48 Laws of Power

By: Robert Greene

Narrated by: Richard Poe

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

©2000 Robert Greene and Joost Elffers (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic reviews

It's The Rules for suits.... Machiavelli has a new rival. And Sun-tzu better watch his back." ( New York Magazine)

They saved the best part for last

I am sure a lot of people will find this book to be cynical in philosophy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I especially found the 46th and 47th law to be most salient. The reading was done well, and it was a good listen. Probably something that would have to be listened to a few times in order to gather the nuances of what the author is trying to convey, but there is lots of wisdom found in this book. Well done.

Trump's playbook but for a few he missed

This is a book that I have been meaning to read for years. It was very close to what I expected it to be. I didn't expect it to be as contradictory as it was. Every law has a caveat. So laws only work up to a certain point then they backfire.
What I liked were the historical references, as I appreciated concrete examples. In the future I'll listen to it again and maybe I'll like it a bit more. Given that the manipulative aspect of so many of the 'laws' are so different from how I go about the world maybe I'm uncomfortable feeling so naive. I'll stay open to give it another shot someday as one never knows how one will feel. Also, it ended too abruptly.

Wish I would have read this sooner in life

A lot of the scenarios described in this book can be mapped to actual events in my life. Lessons from here are applicable for anybody. Some might see this as a guide to the art of manipulation but for me it is a handbook to recognize when I am the one being manipulated. I highly recommend this book for anybody trying to make sense of human behavior

one of my all time favorites

loved the book despite some laws contradicting each other. I assume that the laws must be applied anecdotally. for people who are morally righteous, this may not be the book for you. he argues from the same point of Niccolo' Machiavelli.

A powerful perspective on history

I enjoyed this book, though it does at some points (many if I’m honest) seem like a handbook for the ego and a life filled with a kind of turbulent attachment to something that is inherently ephemeral—power.

I did enjoy it though as the lessons are fascinating and readily adaptable if not as a mechanism of offense, then as a mechanism of awareness and deeper understanding of the motives of others.

The last law in particular was in some ways a repudiation of the prior 47 and ends on a note of deep psychological and, maybe, mystical overtones.

I recommend this book to anyone wise enough to use it as a tool for understanding rather than manipulation.