The 48 Laws of Power

Rating:
Summary: Ever wanted to know why you are left behind...
Review: I went into a local bookstore seeking Sun Tzu's Art of War and one of the workers directed me towards this book, at first I was unhappy with feeling like I was being forced to buy this book, but as I began to read this wonderful book I realized it must have been divine intervention. This book teaches you about everything you need to get the attention you deserve, and what to avoid if you are a power hungry little *censored* such as myself. Ever since I have read this book, my professional life has been excellent. I now have more friends (or stepping stones as some may call them) than I have ever had before. This book states the truth more than some would like to admit, and I think this should be required reading for any type of business oriented degree in college. It has some very straight to the point lessons and gives examples about transgression of the law (riding the horse until it dies) and how to follow the law right as well as tips as to how to reverse the effects of the law in case you step in the poo you create a little too deep. A must have for cubicle warriors!!!

Rating:
Summary: 48 Laws-you choose
Review: overall a gem of a book. yes there is angles of constant deceit & seeds of manipulation planted, but the book only explains whats happened over time not in todays world. Therefore you can simply choose which laws best suit your character & adapt accordingly. Some laws make excellent reading but would not work in todays world, so basically the book excites the mind into new ideas rather than providing a non-existance gospel of power control. Fascinating insite to lifes constant struggle for superior power.

Rating:
Summary: Pathetic!
Review: This book is the biggest piece of crap I have ever read. For a moment I thought it was written by Adolf Hitler or Saddam Hussein.
It is very sad that someone would think this way. I almost feel sorry for the guy who wrote it if it were not for the fact that he is spreading this sick sh?! to other people who are probably too sad or depressed to know better.
Love yourself, love your family, love your friends, and you will be ok. At least as ok as any of us can be. And if someone tries to mess with you, don't read this book to try and get back at them. Just go on with your life.
We are all better than this.

Not worth the paper it's printed on.

Ismael Martinez

Rating:
Summary: Amazing peice of work that encourages thought . . .
Review: This book is a very wonderful peice of work. I haven't finished it yet, but I have to say that since I started reading it things have changed in my life for the better.

In terms of morales, this book isn't for everyone. If you serve others before yourself, then you have no need for this book. However, if you realize that you should look out for yourself before others, then this book might be for you.

Even if you don't want to use the book for your own power, it is a great read for finding out human nature. It also has wonderful quotes and stories from past rulers and leaders.

One of the "spotlight reviews" I read here claims that the laws are contradictory. If you only read the law names (which takes up 8 pages out of over 400), then of course they contradict themselves because you haven't gotten indepth with the law. Each law is based on instances and circumstances, which are clearly shown in the book. Each law has a reversal. Like everything in life, there is a time when the normal action isn't the right thing to do, and this book covers those instances also.

Overall, I found this book entertaining and thought provoking. Definitely a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A Magnum Opus!!!
Review:
Being a student of psychology and philosophy, it was a pure delight to read this book.The book may seem to go a bit beyond the conventional morality, yet read as a weltanschauung, I think its an exquisite venture into the dark chasms of humane desire to dominate. Furthermore, this book is a thoretical treatise of the psychoilogical arsenal that can be used quite effectively in any situation. Weather all these laws can be put into action or not, however, is a qustion that'll remain unanswered until one personally experiments with them. Having said that, personally I don't agree with all the laws stated in the book, but then thats simply because the definitions of power may differ in human beings, highly influenced by religion, goal orientation, morality etc. This book does not teach u morality, and is definately not about the mores and norms. But it sould, also, be taken into account, that the book doesnt teach you the opposite niether... if you are not aiming at being amoral, u wont be!! Quite contradictorily, it can really give you an insight into the tactics used by the power-hunters and can teach you how to safeguard yourself against these deadly weapons. Plus some laws should come in handy for all of us, like "Never Outshine Your Boss", "Conceal Your Intentions", "Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument", "Keep Others In Suspence", "Concentrate Your Forces" etc. Some of the laws may seem self-contradictory to many, yet if one is well aquanted with the way human psychology works, it won't be hard to figure out what the author is really hinting at. There are no hard and fast rules to power, not when it comes to humans. This is not a science book... this is a study of human psychology and one should keep this in mind while studying this book.

