The 48 Laws of Power

Cunning, instructive, and amoral, this controversial bestseller distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws.

Robert Greene has a degree in classical studies and is the author of several bestselling books, including The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery. He lives in Los Angeles.

Joost Elffers is the packaging genius behind Viking Studio's Secret Language series, Play with Your Food, and How Are You Peeling?. He lives in New York City.

Preface

xvii

Never Outshine the Master

1

(7)

Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies

8

(8)

Conceal Your Intentions

16

(15)

Always Say Less Than Necessary

31

(6)

So Much Depends on Reputation--Guard It with Your Life

37

(7)

Court Attention At All Cost

44

(12)

Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit

56

(6)

Make Other People Come to You--Use Bait If Necessary

62

(7)

Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument

69

(7)

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

76

(6)

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

82

(7)

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim

89

(6)

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People's Self-Interest, Never to Their Mercy or Gratitude

95

(6)

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

101

(6)

Crush Your Enemy Totally

107

(8)

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

115

(8)

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

123

(7)

Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself--Isolation Is Dangerous

130

(7)

Know Who You're Dealing with--Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

137

(8)

Do Not Commit to Anyone

145

(11)

Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker--Seem Dumber Than Your Mark

156

(7)

Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

163

(8)

Concentrate Your Forces

171

(7)

Play the Perfect Courtier

178

(13)

Re-Create Yourself

191

(9)

Keep Your Hands Clean

200

(15)

Play on People's Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

215

(12)

Enter Action with Boldness

227

(9)

Plan All the Way to the End

236

(9)

Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

245

(9)

Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal

254

(9)

Play to People's Fantasies

263

(8)

Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew

271

(11)

Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One

282

(9)

Master the Art of Timing

291

(9)

Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge

300

(9)

Create Compelling Spectacles

309

(8)

Think as You Like But Behave Like Others

317

(8)

Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish

325

(8)

Despise the Free Lunch

333

(14)

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man's Shoes

347

(11)

Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter

358

(9)

Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

367

(9)

Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

376

(16)

Preach the Need for Change, But Never Reform Too Much at Once

392

(8)

Never Appear Too Perfect

400

(10)

Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed for; in Victory, Learn When to Stop

410

(9)

Assume Formlessness

419

(12)

Selected Bibliography

431

(2)

Index

433

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Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials