The 48 laws of power by Robert Greene
Self help book genre
Audio Book produced by Audible
Long post alert; There are no spoilers since this is not a murder mystery! This is also a summary of the book in case you do not get any time to read or listen to the book! In case of plan in the future of reading this book then the review is like a refresher for you!
Listening time- more than 17 hours which can be reduced by increasing the speed to 1.2 without any loss of diction or meaning
Rating- as a self help book 4/5; as a book you read before going to war! 5/5
The author has imagined life as a war where people in spite of being in modern times are actually stuck in ancient times! He states that even though the kings and the dukes have changes, they have been replaced by bosses and other people in power! And since the position is similar, the rules may have different names but they remain more or less the same!
As you can very well guess, there are 48 rules! Just the listing of the rules will take couple of pages and most of the time the name itself is self explanatory.
In most cases, the author states the law and starts by giving examples. He narrates a story which you may or may not have heard. He enumerates different aspects of the law via these stories. He then goes on to narrate the reversal or exceptions to the law (if any) by giving examples as and when required.
He takes stories from ancient kingdoms including and not limited to chinese, japanese, french, english to name a few. He takes tales from Aesops fables, Panchatantra and Kautilya to name a few though there are many such tales told in accordance to the law discussed. Many times after elaborating the law in the context of ancient time, he proceeds to tell how the law is relevant or how you can make the law relevant to the present context!
We can take and elaborate on the laws as and when we encounter them but you can actually listen to the stories in context with the law so that you can get a feel of what the author is trying to convey.
The first law is one of the best ones! It talks about how even if you have talent, it is better to not make it obvious! He tells the story of how a courtier met the executioner’s noose simply because he threw a lavish party while on the other hand about Galileo who discovered the Moons of Jupiter and in an attempt of getting the royal grace named them after his king! The law is ‘Never outshine your master’.
The second law starts with a horrible story of a friend who in spite of repeated help and support finally turns against his own friend and benefactor! And then how the author states that an enemy is much more reliable since he has so much to prove while a friend can never be trusted! Here also the author gives so many examples from history to support this view. The law is called ‘Never put too much trust in friends, Learn How to use your enemies!’
The third law is about secret akin to how you must never praise the product before purchase! How you must not openly reveal what you want since then it will be difficult to get it or you would get more resistance to get it! The law is ‘Conceal your intentions’
An extension of the above law is how you must try to limit the information given by you! The more you give, the more people know you and your true intentions so as per the law ‘Always say less than necessary’ which is the fourth law!
One of the most important things or treasures which everyone must protect is his or her reputation! The next law states and describes on how you must take care of it! The law is, ‘Much depends on reputation-Guard it with your life’
A corollary of the above three laws may be this law which states how you must draw attention to yourself when it is important or necessary! As you read the laws you will realize that many laws contradict each other or sometimes are the bang opposites! Then you must understand that these laws depend on the circumstances! You cannot put salt everywhere! The law is called, ‘Court attention at all cost’
An extension of getting attention is the fact that you must take credit for good work whether it has been done by you or not! Sometimes you can make others do your work but make sure you get the credit for it! This is of course how Managers and team leaders work anyway! The law is, ‘Get others to do the work for you but always get the credit!”
An indirect extension of the above law is to get people to come to you or work for you or make you his or her boss or friend! Even if you tempt them with offers or bait! This is the eight law!
Although speaking is important, the author has more than once pointed out that silence is really good especially when you are correct. It is better to maintain a silent dignity than shout or as the law states, ‘Win through your actions and never through argument’
With the above laws in place the authors tells you to stay away from those who are either unsuccessful or not very lucky! Their bad luck would befall you and you can kiss success goodbye! He brutally states how they are like infected people whom you should stay away from if you want to succeed in life! The law is thus literally titled, ‘Infection: Avoid the unhappy and unlucky’
After the first ten laws you would get to know the general feel of the direction in which the book takes you! The author always assumes that you are reading this book to be successful in one way or the other! Or that the whole life is like a constant war and a competition which you have to win no matter what!
With that premise in mind he talks about how you must have followers or employees who follow you. How you must just give them enough that they will stay with you or follow you but not too much that they leave! That’s the eleventh law!
