Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.3
EAN: 9780140280197
ISBN: 0140280197
Label: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 452
Publication Date: September 01, 2000
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Release Date: September 05, 2000
Sales Rank: 464
Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power in to 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 teach the need for prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), the virtue of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many demand the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"), but like it or not, all have applications in real life. 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.

Amazon.com Review:
"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective," writes Robert Greene. Mastery of one's emotions and the arts of deception and indirection are, he goes on to assert, essential. The 48 laws outlined in this book "have a simple premise: certain actions always increase one's power ... while others decrease it and even ruin us."

The laws cull their principles from many great schemers--and scheming instructors--throughout history, from Sun-Tzu to Talleyrand, from Casanova to con man Yellow Kid Weil. They are straightforward in their amoral simplicity: "Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit," or "Discover each man's thumbscrew." Each chapter provides examples of the consequences of observance or transgression of the law, along with "keys to power," potential "reversals" (where the converse of the law might also be useful), and a single paragraph cleverly laid out to suggest an image (such as the aforementioned thumbscrew); the margins are filled with illustrative quotations. Practitioners of one-upmanship have been given a new, comprehensive training manual, as up-to-date as it is timeless.




Rating: - Puerile, so puerile
Why would someone want to read this trash when the writings of Gracian are readily available? Mr. Greene's puerile commentary and interpretations serve no worthwhile purpose, given the fact that he over-exteriorises and banalises the matter (Gracian would say: "Leave some room for mystery..."). Furthermore, it should be noted that more than a half of his 48 'laws' are plagiarisations of Gracian's maxims. At the most Mr. Greene will only appeal to frustrated adolescents. But when these adolescents ... Read More

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Rating: - Superb Read!
This book was splendid. Combines 48 excellent teachings with intriguing examples from history to back them up. If you enjoy history at like myself you'll find the read very enjoyable.

Most any of the low ratings this book received are from high ground moralists who look down upon some of what is discussed. A number of the Laws are somewhat amoral, but unfortanately so can the world we live in. While I still wish to believe in the common good of mankind, there are times that some of these ... Read More

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Rating: - Excellent!
I liked this book as much as I liked Greene's "Art of Seduction". The author walks the same path of analyzing historical events and people delving deeply into their psychological nature and provides examples taken from life in order to make a point.

This is a great book even if the reader is not interested in gaining power over others. It is a very interesting and fascinating read, and as always with Greene's books I couldn't put it down. The author is clearly very well read and knows what ... Read More

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Rating: - Machiavellianism at its worst
The tragedy of Greene's simplistic authoritarian view of power is that it is addictive and those struggling with feelings of powerlessness will flock to it. It is practical in that it can succeed in medicating readers against the anxiety that comes with not being in control in life, but it is deceptive in that if you follow Greene's advice you will end up with a life that you have contructed for yourself that you won't want. There are other practical approaches to power that take into account the complexity ... Read More

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Rating: - Good prison reading
I got this book for my boyfriend in prison. At first they confiscated it as contraband then returned it to him. He loved the book.

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