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Summary: A very fun book to read!
Review: I don't agree at all with the author's global metaphor that, "life is like a war." However, I do think that they make a very entertaining (and funny!) study of war, confidence scams, seduction, and politics. This book contains many very interesting viewpoints on history and human interactions. Everyone I have shared this book with has had a good laugh at the bluntness of the writing, called it 'evil,' and then they bought a copy for themselves.Reading this book was like reading the rules on the back of the top of a Monopoly board game. It describes a game that we don't have to play, or we may decide to play it our way. But no matter how we approach the game, it sure is a whole lot less frustrating to know the rules. Therefore, I think that this is a great book for the timid, non-ruthless people in the world. Just knowing the rules that other people may be playing with could save uncountable careers, romances, businesses, and lives. Now, let me ask you a question. Who would be the people who would have the most to lose should a book like this become very popular? Powerless losers, or master con-artists who would have the curtain of secrecy pulled away from their game? The truly ruthless people in the world already know just about everything in the book, it isn't news to them! One warning! Only talk about this book with your coolest, most trusted non-work-related friends. One man actually asked one of my friends, "Why would you study that if you didn't want to use it for evil?" Sure Buddy, and all of the psychologists are studying human nature so that they can really mess us up. I believe that our lives can either be a gift or a curse to other people. Everything is a tool and can be used for either constructive or destructive purposes. In sum, BUY THIS BOOK, it is GREAT! (Robert and Joost: I will be waiting for the check!)
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Summary: FALLS SHORT OF ITS POTENTIAL
Review: The concept was good. A book exploring power, how it works and the so called laws of power. Unfortunately it might better be called the laws of ancient Chinese secrets. Power is far more reaching than the historical analysis of this book. While looking at ancient Chinese and French antedotes, there is far more to power than those isolated cultures. Some of the Laws are relative today, but the book uses far too many examples of these historical periods and none from today. The book would have much greater impact if the author had looked at more recent examples of power and how it applies to our current world.`
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Summary: A must buy! A must buy! A must read! A must read!
Review: This book has taught me many things about the human psyche and how to handle every situation that arises. Power is a game that we must treat seriously. We are all courtiers in this royal court (earth). We cannot avoid it, and we can only embrace it. Go ahead, read it, its worth it.
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Summary: 48 laws is a Handbook on how to succeed at the game of Power
Review: The 48 Laws is designed as a kind of ultimate encyclopedia on the subject. After examining the classic writings on power, from ancient China to modern America, and analyzing the actions of hundreds of historical figures, I deduced certain laws, timeless and definitive. By observing these laws you will gain more power, and by transgressing them you will inevitably suffer a decrease. There are laws that involve pure strategy ("Always make the opponent come to you"), laws that are warnings against dangerous behavior ("Never outshine the Master") and laws that prescribe the use of seduction and deception to cloak the manipulation involved ("Conceal your intentions," "Do not commit to anyone but be courted by all.") These are some of the classic tactics that masters of power inevitably use, but the critic from Kirkus Reviews who critiqued The 48 Laws of Power played one of the oldest power tricks in the book-he or she ignored what the ! 48 Laws is about, and decided to change the subject, to attack the book for what it isn't. The reviewer, for instance, calls the book "nonsense" because certain laws appear to contradict one another, citing one law that advocates "courting attention at all cost" and another that prescribes "behaving like others" and blending in. But all great writers on power and strategy, from Sun Tzu to Machiavelli, have emphasized the need for constant adaptability and the changing of tactics, never worrying that you might appear to contradict yourself. At one point in your rise to the top you must "court attention at all cost." At other, more dangerous moments, it is critical to blend into the crowd. This is a key theme of The 48 Laws of Power and in fact the last law, Assume Formlessness, advocates complete fluidity. Only those who are inept at power, or hopelessly naive, believe in consistency and are frightened of contradicting themselves. Clearly! the reviewer is one of those types. The reviewer believes ! I have not really ever defined power, but in fact my concept of power is clearly and rigorously developed through the course of the book-the indirect versus the direct variety, nuances of manipulation, the complete amorality of power. Perhaps the reviewer would prefer some pat definition that boils it all down to a formula, but that is not what The 48 Laws of Power is about. Power, like life, is complicated and defies easy answers. The reviewer believes I merely assume that we live in a power-hungry, amoral world, and do not offer evidence of such. But once again that is to ask for another book. This is a book about the essence of Power, and not a discourse on the need for virtue, or the lack of ethics in our world. The reader can make his own judgment on what kind of world we live in. And as I assert in the Preface, those who make a point of trying to deny that power games permeate our world, are often the most adept players of all, critics most definitely included. Perhaps t! he problem for the reviewer and others who find the book too strong is that The 48 Laws of Power so accurately reflects the society we live in that it elicits fear. They prefer to believe that people generally have good and noble intentions, and any kind of hint that the world is otherwise makes them very nervous and jumpy. They would rather censor the realist and Machiavellians among us, for the truth is far too dangerous.
