Joseph Taglieri - Quicklet on Robert Greenes the 48 Laws of Power: Cliffnotes-like Book Summary and Analysis

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Quicklet on Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power

About the Book

Whether you seek to gain, observe, or protect yourself from domination by the forces of power in the world, Robert Greenes comprehensive tome on this intriguing subject is in many ways a groundbreaking work of literature. The 48 Laws of Power synthesizes the thoughts of a host of historys most influential thinkers including Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz and others. Not only is it rich in the history of power politics and warfare spanning three millennia, the book has real-life relevance to those contending with the affect on our lives in modern times. Greenes 48 laws demonstrate how qualities such as prudence, cunning, stealth and subtlety, and a complete lack of mercy or compassion for ones enemies come into play with humanitys power dynamic.

Its apparent that those who feel powerless in todays globalized economy driven by the politics of big-money capitalism are a target audience of this book. The preface begins: The feeling of having no power over people and events is generally unbearable to uswhen we feel helpless we feel miserable. Very much like the social and political pressures contained within an old royal court, a duplicitous game of non-overt power moves is the key to success in the current power paradigm. So we need to be subtlecongenial yet cunning, democratic yet devious (Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power).

Those looking for a manual on moral applications of power should definitely look elsewhere. This book takes a bold realist view of the world and breaks all human motivations down to the deep-seated intent to manipulate for the purpose of furthering their own self-interest. All expressions of emotion, all acts of ostensible kindness are rooted in self-interest.

The author explains his intentions for the books utility and structure: Consider the 48 Laws of Power a kind of handbook on the arts of indirectionThe laws have a simple premise: Certain actions almost always increase ones power (the observance of law), while others decrease it and even ruin us (the transgression of the law). While a cover-to-cover read is a valuable comprehensive exercise for the reader, the book is also designed for browsing and for examining the law that seems at that particular moment most pertinent to you (Greene, The 48 Laws of Power).

The 48 Laws of Power is by far Greenes most successful book. The bestseller has sold upwards of 900,000 copies in the U.S. and is published in 21 languages (Forbes, Robert Greene ).

About the Author

Robert Greene is an international bestselling author. He has had a diverse career in the literary as well as the business world. Born May 14, 1959 in Los Angeles where he currently resides Greene studied at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, graduating with a degree in classical studies. He has lived in London, Paris, and Barcelona and his fluency in several languages lent to his work as a translator (Harper Collins Publishers, Robert Greene About the Author ). Greene also worked in New York as an editor and a writer for magazines such as Esquire and worked in the Hollywood movie industry as a story developer and writer (RobertGreene.net, Robert Greene Biography ).

In 1995 he was involved in the planning and creation of the art school Fabrica, outside Venice, Italy, according to Amazon.com . There he met Joost Elffers, the New York book packager and discussed with him his idea for a book on power and manipulation, the ultimate modern version of Machiavelli's The Prince.

Greene has been a private consultant since 2003 to business executives in industries ranging from financial management to artists' agencies and film producers (Reuters, American Apparel Inc ). He is on the board of directors of American Apparel Inc., which he joined in 2007.

Greene made this self-observation during a speech at Yale University in 2010: I may not be good at many things. I cant build things with my hands or anything like that. But I have this one expertisewhy some people excel, why some people are superior in the political game or in their creativity or whatever it is (Power, Seduction and War, Robert Greenes Speech at Yale ).

Other books by Greene are:

• The Art of Seduction (2001)
• The 33 Strategies of War (2006)
• The 50th Law (with 50 Cent, 2009)
• The Descent of Power (ebook, 2010)

Overall Summary

The 48 laws of power:

1. Never outshine the master. Always make those in positions of authority over you feel comfortable about their place of superiority. Even though you may want to impress them and prove your value to them, if you overdo it with displays of your talent you run the risk of causing them to feel threatened and insecure. Try to make your superiors appear more brilliant than they are in order to maximize your power standing.
2. Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies. Friends can easily be prone to envy, so be wary of them and their capacity for betrayal. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove, according to The 48 Laws of Power. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
3. Conceal your intentions. Never reveal the explicit purpose behind your actions. This will throw potential adversaries off and put them in a state of guessing. The result is if they have no idea what youre going to do and cant establish a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late (The 48 Laws of Power).
4. Always say less than necessary. Dont be too verbose even if you aim to impress with words. The more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control (The 48 Laws of Power). Even what youre saying is trite and commonplace, it will appear original if you phrase your thoughts in indistinct, open-ended terminology. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish (The 48 Laws of Power).
5. So much depends on reputationguard it with your life. Reputation is the cornerstone of power (The 48 Laws of Power). If your reputation precedes you, people will feel intimidated, thus enabling you a greater chance of victory win. Vulnerability results from a tarnished reputation and creates susceptibility to attack. Be vigilant of possible attacks and counter them before they occur. Simultaneously, spotlight the flaws in your enemies reputations. This will enable public opinion to do them in.
6. Court attention at all costs. Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Dont allow yourself to get lost in the fray or covered in the oblivion of a crowd. Be conspicuous to no end and at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses (The 48 Laws of Power).
7. Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit. Use others intelligence and labor to promote further your agenda. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed (The 48 Laws of Power). Assistants will always be forgotten, while the powerful who are in touch with this seventh law will stand the test of time and establish a legacy of accomplishment.
8. Make other people come to youuse bait if necessary. When you compel another individual to take action, it gives you the element of control. In this regard your enemy visits your home turf and must play by your rules, thus forgoing his or her own plans. Bait should take the form of promises of advantageous gains. This makes your adversary vulnerable to attack.