The 48 Laws of Power

A moral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distils three thousand years of the history of power into 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 require prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), some stealth (“Law 3: Conceal your Intentions”), and some the total absence of mercy (“Law 15: Crush your Enemy Totally”), but like it or not, all have applications in real-life situations. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P T Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded ƒ?? or been victimized by ƒ?? power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining observing or defending against ultimate control.

Table of ContentsNever outshine the master Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies Conceal your intentions Always say less than necessary So much depends on reputation ƒ?? guard it with your life Court attention at all cost Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit Make other people come to you ƒ?? use bait if necessary Win through your actions, never through argument Infection: avoid the unhappy and unlucky Learn to keep people dependent on you Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim When asking for help, appeal to peopleƒ??s self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude Pose as a friend, work as a spy Crush your enemy totally Use absence to increase respect and honor Keep other in suspended terror: cultivate an air of unpredictability Do not build fortresses to protect yourself ƒ?? isolation is dangerous Know who youƒ??re dealing with ƒ?? do not offend the wrong person Do not commit to anyone Play a sucker to catch a sucker ƒ?? seem dumber than your mark Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power Concentrate your forces Play the prefect courtier Re-create yourself Keep your hands clean Play on peopleƒ??s need to believe to create a cultlike following Enter action with boldness Plan all the way to the end Make your accomplishments seem effortless Control the options : get others to play with the card you deal Play to peopleƒ??s fantasies Discover each manƒ??s thumbscrew Be royal in your own fashion: act like a king to be treated like one Master the art of timing Disdain things you cannot have : ignoring them is the best revenge Create compelling spectacles Think as you like but behave like others Stir up waters to catch fish Despise the free lunch Avoid stepping into a great manƒ??s shoes Strike the shepherd and the sheep well scatter Work on the hearts and minds of others Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once Never appear too perfect Do not go past the mark you aimed for, in victory, learn when to stop Assume formlessness