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Summary: Historically accurate & insightful view into human behavior
Review: This book appeals on so many levels. As the author states himself, the book "...can be used in several ways." He divides its uses into 3 categories: 1) a guide to power in general; 2) browsing for a law applicable in one's life; and 3) browsing for entertainment. This culling of 3,000 years of philosophy, literature and wisdom, distilled into 48 "laws", is a fascinating read all the way through. The book sites so many historical references and quotes that reading the red notes in the margins of the book is fascinating in itself. I neither advocate nor dismiss these "laws", but reading about them goes far to explain much that I see in today's cut-throad Corporate world - I see that nothing has changed except the literal bloodshed which has been replaced by the metaphorical bloodshed happening in thousands of boardrooms across the US on a daily basis. If you too are swimming with the sharks, this is a must read!
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Summary: The Turkish Political System
Review: 25 February,1999 The Turkish political system, from 'The Prince' to '48 Laws of Power' Agenda By Fehmi Koru,Turkish Daily News, Ankara Ankara - "The Prince" by Italian author Niccolo Machiavelli, who lived from 1469 to 1527, is considered to be the all-time top-selling book in the world. The reason this book has maintained its popularity for a period of over 500 years is because it meets a very significant requirement: It teaches statesmen how to remain standing on their own two feet. These days, the most conspicuous corners of every bookstore, both in England and the United States, where I had the opportunity to visit in recent months, are filled with a new book, the author of which is evidently from the lineage of Machiavelli, as one can easily detect by just opening the cover. The book, entitled "The 48 Laws of Power" (Robert Greene, Viking Books, 1998), is intended to provide politicians and company executives who are involved in intricate relations similar to those of politics with advice of the type contaminated by concepts like infidelity, treachery and cruelty. Since I read it, I can easily tell you that it is a very useful book. "The 48 Laws of Power" presents the readers with many events that took place in history. I realized, however, that under the light of the knowledge I gained by reading the book, I could better evaluate the events that are currently progressing before our very own eyes. Since they are not known for their interest in books, and moreover, since the book was published only recently, it is obvious that our politicians are following these rules simply by instinct. The most fundamental condition of democracy is for power to accumulate in the grassroots. Through such a process, it is believed that the support provided by the masses will be much stronger. The impeachment process of President Bill Clinton was concrete evidence of how true this assumption is. The senators did not dare to dismiss the president from office while the majority of people were providing support for Clinton. Due to this reality, the accuracy of which has been proven over and over again, elections in countries that are governed by democracy are completed in several steps, in an effort to assure people that they are the ones who are electing their representatives. This is not the way it is done in Turkey. With only one exception, the candidacy of the prospective deputies finalized as of yesterday were determined by an odd system called "central survey." The names of the applicants were prioritized by a few party executives, and the final decisions were made by the party leaders. As a result, the deputies who will enter Parliament will not be "deputies of the people," as stipulated in the Constitution, or even the "deputies of the party," as we may all think, but will, in actual fact, be the "deputies of the leaders." This reality perfectly matches item 11 of the Laws of Power, which maintains: "Learn to keep people depend on you." Nothing could be more natural than for deputies who are handpicked by their leaders to feel insecure and to try and demonstrate their loyalty at any time, in any situation. This type of tense state-of-mind may, after a while, lead people to betrayal. In my opinion, the main reason behind deputies' regularly changing their political parties by transferring to another is rebellion against the requirement of having to satisfy the leaders and show loyalty at all times. But this process of changing parties does not change the basic reality. The deputy who betrayed his or her leader ends up having to show loyalty to the new leader, as there is no other way out. Item 17 of the Laws of Power maintains: "Keep others in suspended terror, cultivate an air of unpredictability." As you can see, our political leaders know perfectly well how to utilize power, without even reading the book. If they did not know, how could they use Rule 15, which states "Crush your enemy totally," to so skilfully eradicate their rivals within the party? The deputies who are not popular with the leaders are the first ones to be eliminated. The political elimination of some of the party members will be accomplished in two separate steps, as they are either placed at the bottom of the election lists, where they have no chance to win, or they have been nominated for mayoral seats for cities in which the party is not at all popular. In any event, their removal will be inevitable. Experienced leaders would prefer not to get their hands soiled when they initiate this eradication process. The ones who are eliminated would, in a way, sense that the fatal blow is coming from their leaders, but they cannot say that directly to their faces. Let's say that they have accumulated adequate courage to speak their mind. There are always a few pawns available for a leader to lay the blame on. They defend themselves by saying: "I beg your pardon, it was a mistake that was made by ..." The 26th golden rule of the Laws of Power advises: "Keep your hands clean. You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency. Your hands must never be soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat's paws to disguise your involvement." It must be borne in mind that the politicians who are placed in lower priorities or nominated in areas where they cannot possibly win are the ones who agreed to this method during the previous elections. The leaders, who are the only ones equipped with the power of nominating candidates, have this time used this power in favor of those candidates with whom they can maintain harmony, who will better serve them and who will not become rivals at a later date. If the ones who were eliminated had ever had the chance to read the book, they would have realized that item 40 of the 48 Rules is in perfect conformity with the situation they have found themselves in, which states: "Despise the free lunch. What is offered for free is dangerous. It usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation." I would like to express my admiration of Machiavelli, who 500 years ago said, "A Prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires." We cannot deny that some of our politicians have reached such a level of dexterity that it is necessary to increase the number of these rules.