When you come face to face with an enemy then once in a while you can actually be true or kind to them! It can be a tactic to bide time to become stronger or get a means to escape the current predicament. The law is, ‘Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim’. These acts such as a timely gift or the Trojan horse will bring the guard of your enemy down and then you can attack! Of course the Trojan Horse story is mentioned here! One of the best stories he tells was about how a trickster dupes a crime lord Al Capone! The best thief is the one who steals from a thief!
Now at many point in your life you may need to ask for help from someone. Here the author states that instead of asking for charity, try to point out how the help given to you may actually be beneficial to the helping party and this will make him or her help you earnestly! The law is to ask for help by appealing to their self interest and never for their mercy or pity!
The author does not believe in being a friend since at the end of the day it is every man or woman to himself or herself! So in like a corollary to the law of friends; he states how instead of being a friend you must actually be a spy! May not be digestible to many but then there are so many laws! You can pick and choose whichever laws you want to or not want to follow!
Another contradictory theme is how in some stories the author states that you can make your friend your enemy but in this law he states how if your enemy is stronger or may pose a threat in the future then you Must crush your enemy totally and there must be no half measure!
The narration in these situations starts by the title called Judgement which is followed by examples of Transgression of the law and finally if poignant, the author talks about the reversal or exceptions of the law! Some have all these while many have some! Meaning some laws are mere guidelines while some laws are more rigid with no exceptions!
The sixteenth law is similar to how the absence makes your heart go fonder! Here however he talks about how your absence makes you special and in many ways increases your respect and honor!
An extension of being secretive law is that you keep others in a suspended terror! By cultivating an air of unpredictability! Many kings and rulers are known to be unpredictable which makes them powerful and successful!
But the 18th law tells the bang opposite in that, Do not build fortresses to protect yourself-Isolation is dangerous! He explains this by telling the story of a king who became so isolated because of fear that when he died, no one got to know about it and he died alone! In fact when you isolate yourself in a castle then everyone knows your weakness and your castle in fact becomes your prison!
The next two laws are the laws of information and dealing with people especially in trade. The 19th law is that you must know whom you are dealing with in that you must get to know him or her so that you do not ignorantly offend the wrong person!
The next law states that even if you know what you want, it is better not to commit yourself to anyone or anything! It is always better to be neutral and depending on the opportunity which presents and then you can choose the winning side!
Another interesting law is; ‘Play a sucker to catch a sucker- seem dumber than your mark’. Effectively similar to the law above where you do not seem powerful to your enemy and then make them underestimate you and fail!
When you are caught then you must surrender at first and bide for time and plan your next move. The law here is use the surrender tactic and transform your weakness into power!
The next three laws are basically what you do in defeat or when you are faced with challenges. You must first ‘Concentrate your forces’ then ‘Play the perfect courtier or team player or employee or follower!’ and finally ‘re create yourself!”.
Everyone makes mistakes but it is only the clever who can hide them properly! This is probably one of the best quotes of the book! In the 26th law Robert talks about the need for a scapegoat and tells us the origin of the terminology too! You need someone to blame for your failures or a scapegoat so that you do not come as a weak person! The law is called ‘Keep your hands clean’
When you make a team you must keep yourself in a step above your followers! because people need someone to follow so the next law is ‘Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult like following’
Of course when you do act then once you decide to enter there must not be any doubt or confusion! The law is ‘Enter action with boldness’
Game of life is like chess, you need to plan multiple moves and you must act accordingly. The author says that ending is everything! Here he talks about El Dorado the kingdom of gold! The law was ‘Plan all the way to the end!’
People normally do not want to listen to your struggles or how hard you work! That shows that you are weak. Here the author talks about the Japanese tea ceremony and in fact he talks about the tea ceremony and the skills for the ceremony throughout the book in different places. The law here is ‘Make your accomplishments seem effortless’
The 31st law is based on the premise that you are giving your opponents a choice! Or at least they feel they are getting a choice while in fact you have all controls! The law is ‘Control the options: get others to play with the cards you deal’
The truth is difficult to hear because its ugly and painful! People love romance and beauty even if it is a lie! People don’t want the truth but want to dream! So the best way or law is; ‘Play to people’s fantasies’
The best way to get control over others is to get to know or find out your opponents weakness which is like a screw which you can turn to your advantage! You can do this by observation and watching for gestures! Everyday conversations are a treasure of knowledge by appearing interested in other person’s life. Everyone tries to hide something so there is little to be learned in our conscious behavior! Instead look for the subconscious clues! The law is ‘discover each man’s thumbscrew”
Be royal in your own fashion: Act like a king to be treated like one! That’s the law and Robert talks about Louis Philip and how he was not from direct royalty and how he treated Businessmen as equal! The royal people never like him, the poor had disdain for him while the bankers had to respect for him!
