48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

“Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. “

“The bestselling book for those who want power, watch power, or want to arm themselves against power.” A bold statement that’s made on the back of the book wraps the very essence of the novel into one sentence. I couldn’t help but think “this is the perfect narcissist guide.” Either way, I excitedly sat down to pore over the contents that will pilot my new approach to life.

The book is a fairly easy read with a fairly easy setup. Greene starts each chapter with the law and its “judgment.” The judgment of the law is a basic summary of what the title of the law hopes to get across. For example, one of my favorite laws is Law 10 entitled “Infection: avoid the unhappy and the unlucky,” with a judgment that states “You can die from someone else’s misery. Emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster.” Having the judgment on the first page in conjunction with the title helps to bring a sense of focus to all of the different examples that Greene will use to further justify each law. 

The content within each law is broken down into distinct parts: 

1. “Observance of the law.”
   • Observance of the law is where Greene uses historic examples of the law in action. By bringing the laws into tangible life the reader has unarguable evidence of the law in motion. The observances showcase how the law can be used to one’s advantage.
2. “Transgression of the law.”
   • Though every law has an observance section, some more than others, not every law has a transgression section. That is because when Greene includes this section he gives direct historical examples of how not to utilize the law or an example in which the historian could have used the law to their advantage, had they known about ways to manipulate power. This section is viable in showing the reader how not to become an underling.
3. “Interpretation.”
   • If you aren’t an avid student of political world history, the examples that Greene uses may have the tendency to go completely over your head. From Kings and Queens to Emperors and Dynasties- from writers and poets to scammers and cheats, the interpretation section of each observance details in layman’s terms how the average reader can put the law into action. The interpretation section goes back and details the observance or transgression of the law and explains how the law was or wasn’t used in the specific example. Think of this section as the supporting points of the paragraph adding value to the main idea. 
4. “Keys to power.”
   • Of all the sections in each law, the keys to power section are the most useful to the average reader. In this section, Greene explicates the law in totality. There are no major examples in this section, though there might be a few references. The primary goal of this section is to break down the psychology of each law. How to use the law, when to use the law, how using the law will benefit you, how improper use of the law can set you back, etc. This section is the body of each law. It personalizes the law and makes it more attainable for the average person to use.
5. “Image” and “Authority.” 
   • The image and the authority are my favorite parts of each law because they allow the reader to engage the imagination with hard facts. The image section is written out in the general shape of the image that is being described; which is what makes it so engaging and interactive. For example, Law 9 states “win through your actions, never through argument,” and its image section states “The see-saw. Up and down and up and down to the arguers, getting nowhere fast. Get off the see-saw and show them your meaning without kicking or pushing. Leave them at the top and let gravity bring them gently to the ground.” Meanwhile, this phrase is written in an up and down straight column shape to bring an enticing visual aspect to the personification. Directly underneath the image section is the authority section which is very simply a solo quote that single-handedly wraps up the moral of the law.
6. “The Reversal.”
   •  The last section of each law is the reversal. The reversal section briefly details instances where it wouldn’t benefit you to utilize the law at all. I respect this section the most because it humanizes the book. Though there are some laws that don’t offer a reversal such as Law 25 which is entitled “recreate yourself,” where Greene states there’s no downfall to recreating yourself; it does offer an opposing perspective to each law and shows that attaining power over a person, place or thing, isn’t always the best option. 

On almost every page there are extra examples of the law in use in red typography in the margins. There’s information on every corner of the pages from top to bottom, and that leaves no room for misinterpretations. I’d be remiss to say all of the laws are my favorite, especially according to my ten pages of notes. Yet here are a couple of laws that stood out to me:

• Law 16: Use absence to increase respect and honor.

“The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. […] Temporary withdrawal […] will make you more talked about and even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.“

• Law 19: Know who you’re dealing with- do not offend the wrong person.

“Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, – then never defend or deceive the wrong person.“

• Law 27: Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following.

“People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow.“

• Law 35: Master the art of timing.

“Never seem to be in a hurry. Hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition“

• Law 40: Despise free lunch.

“What is offered for free is dangerous- it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit.“

Greene’s profound way of writing lends its hand to many quotable moments and digestible phrases that change the perspective of conflict and confrontation. 48 Laws of Power is a hefty read that outlines how to take control of your life, how to create your own narrative, and how to form your own reality. In my eyes, there are no major or minor drawbacks to this read. It is informative beyond measure and it challenged me to think deeply about how I show up to others, but more importantly, to myself. After reading this book I now look at situations through the lens of grasping the upper hand and forcing it to lean in my favor. As the reversal sections outline, it may not always work, but sheer knowing is always beneficial.