Rating: 
Summary: a half baked pseudo-scholarly middlebrow comic book
Review: this book isn't so much a rigorous examination of the dynamic interplays that get lumped together under the vatic, ever enticing, and marketable concept of Power as it is a catalog of mediocre observations and trivial truths glommed together with pretentious layouts, typefaces, and a faux machiavellian tone guaranteed to wow the audience. However, real power is a far subtler business transacted on a daily basis by those who have been through this stage of intellectual adolescence and moved on to higher levels of the game. Power also has a genuinely ethical dimension; a positive, constructive, life ordering nature. The author(s) miss this essential point. Power is not so often "seized" as it is granted, and that granting of power can be undone or reversed if the one given it is seen as no longer worthy. Where this book implies that Power is a one way street, where the power seeker must debase his or her values, attain a cool nihilism, reject the common good, wallow in paranoid bogs of misstrust and betrayal, many others would suggest that power may derive from adhering to better values, finding dignity and reward in ordinary life, struggling for common betterment, and above all, rising above the pettyness, cheapness, small mindedness, sterility, and grubbing cruelty of lost souls going at each other like rodents in a bucket. Power may have a demonstrative, exemplary, transformative potential. The real question isn't whether we can grab power, or not, but what we choose to do with power in those moments when we experience it. The power of a Nelson Mandela, Franklin Roosevelt, Ghandi; this stands in the starkest contrast to author's model of power. Woe betide the naive seeker who imagines that the book Power is anywhere near a complete accounting of the phenomenon. It is a partial and simplistic depiction. Within the confines of its' partiality and oversimplification, it has solid enough points to make. A few of the sketches are entertaining and some are mildly instructive. If there is any lasting value to all of this, it may be to alert one that there are those out there who will take Power's theories to heart, and one eye has to be kept open for such creatures. If you insist on reading Power, do yourself the favor of Marcus Aurelius who will help you understand the limitations of power, and Erving Goffman's "The Presentation Of Self In Everyday Life"
Rating: 
Summary: guide for the amoral
Review: this is a great read,the book has alot of history,and as a guide to power its very down to earth and realistic,there isnt any nonsense crap all these laws work ,this book isnt for the good hearted moral man.,the laws are ruthless,and very machivellian.
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Summary: Fascinating look at the world for the power hungry.
Review: This book is not only informative but also very entertaining. The stories used to illustrate the 48 Laws are little gems of historical reportage. This book will give you both a good read and some great ideas!
Rating:
Summary: This is a Great Book!
Review: I know that everyone will not like this book because the book is not for everybody. This book is only sort of reserved for the people who want to be smart, cunning, and most of all the ones who craves and hungers for power. They wrote the con artist, and swindlers on this book not so that we could become swindlers, but so that we could be wise and smart enough to outwit and outsmart the con artist, the swindlers and other kind of weasels that we encounter and who are out to robbed us of our dignity and of our money. As Machiavelli says i think that "You can't be too good" because if you are then people can take advantage of your goodness and mocked and robbed your dignity and your reputation out of you. That's why as he implied i think that be both a sheep in the outside and wolf in the inside. This book in a way enlightened me to the realms of power which i hungrily desire. I tell you use this book with CAUTION because the laws in this book can be use against you. That's all!
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Summary: Lessons from History for today's world
Review: This book is an excellent blend of history and theory written for today's world with lessons from the past.It is easy to read in sections and a book that you will want to re-read once you have finished! You will never be able to temper your emotions and apply all of the lessons in the book, however, understanding them will help move you toward their desired results. An understanding of these 48 Rules will also help you identify the moves others are making and how to react to them. Recommended reading for anyone who lives outside their own home and interacts with the world around us.
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Summary: Welcome to the New Machiavelli!
Review: This is a book which should be read and retained close by for immediate review. No judgement should be passed on the morality or immorality of this book - it merely states fact. The authors have brought Machiavelli's "The Prince" into modern day, and have improved upon this classic work. While many believe that Machiavelli is the symbol of absolute ruthlessness, it is not disputed that his work is a classic and should be studied. So too with "The 48 Laws of Power." The book is neither good, nor evil. It is a tool, a valuable tool which is available to be used for whatever purpose its reader chooses. If you are one of the multitude of corporate sociopaths which seem to be everywhere, you will enjoy the sage advice presented on how to prepare for your next feeding frenzy of innocent lives. On the same hand, everyone should read this book to at least be aware of the absolutely ruthless tactics which can be used against you. It is a two-edged, amoral sword. The reader must decide how this book suits their purpose. I was so impressed with the book that I gave a copy of it to my son at college with the advice, "Read this and welcome to the real world." If anything, this book is similar to regulations. You only look at regulations when A) You are getting ready to burn somebody or B) Somebody is getting ready to burn you. The authors have done us all a favor.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a book for the unthinking.