Never seem to be in a hurry! Be slow and steady! Hurrying shows a lack of control and poor planning! The best way to move forward is the law; ‘Master the art of timing’. The life and times Joseph Fouche; the minister of France and his stories are told here on how his precise timing made him successful!
Acknowledgement of a petty problem is actually giving justice or validation of the problem! Hence the 36th law is, ‘Disdain things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best revenge!’
Imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power which everyone responds to! You dazzle with appearance! He talks about the ‘moon doctor!’ How this particular ‘doctor’ cured people by exposing people to the moon light from one window of his house while his wife did the same to the ladies in the opposite window! No one bothered to ask how moonlight can fall on opposite sides of the house! The law was termed; ‘create compelling spectacles’
An extension of the above laws of being neutral or being secretive or not making your opinions known openly is the law of ‘Think as you like but behave like others’ In effect meaning that you gel with the crowd till the right moment.
Sometimes the only way to catch a fish in silent waters is by stirring up the water so that the fishes would swim to the surface! You must stay calm but you must incite anger and emotions (which are strategically counter productive) in your enemies! So that you can strike them when they are agitated and not in control!
One of the best laws which I personally believe and follow is the free lunch! Since what is offered for free is dangerous! It always comes with a price! If something is important then its worth paying for! I use the same principle even in buying app from the app store! The law is; ‘Despise the free lunch’
The 41st law is mostly of the great son of a great father! If your father is great or famous or legendary then it is much better to do things differently than him. It is because of a simple rule! What happens first or is original is always better! If you have to accomplish the same thing then you have to work harder and achieve at least the double! The author states thus; ‘Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes!’
‘Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter’ is a very astute law! You can always find one guy or the primary issue or the chief leader who make the problem or stir up anxiety! The author tells story about how in a village they would have a ballot to banish one person who irritates everyone the most! So if the votes are large that particular person is banished!
The 43rd law is to ‘Work on the heart and minds of others’ play on the fears and emotions of the people! The tale is told about Marie Antoinette the wife of Louis the 16th but how she falls from being the favorite and stopping to be with the general public! Of course it does not end well!
A mirror reflects reality but it also shows the same reality to others! Gazing upon the mirror you generally see how you want to be seen by not noticing the blemishes at first! The narcissistic power of mirror is that you can neutralize (as medusa story) and do other things such as how in childhood we get irritated when someone tries to mirror or repeat what we say! So you can use the mirror effect to disarm and infuriate your enemy!
The 45th law is an extension of being slow and steady and also an amalgamation of many of the previous laws. How you must preach the need for change but never reform too much at once! Any change must be gradual. Here the author also states how people are so set to routine that too much change would cause too much disturbance and imbalance.
A corollary of the law which is not to show your weakness is the law which states. ‘Never appear too perfect’. When this happens then people do not see the struggle and do not appreciate the effort you have taken. This also causes an increase in expectations which is a sure sign of downfall!
An often repeated law in different forms is the 47th law which is to stop when you are at your peak. Retire at the summit or the finish line or as the law states; ‘Do not go past the mark you aimed for: In victory learn when to stop’
A final combination of many of the above law is the final law which is to avoid taking a form. It is always better to gel in any shape meaning that you must be flexible! The Law states; ‘Assume Formlessness’
The author states that these laws have to be used depending on the situations and you can select which law to use! Most stories are of ancient times and of civilizations which are old and long gone! But the author still feels that even though and kings and the queens are gone, their representatives are the same!!
Many stories told in the book are known and many stories are repeated! Some are so unbelievable like the con who tried to sell Eiffel tower! Some stories and characters are repeated in parts to fill a particular law or justify the same! Like the story of Houdini the magician! Or Napolean Bonarpate! Or Even Galileo and Michelangelo! The stories and their conclusions are the best part of the novel and really interesting!
This is of course a reference book and just like me you may remember parts of the book when it becomes prominent or comes into your mind!
An absolutely amazing book as far as I am concerned since it is direct, raw and to the point!
This is like the modern version of Art of War or the Arthashasthra by Kautilya both of which are quoted and referenced in the book in many places!
Remember, it is a war out there! Be prepared!
ramadocblog 