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Summary: The Only thing you cannot get in life...
Review: ...is something for nothing. Yes, it is possible to achieve financial success and political power using the laws in this book, but at what cost? I have read extensively on the principles that successful, powerful people both past and present have used to access power. The greatest people of all time have realized that unlike what Mr. Greene suggests, real, sustainable power comes from within--it cannot be had be had through the manipulation of external conditions, i.e. effects not causes. The most powerful people (some who used their power for good, others for not so good), accessed the power we all have WITHIN us. My analysis has demonstrated to me that the only people who are able to become very powerful in business, politics and socially and yet still have excellent health, great relationships and above all PEACE OF MIND, accessed the power within. I believe that all those who want to rise to positions of power and authority (and enjoy the associated benefits of such) yet still maintain good friendships, good marriages, have good health and peace of mind, should spend more time accessing the power within because this is the only power than enables one to "have it all". This book was good because it enables those who live by certain ethical principles to identify and protect themselves against those ideas that are discussed (and very likely used) by many readers of this book. I would recommend reading Joseph Murphy's book Power of The Subconscious Mind for a better understanding of the true source of power.
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Summary: A book on power by two fledgling authors?
Review: This book not only contradicts many tried-and-true methods of attaining power, but in the most inane way. If you followed the advice given, you would have no friends (as it advises stabbing them in the back when possible in order to make yourself look better--no joke). I was absolutely appalled at the unabashed odacity this book promulgates. If you subscribe to the Golden Rule, this book is not for you. It is my belief that if Jack Welch were to read this book, he'd laugh, and discredit everything the authors say. In addition to the above statement, this book advises: as long as you can get away with it--do it, reject loyalty to others, deception, etc. It read like two high school geeks trying to sound "tough." Avoid this book at all costs, that is, assuming you are mature. I can tell you that this book will get you no where in life (other than backwards).
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Summary: Fun to read, but not practical
Review: I have to agree with the Kirkus reviewer -- the "laws" in this book contradict each other. In addition to the "Be conspicuous / Blend in" paradox, there are at least these others: (1) Be absent to increase your power / Don't isolate yourself from others, or you'll lose power (2) Crush your enemies totally / Win your enemies over with love There are probably others, but those are the ones I recall off the top of my head. It is no defense for the author to say that well, sometimes one rule works, and sometimes another does. That's not what being a "law" is all about. We don't hear scientists say, "Well, in this case the law of gravity is not called for -- instead, we're going to use the law of floating in midair." Laws are laws. They can't have random, undefined "exceptions" at unpredictable times. The author doesn't even try to formulate rules for when certain of the power "laws" are called for, and when their opposites would work (the "reversal" sections notwithstanding), he just rattles off all 48 one after the other. But then, I guess a book called "The 48 Tactics of Power That Might or Might Not Work When You Try Them" wouldn't sell well. Despite this shortcoming, the anecdotes in the book are often quite engaging, although a little more variety is called for. The same cast of characters crops up again and again: Yellow Kid Weil, Count Victor Lustig, Talleyrand, Bismarck, Barnum, and Kissenger must have been the most powerful folks in history based on how often they are mentioned here. It would've been nice to hear from more contemporary power players -- Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey, for instance. Overall, a fun but largely useless book.
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Summary: How To Use Friends and Step All Over Them...
Review: Firstly, I am appalled at the number of reviewers -myself included- who have given this book 5 stars. Appalled because of the dearth of simple ethical behavior. But since I live in the ::::REAL:::: world -as opposed to the happy go lucky fairy tale land of fantasy where people lead ethical lives and do not act out of self-interest- I give this book 5 stars for its brutal honesty.
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