The 48 Laws of Power Paperback - 2000
by Robert Greene; Joost Elffers (Producer)
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this bestselling work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. As attention-grabbing in its design as it is in content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers.
Summary
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, The 48 Laws of Power is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control. In the book that People magazine proclaimed beguiling” and fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have 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.
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.
Reader reviews for The 48 Laws of Power
Review summary
Readers are sharply divided. Admirers praise its confident prose, vivid historical vignettes, and hard-nosed tactics as realistic tools for gaining leverage or defending against manipulation. Critics denounce it as an unethical playbook that glorifies deceit and zero-sum thinking, calling it corrosive to healthy leadership and relationships. Many note the examples are cherry-picked and sometimes contradictory, making the book more provocative and entertaining than evidence-based. Some find it repetitive and ill-suited to modern collaborative workplaces; others still value it as a cautionary field guide to the darker side of power.
Readers say this book is:
polarizingamoralinsightfulmanipulativeentertainingcynicalprovocativedisturbingrepetitiveanecdotalWrite a review for this book
Important Terms and Guidelines
- Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
- Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
- Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
- This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
- Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
- Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
- Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
- Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
- Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
- Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information
From the publisher
From the rear cover
A moral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power into forty-eight well-explicated laws. As attention-grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws require prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), some stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and some the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally") but like it or not, all have applications in real-life situations. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P. T. Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded -- or been victimized by -- power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.
Details
- Title The 48 Laws of Power
- Author Robert Greene; Joost Elffers (Producer)
- Binding Paperback
- Edition 1st
- Pages 496
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Penguin Books, E Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
- Publication date 2000-09-01
- Features Bibliography, Index, Table of Contents
- ISBN 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Weight 1.45 lbs (0.66 kg)
- Dimensions 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.3 in (23.11 x 16.26 x 3.30 cm)
- Category Politics / Current Events
- Library of Congress subjects Control (Psychology), Manipulative behavior
- Dewey Decimal Code 303.3
Media reviews
About the author
More Copies for Sale
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- Acceptable
- Paperback
- Condition
- Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$8.51A$7.08 Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$11.86A$5.66 Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- Very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Very good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$11.90A$5.66 Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$13.71Free Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$14.17A$4.25 Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- fair
- Paperback
- Condition
- Fair
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$16.29Free Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- Used
- Very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Very good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$17.56Free Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Greene, Robert
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 49
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$18.44Free Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$20.45Free Delivery to USA
Show details
The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene
- Used
- Acceptable
- Paperback
- Condition
- Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140280197 / 0140280197
- Quantity available
- 2
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$20.45Free Delivery to USA