Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.
Robert Greene has distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum and extrapolated them with today’s world scenarios to help us understand more about the real people in the world we live in. The book explains the best ways to behave when in crisis. You must be very careful while reading this book and should not only learn the ideas that are helpful but also do learn others to defend yourself from what others could be capable of.
Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.
Do not see the book as moral or immoral, morality as a concept is only applicable to a living, rational being which this book is not.
Most of what is written in the book is already happening and will continue to happen in this world as long as humanity exists. So, for the individual with strict moral principles, this book should not be viewed as a guide but rather as a cautionary warning of what other people are capable of.
To practice a good chunk of all these laws you have to assume a narcissistic, selfish personality and to some extent forsake aspects of your humanity. Do not read this book as a guide to attain power, but this is a clear cautionary tale on human psychology and a guide on how to avoid being snared by crafty individuals.