The 48 Laws of Power
Author: Robert Greene
List Price: $17.00
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ISBN: 0140280197
Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) (05 September, 2000)
Sales Rank: 192
Average Customer Rating: 4.21 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
The best non-fiction book I've ever read!
This is indeed the best non-fiction book I have ever read. Praise to Greene who had properly put his thought clearly into the most linear'ed' and segmented idea organization you can ever found. Each law is supported by its Judgment, Trangression & its Interpretation, Observance & its Interpretation, Keys to Power, and its Image .
Read insights into some of the ancient war moves e.g. Bonaparte, Alexender the Great, etc; political and modern day strategist like Henry Kissinger. Even better, read the ways of how some of the famous con men in history; e.g. Yellow Kid Weil preyed their victims.
The first law: Never Outshine the Master is the best start for me as after reading it, I understand better one of the Malaysian's most scandalous political action.
The Judgment of the first law reads:
"Always make those above you feel comfortable superior. In your
desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite-inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power."
Rating: 5 out of 5
Disagree with some reviewers
I read this book and enjoyed learning about the laws. I found that all of them apply in different situations. Some reviewers wrote about their missgivings about the obvious contradictions in the text, or refuted the author's assertion that they all applied. One wrote, paraphrased "You wouldn't say the law of gravity applies today, and then the next day, say the law does not apply." The reviewer totally misses the point. The law of gravity wouldn't exist, for example, in outer-space. I found the laws to make sense depending on the situation, and on where you are in the social/corporate/military/political chain of command. As a Christian, I found the book more interesting as I tried to apply the laws within the context of the Bible. There are some, you simply could not accomplish as they conflict with Bible teachings. Although the author, Robert Greene, may believe the Bible to be the work of men who used these very techniques to gain power. In some cases, he would be correct. i.e.- the Catholic and Roman church leaders throughout history, etc..etc..
Good book, and well-thought-out concepts.
Rating: 5 out of 5
The 49th law
First, I am buying four more copies of this book for the children I work with. They all believe they have the power to become CEO because their university degree in Engineering and 6 Sigma black belt makes it so. My disparaging and sarcastic chortles only serve to confuse and frighten them. These copies will be my "25th anniversary being a Dilbert idiot" gift. I enjoyed Robert Greene's book very much and found the pro and con fable format of the laws very interesting. This format added greatly to the depth of the explanations. The bottom line of the book - this is the way humans have been, are, and will be - here are the examples - deal with it. The 49th law should be to willingly experience the other 48 (as an instigator or target). Even if you only experience a handful you will obtain profound knowledge to help define your morals and ethics (well OK chief, what is good and evil anyway? Are we born with it?). Or, if nothing else, get a good dose of common sense. How does someone get the exposure to have the experiences? How does someone handle fire without being burned? Krikey! Believe as I did twenty some years ago that all they wanted me to do as a wet nosed, farm fresh, aerospace engineer was design and test parts. I thought I was going to work with Einstein but got Edison instead (law #7 so true). In any event Robert Greene's book has been a good, but belated, scolding for me. By not understanding (just) law #1 cost me one job in my career and significant personal grief - with no long term value or benefit. Your brain is wired up to make you act human - Mr. Greene's book is appendix A to the instruction manual. Anyway, the three laws of thermodynamics - well there's laws for yah smarty. Similar Products
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