The 48 Laws of Power - Robert Greene

In today's world, people with an intense thirst for power are not very well seen, they often get the impression of bending the limits of equality and justice. However, Robert Greene brings in "The 48 Laws of Power" the idea that power is not good or bad. What can be bad is the way you choose to use it.

In this way, it is clear that we must be prepared for the power that we face daily, and thus make good use of this essential tool. In the book, Robert Greene presents 48 laws of power, formulated from historical examples and renowned studies.

Got interested to learn what are the 48 laws of power and how to apply them in your life? Stay with us in this summary and discover more about it!

The book "The 48 Laws of Power"

First published in 1998, the book brings a comprehensive collection of laws based on the analysis of more than 3000 years of humanity's use of power.

The 48 Laws of Power has 480 pages, on which are listed each of the laws, presenting the author's interpretation of it, examples of where and when it was observed and the consequences of its transgression.

Since its launch, the work has sold more than 1 million copies, translated into 24 languages.

Who is Robert Greene?

Robert Greene is an author and speaker known for content on strategy, seduction, and power. A graduate of Classical Studies at the University of California, he also wrote the bestselling book "Mastery" and has more than 30 books published.

Why should I read it?

The laws presented by the author will be fascinating to readers interested in reaching, identifying, and defending themselves from the weapons of power, thus being in complete control of their interpersonal relationships.

In addition, the book brings much historical information about the use of power, which may interest people who like this segment.

What are the key points of the book "The 48 Laws of Power":

• You shouldn't judge people by the actions they profess to do, but by the consequences of those actions;
• People who claim to reject power because of moral values are often great manipulators;
• To master the power game, you must have the ability to control your emotions so they don't disturb your judgment;
• One must accept that disillusionment is part of human interaction.

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Always Speak Less Than Necessary

People who cannot control their words show that they cannot control themselves, which makes them seem less respectful.

This is because words are very powerful and once they have been said, it is not possible to get them back. So Greene points out that it is very important to always keep your words controlled.

He explains that power is often a game of appearances. For this reason, when you talk less than necessary, you inevitably appear bigger and better than you really are.

Win by Your Actions, Not by Arguments

Robert Greene points out that when you win an argument, even if you have explained your point of view to the other person in the best way, this person will not be totally convinced of it.

This allows them to quickly change their minds and all the effort you have made during the discussion was in vain.

So the author explains that you become much more powerful when you convince people through your actions. It is better to demonstrate than to explain.

When you ask for help, appeal to what is interesting to the other person

When you are in a situation where you need help, you cannot afford to depend totally on the compassion or gratitude from the other person.

Many times, the person will not strive entirely just for the kindness and willingness to help you. To get around this, Robert explains that you should find something in your application for help that can be beneficial to the other party.

From this, you must always emphasize the gain that the person will have when helping you. That way, their reaction will be much stronger by realizing that you are offering something that is in their best interest.

Use Absence to Increase Your Respect

Think the same way a product-market works: the more circulation it has, the lower its price.

The author's idea follows the same principle as this law. The more you are seen and heard, the more common you become. Try to stay away for a while, this makes people talk about you. You can create value from the scarcity.

However, it is important to take care to be absent at the right time, as this practice can have the reverse effect if it is done in the wrong way.

Know who you are dealing with

You should understand that people are very different from each other, and not all will react in the same way to their attitudes and behaviors.

Therefore, it is extremely important you know the possible reactions of the person you are dealing with. The author explains that researching or seeking information about the other party before entering into a power dispute is essential.

That way, you can adapt your behavior to make it more suitable for the conversation.

Don't Commit to Anyone

Robert Greene explains that the only side or cause you really need to commit to is your own. This allows you to stay in control as it does not depend on other people.

Of course, making partnerships is important, since no one can complete anything on their own, but the idea here is to be careful to always put yourself first.

Concentrate Your Strengths

You should be able to identify your strengths and what will bring you the most results, and from that, focus your efforts and your energy on them.

The author makes an analogy to mining a mine: you will achieve better results by mining a single rich deposit than by varying between several shallow deposits.

Controlling Your Time

As mentioned earlier, the power game often goes by appearances. So, never let it show that you are late and in a hurry - it gives the idea that you have no control.

Robert teaches that you should always appear patient, confident that things will happen as you planned.

This law can be practiced with the teachings of Kevin Kruse in "15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management".

Despise the free lunch

Don't charm yourself with an offer that seems too good to be true, always be suspicious. There is probably some cost or trick behind it that will be used to control you, which you cannot afford.

Robert explains that there are no shortcuts to excellence. So, if you believe that price is right for the value offered to you, buy that idea.

Avoid having a definite shape

By the time you assume a unique form and way of acting, you become very predictable, an easy prey for your opponents to control you. In addition, you may be surprised by a sudden circumstantial change, which can make you lose control and end up being defeated.

That is why the author stresses that it is very important to accept the fact that nothing is fixed, that is, things can always change and you must keep prepared for these great transformations.

Books about strategy

Sun Tzu, author of the book "The Art of War", emphasizes the importance of information, as well as the relevance of having knowledge in order to predict the future, promoting a competitive advantage. He concludes by saying that spies are necessary to study the "enemies" strategy and take advantage of that.

In the book "The Prince", Niccolo Machiavelli explains that a prince should move forward with his goals at all costs, doing everything possible to achieve it. To reinforce his point of view, the famous phrase "the end justifies the means" was created.

For Adam Grant in the book "Give and Take", there are 3 types of people: the donator, the taker, and the compensator. The first one is interested in how their actions will help the company. The taker is the opposite of donators, they are selfish. The compensator is an average of them, always searching reciprocity.

So, how can I use the 48 laws of power?

The 48 laws of power can be used in all areas of your life, maybe now you are thinking that some of them don't have a connection with your attitudes. But with time you will realize the impact of each one.

Now that you have a better vision of the subject, you can evaluate your past actions and in this way reach a higher control of your problems.

Did you like this summary of the book "The 48 Laws of Power"?

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