Review: The 48 Laws of Power is an interesting read, but I felt a little like I was watching a train wreck. I was facinated and at the same time rather disterbed. To be sure, there is much sage advice. However, the analysis of historical events used to justify it's "laws" is far too one dimentional and that is where it is weakest. While power over others is in itself an interesting subject, it is not the beginning and end of all things. In addition I found that several of these "laws" contradict each other. This book is interesting and I would recomind it for thoughtful people, but just as TV violence can have negative effects on the weak minded, I can see some people simply taking this book as truth without reflecting on the big picture or upon their reality. Of course if you have accepted the laws in the book you likely suspect that I have some underhanded reason for telling you all this [smile]. Is that the kind of world you want to live in? Like a Doctor's desk reference you should read it, but then think hard about what is says. Is that pain in your side just a mucle ache or something more serious? Is that gift out of love or just something to soften you up for the kill? The real danger and the real promice is that you may never see others or yourself in quite the same way again. -Rob
Rating:
Summary: Only for the Power Hungry!!
Review: Many of the "Laws" have already been previously explained, taught, published etc., but the presentation was excellent and the incorporation of historical figures adds an intellectual touch resulting in a very entertaining and very practical book. Great strategy for office warfare and handling adversaries in your life. I would recommend this book to those that are into having or attaining power. I would not recommend this book for those looking for self-help text.
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Summary: 5 star to the powerless, 1 star to the powerful
Review: This book is 5 star to those who have been gullible, naive and ignorant of the bad aspects of human nature and all the sudden, have become estastic when they discover about a book which points out the blindingly obvious.This book rates only 1 star to those who knows how dirty the game can get. A word of caution : Nothing loses you power more quickly than the breaking of the trust of those on whom your power rest. If your power rest on those whom you cannot trust; they can easily eat you as you can eat them.You can fool someone some time but you can never fool everyone all the time. You get to the top not by using the 48 Laws; you get there by eliciting the best from people but do expect that many of the dirty tricks of the 48 Laws will be played out against you - which you must know how to neutralise. I know - I managed to arrive to the top. As far as I'm concerned, this book is only good for self-defense.
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Summary: Kind Hearts and Coronets No Match for an Able Courtier
Review: The central thesis of this book seems to be that modern society parallels the courtier societies of ancient times in the way that we have to appear to be civil to one another but the only way to advance is over the 'crushed remains' of our rival. To be too overtly conspicuous in courting the masters' attention can be dangerous when the other courtiers see what you're up to and conspire to keep you from advancing any further. However, to be indirect with flattery and keep your rivals at bay with self-admonishment, seems to be a situation that is played out every day at every level of the corporate and personal world. I understand and accept this argument and can see, many times a day, where the application of priciples such as 'Never Outshine the Master' can come in useful. I was wondering if the possibility of a sort of 'Working Manual' might have been considered by Mr Greene - one of those guides that people write as a follow up to help people through the principles outlined in the original publication. I don't know how you would do it with such a sweeping subject such as this, but I do agree with an earlier reviewer (to a small degree) that the major difficulty of this book is that the information is presented in a fairly difficult to assimilate, (if attractive), format. Though I suppose making the effort to organise the Laws for oneself is probably the most useful learning tool. On the whole I found the book to be delightfully amoral (so different to most of the pollyanna, black-and-white rubbish coming out of America) and a gripping, "un-put-downable", page turner of a read. I have come back to it over and over and continue to read sections almost daily. Well done, Mr Greene, for such a scholarly and (I hope) influential work - once people are prepared to assess themselves and their relationships with detachement and insight. To those who don't like the book, I fear it is more to do with a non-acceptance of the fundamental amorality that defines us and our actions. To those people, wanting to be liked is far, far too important, I fear... I would be interested in the views of other individuals who have read this book. If you wish to contact me, please feel free on the e-mail address above.
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