I think everyone should read this book atleast once... it is really one of its kind!!! Plus if you really wanna go deeper, buy "The Art of Seduction" by the same author... The continuation of a dark journey into the abyss of human mind!!!

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money and time
Review: Sadly the very evil nature of the book destroys any valuable advise it gives. It promotes external power based on lies and deceit. Nothing new. Not quiet sure who the book is aimed at as it gives conflicting views. I don't recommend it for people in search of true internal power which will stand the test of time.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: This book is amoral, hauntingly true and indispensable. It should be on the bookshelf of anyone who aspires to any level of success in any organization or profession. It should not gather dust but should be read regularly, according to a plan - one law a day, for example, absorbed slowly and contemplated deeply. Author Robert Greene draws on a rich variety of sources including books so threatening that they were banned by the ancient Chinese. He cites the memoirs of Machiavelli, various con men and many others who swept aside what ought to be in order to focus on what is. It might seem that anyone who follows all of these laws in their rich, narrative detail will turn out to be a very unpleasant person. That's probably not true. We suspect, in contrast, that the person who masters the laws of power will be extremely pleasant, with winning ways and a knack for likeability, yet awe-inspiring and in control - though not always obviously so. Doesn't that sound tempting?

Rating:
Summary: A different way to look at the world and your life.
Review: This book is really well written. The examples and stories in it are excellent and entertaining in themselves. Your life is probably not as grand as the situations that are explained in the book, and of past lives in history, BUT its probably because you not living up to your full potential every second of your life. Its also hard to change the way you live, and come into situations where you can use this knowlege.

Its actually helped me set better auctions on ebay.
I understand, and have a WAY different view of how the world works now, that I can use from time to time as a guide.

If you can think big enough, and match your actions to the rules, your probably going to be alot more "sucessful" than you have been in the past. But like I said its hard to make change.

Rating:
Summary: If you read 348 reviews and still didn't buy it...
Review: You probably can't be helped by this book anyway. You are incapable of taking action (ie spending 10 stupid dollars) and look too hard for guidance elsewhere. You are are likely an incorrible victim of the very stratagems described in this book.
I write this knowing it probably won't be read, but I'm being paid for my time so it doesn't matter to me. I read this book many times and reread portions of it regularly. I have given more than a dozen copies of it away. It is an incredible book, but it doesn't do the thinking for you. You have to decide when, where and how to apply which laws. Many reviewers missed that point, which explains why so many of them talk about the contradictions in the rules. Those people have missed the point. Life is contradiction. You don't just set the sails and leave them that way, you adjust them with the changing winds. Winds change, women change, your luck changes...even hairstyles change for christsake. Power is a play-it-by-ear game. This book is profoundly thought-provoking, but if you can't think your own way through it then don't waste your time. You'll just wind up another one those moralising reviewers nitpicking at something you feel threatened by because you can't understand it.

I love this book. I literally took it with me to a desert island, where I now live (and no, I am not building a fortress to isolate myself, I am using absence to increase respect and honor while I recreate myself)

Oh yeah, to the guy who said the historical anecdotes are false, go get killed. To say that the nationalists in china did not grind themselves down in war with Japan but instead entered an "unofficial" ceasefire is just plain stupid. That's what you do when you're losing, you call for a truce. And that's why it was unofficial, because they were hoping to go back and kick Japan's ass later. History is also full of contradictions. If you think I'm lying, pick up a history book from England and see how they describe George Washington. Was he a hero or a traitor? It depends on which country you studied your history in, doesn't it?

Ok, I'm done. If you still aren't ready to buy this book you have serious problems. If you really, really can't afford the 10 bucks email me your sob story and I'll buy you a copy.