Robert Greene

The 48 Laws of Power

26min

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The 48 Laws of Power explains that the rise to power depends on a person’s ability to adapt, to change their behaviour, and to control their emotions, in order to become the master of their reactions to events. The author then moves on to our interactions with others, which is the essence of the power, and which can only exist as a result exercising one’s influence over others: one must behave reliably, build an unassailable reputation, keep away from negative people, and form close relationships with competent individuals, whether they be friends or enemies. Any character traits that you don't possess innately can be created and reinvented, and you can pretend to be charismatic and self-confident until, through your actions, you actually prove yourself to be so, exerting your influence over others to ever greater effect.

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Analysis and key concepts

01.

To win the "game of power" you need to be flexible and control your emotions

02.

At work, you mustn’t outshine your superior, and you need to choose the right allies

03.

Protect yourself and extract information from others by only revealing the bare minimum

04.

You must be constantly committed to working on your reputation

05.

The best relationships are those that increase your power, not the other way around

06.

In relationships with friends and enemies, you need to leverage the right motivation

07.

Understanding others is key to gaining greater power

08.

To be successful, you must never get distracted from your end goal, making the journey seem effortless

09.

Creating a self-confident, charismatic, and bold character is both useful and convenient

10.

Others must always think that they have everything under control

11.

To gain power, you must be patient and indifferent

12.

Non-conformism, and the desire to resort to shortcuts, must be kept at bay

13.

Moderation, skill, and adaptation to change: flexibility is the key to power

14.

Quotes

15.

Take-home message

01. To win the "game of power" you need to be flexible and control your emotions

The best way to be successful in the so-called "game of power” is to constantly change your perspective on events and the world around you, and, even more importantly, to be able to control your emotions. Both a "negative" feeling, such as anger, and a "positive" one, such as love, can have destructive effects on a person’s climb to the top, as they are reactions capable of clouding your perception of things: rather, you must strive to remain objective in your judgments of the present, the past, and the future. You need to take a step back and analyse your own mistakes as if from a distance, learning to properly evaluate every circumstance, and modifying any ideas you may have surrounding the concepts of good and evil. Power is, in fact, like a game, and human beings have been playing it for more than 3,000 years.

02. At work, you mustn’t outshine your superior, and you need to choose the right allies

03. Protect yourself and extract information from others by only revealing the bare minimum

04. You must be constantly committed to working on your reputation

05. The best relationships are those that increase your power, not the other way around

06. In relationships with friends and enemies, you need to leverage the right motivation

07. Understanding others is key to gaining greater power

08. To be successful, you must never get distracted from your end goal, making the journey seem effortless

09. Creating a self-confident, charismatic, and bold character is both useful and convenient

10. Others must always think that they have everything under control

11. To gain power, you must be patient and indifferent

12. Non-conformism, and the desire to resort to shortcuts, must be kept at bay

13. Moderation, skill, and adaptation to change: flexibility is the key to power

14. Quotes

15. Take-home message

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Many useful tips to:

Use social skills as effectively as possible.
Learn to establish successful business relationships.
Reach positions of leadership and responsibility more easily.
Better understand the logic behind power and manipulation.

The author

Robert Greene, also referred to as the "modern Machiavelli", is an American writer known throughout the world for his books on strategy, power and seduction. He has written six international best sellers. His success began with his first book The 48 Laws of Power in 1998, which has since sold more than 1.2 million copies. Shortly before launching The Laws of Human Nature he suffered a heart attack that resulted in the loss of the use of his left hand and leg.

Edition

Publishing house:

Penguin Books

Year:

2000

Pages:

452

ISBN:

978-0140280197