The 48 Laws of Power
By Robert Greene
The 48 Laws of Power. Penguin Books, 1998.
Summary of The 48 Laws of Power book by Robert Greene
An irreverent list of mandates that can help you become a masterful player of the intricate, often dangerous, game of power, including examples from history that highlight the consequences of following or not following the supposed laws.
Chapters in The 48 Laws of Power book summary
What do you get from this book? An analysis of power through the lens of global history
At all costs, avoid appearing better than your superiors, even if you’re more capable than them
Be careful of who you trust and don’t reveal too much, or you could lose power
Protect your reputation and build it up, while also allowing others to do your work and come to you
Victory often comes through action, especially when you stay away from the unlucky and have others rely on you
Be friendly, honest, and generous when the situation calls for it, especially to get valuable intel from your acquaintances
In order to defeat your rivals fully, you must be unpredictable and avoid isolating yourself in a fortress
Be wise to everyone, but don’t commit to them, and don’t be afraid to surrender if you must
Keep your allies close while you create a new identity for yourself and avoid scandals
Plan thoroughly, and be bold in your actions while you develop a cult following that puts their faith in you
To have power over others, control their choices, find their weaknesses, and play up their dreams
Act like you’re powerful, get your timing perfect, and if you cannot have something, look down on it
Impress people with big spectacles, but also practice conventional behaviors and be wary of freebies
Ingratiate yourself to others by being unique, and striking at the leaders of your opposition
Mirroring others is a way to ingratiate yourself to them, as is preaching change, but be cautious about too much reform
Show some flaws, stop when you reach your goal, and be adaptable to be the best contender in the game of power
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
Unlock all 19 chapters of The 48 Laws of Power — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
The 48 Laws of Power — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read The 48 Laws of Power book
- Ladder climbers
- business leaders
- fans of satire
- those with the ambition to gain more power
- anyone who wants to understand how powerful people rise and why they fall
About the author of The 48 Laws of Power
Robert Greene
Robert Greene has educated the world with his best-selling books, including Mastery, The Art of Seduction, and The 48 Laws of Power. He is not just an author, but also a public speaker, and earned a degree in classical studies from the University of Wisconsin. Since then, his work analyzing the actions of people of the past has found a following amongst historians, politicians, music moguls, and business-minded individuals.
Books similar to The 48 Laws of Power
Related books that explore themes found in The 48 Laws of Power
Henry Kissinger
Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History. Penguin, 2015.
David Goggins
Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. Lioncrest, 2018.
Mark Manson
A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. Harper, 2016.
Stephen R. Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Franklin Covey, 1998.
Robert B. Cialdini
The Psychology of Persuasion. Harper Collins, 2009.
James Clear
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Avery, 2018.
Dale Carnegie
Simon & Schuster, 1981 (revised by Dorothy Carnegie, originally published in 1936).
Topics related to The 48 Laws of Power book
Explore topics that share themes with The 48 Laws of Power across Lobab's library
Categories The 48 Laws of Power book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as The 48 Laws of Power
If you liked The 48 Laws of Power, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside The 48 Laws of Power
Daron Acemoglu
The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. Currency, 2012.
Anita Anand
A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge, and India's Quest for Independence. Scribner, 2019.
Laura Lee
How the Weather Has Changed History. HarperCollins, 2006.
David Goldblatt
A Global History of the Olympics. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
Isabel Allende
On Impatient Love, Long Life, and Good Witches. Ballantine Books, 2021.
Timothy C. Winegard
A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator. Dutton, 2019.
Kassia St. Clair
The Secret Lives of Color. Penguin Books, 2017.
Toby Wilkinson
The Golden Age of Egyptology. W.W. Norton & Company, 2020.
David Rooney
A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks. W. W. Norton & Company. 2021.
Adam Higginbotham
The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster. Transworld Digital, 2019.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
Rejection Proof
Jia Jiang
A fascinating look at rejection from every angle, from understanding and overcoming the fear of rejection to learning how to increase your chances of a yes while becoming perfectly okay with a no.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader