which could be insecurity, unfulfilled desires, feelings, or hidden pleasures. To find your opponent’s weakness the following can be done:

• Periods in which they act like children, a sign of unresolved childhood trauma
• Contrasts: an obvious characteristic frequently masks its opposite (e.g., arrogance frequently masks insecurity)
• The weak link, who is frequently someone in the background dictating how they behave
• Strategies to ease their feelings of inadequacy or discontent with having a large amount of power
• How to feed their irrational emotions since you can regulate them since they are incapable of doing so on their own

Law 34: Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One

Demonstrate your potential for power, conduct yourself with dignity, self-assurance, and respect. As a child, you should set high standards for yourself and believe in your own greatness, as this will inspire others to do the same.

Law 35: Master the Art of Timing

Mastering emotions and patience can help you perceive time more slowly and see the bigger picture, enhancing your perception of the future and allowing for better decision-making.

Law 36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them is the Best Revenge

Acknowledging your enemy’s existence gives them credibility and power. However, if your interest is too strong, it eludes you, making others uncomfortable. Sometimes, leaving things alone can drive opponents crazy.

Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles

Visual gestures enhance presence and power, attracting people’s attention and fostering emotional connection. They unite people, separating words from their true intentions.

Law 38: Think as You Like, but Behave Like Others

Resentment can result from consistently defying social norms in public. In order to blend in and conceal feelings, keep a common touch. This facilitates the targeted expression of beliefs and progressively encourages adoption.

Law 39: Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish

Maintaining calmness while infuriating opponents can provide an advantage by identifying their weaknesses and playing with them at will, reducing their power as they become more ridiculous.

Law 40: Despise the Free Lunch

Free things carry psychological costs, so trusting them is a trap. Rewarding worth prevents guilt and dishonesty and undercuts the deceit of adversaries.

Law 41: Avoid Stepping Into a Great Man’s Shoes

First things are usually more creative than second or third. Establishing one’s own identity and differentiating oneself from previous generations are vital.

Law 42: Strike the Shepherd, and the Sheep Will Scatter

Trouble often stems from one individual, so rooting out and preventing their operations is crucial to stop their influence. Understanding who controls a group is crucial, as troublemakers often disguise their actions.

Law 43: Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Seduce people to prevent resentment by getting to know their psychology and weaknesses, manipulating their feelings, and softening them up so that you can subtly sway them to your will without them realising it.

Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate With the Mirror Effect

Mirroring opponents humiliates them, overreacts, and blinds them to their values, making it difficult to implement strategies. It also teaches them about their own medicine.

Law 45: Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform Too Much at Once

Honour the past, refrain from making drastic changes, and portray yourself as a progressive improvement over the past when you take on new authority.

Law 46: Never Appear Too Perfect

Displaying harmless vices can prevent envy from developing and make one appear approachable. Envy can manifest in problematic ways, stealing power. To prevent this, make one seem powerful but not faultless.

Law 47: Don’t Go Past the Mark You Aimed For: In Victory, Learn When to Stop

Avoid overconfidence and overstepping boundaries when achieving success. Focus on strategic planning and stop when you reach your goal.

Law 48: Assume Formlessness

You can be more protected from reality’s frequent changes if you are fluid and adaptive rather than tangible and malleable. As the powerful always change and adapt, refusing to adapt can result in losing power.