Rating: 
Summary: Their are much better books
Review: As a part owner of a computer company doing business with large and small organisations. I have problems with partners, employees who could easily get better paying jobs and clients. As such I tend to read these sort of books to get ideas. Many of the laws I think are invalid eg use absence to increase respect and honor. If you go absence often you become irrelevant. If your a cad in the end, as these authors ask you to be then you will be found out. In any case the book is divide into 48 chapters. Each starts with one of their rules. Then the rest of the chapter discusses it. It has nice stories, sayings and supposely historical accounts to support these laws. However these historical accounts are often wrong. For example the Persian empire did not start to unravel with Cyrus defeat. After his death it actually grew and got more powerful. The nationalist in China did not wear themselves down in a war with Japan during world war 2 but made an unofficial cease fire with them. Somehow while reading this book, I got the feeling that these people who wrote it have never experienced what its like to play the power game. What I think they have done is mix Sun-tzu and Machiavelli books. This accounts for why their examples are so old. But not as good or useful as either of these books because they do not have the practical experience that these people had. As a little player in this field, I can see that this is not something you can learn from books without practical experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book, but.....
Review: This is a really great book, but have anyone of you ever thought that the person/people that you'll like to practice these laws on might own a copy of the book themselves? ...that they might be practicing these laws on you just as you are practicing on them? ...and that, due to the "evil" connotations of this book,they, like you, would not admit to reading it, let alone owning a copy...but would convey the laws of the book through their deeds/misdeeds? Hmmm....just something to think about. Coz you might not have the only copy of this book. I do too, and apparently, so did everyone who wrote a review here.
Rating:
Summary: A real thought provoker.
Review: All of us are at least a little deceptive or even manipulative, because this is what makes for bearable social interaction. Some of the laws even made some strange kind of common sense to me. However, the way to power has used quite sinister methods throughout history. Greene discusses taking credit for other people's accomplishments wherever possible as a law of power. I was surprised to read that Thomas Edison took credit for Tesla's and other inventors' ideas. Has all the juvenile literature on Edison been leading us astray on the virtues of Thomas Edison? I found the discussion of envy outstanding. Greene tells us that envy is the sin that no one will admit to. He cautions us to resists parading our successes to avert the envy that others will not show, but will feel and will find ways to undercut our success. He also says that a "sour grapes" attitude is not so bad. It helps us avoid envy, by devaluing the success we want, but cannot attain.
Rating:
Summary: 48 Laws Of Power
Review: Hi I only read the cover of this book and immmediately i know i must Must own a copy please please tell me how to obtain a copy thnak you.
Rating: 
Summary: Shameless courting of people's worst instincts
Review: This book is an absolute must to read and study if you want to be just like Richard on "Survivor." On one hand, you'll get rid of "the little people" with some success, if you're very, very, very lucky you may win quite a great deal of material profit; on the other hand, you're likely to have people absolutely despise you if they can see through you at all (and they likely will), and want to keep you at arm's length.
Rating:
Summary: A Naughty Book on getting ahead in life
Review: This is a naughty book. It teaches the would-be proponent of the power game, to be mean and nasty, and how to get ahead in life. To this end, the book sets out The 48 Laws of Power. The 48 Laws of Power is highly common-sensical, realistic and practical. Notwithstanding the meanness of the 48 Laws, I found this book to be a valuable guide to getting on in life. Politics and human relations are inevitable matters which we have to deal with in life. The sooner one learns and masters the 48 Laws, the better. Personally, I would not advocate actively practising the 48 Laws. But knowing what these 48 Laws are, is imperative. They more one is aware of these Laws, the better one is able to identify life's dangers and avoid or defend oneself from potential troubles. I like how each chapter focuses on a specific Law of Power. The chapters follow a common systematic and organised template which makes reading easy. The chapters are packed with loads of lessons and historic examples, illustrating how each Law works. Beside learning the Laws of Power, I also learnt a great deal of history from this book. And if you are a student of Sun-Tzu, Machiavelli or Clausewitz, you will love this book. When I first read this book back in November 1998, I had the opportunity to reflect on and observe the workings of The 48 Laws of Power. Dr Mahathir, Prime Minister of Malaysia had just then sacked his Deputy the charismatic Anwar Ibrahim. Interestingly, a copy of Asiaweek in or about that time showed a picture of Dr Mahathir, in his office, shaking hands with his new Deputy, Badawi - in the foreground of the picture, on Dr Mahathir's desk, a copy of The 48 Laws of Power could be found.
Rating:
Summary: Mix with Senge and get reality
Review: This is something as usual as a book on how to succeed inlife/workplace, even though it is in my opinion a lot better (andreal) than most of the rubbish out there. What makes it interesting (excepting the new-age layout) is that it can be mixed with Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline (+The Fifth DFiscipline Fieldbook) and get that the mixture will create something usful. Greeene and Elffers are a bit too manipulative (even if that in my opinion is reality) and Senge is a bit too "touchy-feally" with an idealistic streak. Mix these two book and you can probably get your organisation to go where you want it to go (and keep going after you quit pushing). Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: An, um, interesting book
Review: I would probably write a favorable review of this book - but following the lessons taught in it - I deny ever reading it! In fact, I denounce any effort by any author that encourages his readers to engage in power-grabbing over love and cooperation! A travesty.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun and Informative, but No Guide to Fulfillment
Review: As a voyueristic peek into the minds and lives of the ethically challenged throughout history, the 48 Laws of Power is as entertaining as it gets. However, beyond that, it's only real value, is as a means of categorizing, recognizing, and hopefully thwarting, the tactics of the sleazebags among us. It seems to me that what the authors have given us is an updated and expanded Baltasar Gracian (The Art of Worldly Wisdom), without the charm. It's still a fun read, but one senses a certain shallowness that is not entirely compensated for by the wealth of historical allusions. Enjoy it for what it's worth, but certainly, take it with a (large) grain of salt!
Rating:
Summary: Massively entertaining, yet somewhat flawed
Review: this book is great and well worth the money, but the fact is the quest for power involves compromise and isn't it easier to just think you have achieved power. that what i think. i guess that seperates madman from geniuses also, the book gives historical examples of the laws being obeyed (positive) and not obeyed (negative), but you can choose a well placed anecdote for any point. "the paths of glory lead but to the grave". "it is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims"- aristotle
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