This book is written by Robert Greene that highlights the strategies and plans of people in positions of power. The book consists of 48 laws, each with its part, that describe different values of power and how to use them.
Law 1: Never cover the expert
This law advises that one should not show up to their superiors. It is important to know your place and not to upstage those in power.
Law 2: Don’t always trust friends; learn to use your enemies.
This law suggests that enemies can be useful in achieving one's goals. It is important to know how to manipulate and control them to one's advantage.
Law 3: Hide your intentions
This law advises that one should keep their plans and goals hidden from others. This allows you to keep your power and prevents others from using your plans against you.
Law 4: Don't talk too much
This law advises that one should speak only when necessary and be careful with the words one chooses. This prevents you from revealing too much information and gives the impression of being powerful.
Law 5: So much relies on reputation - observe it with your life
This law suggests that reputation is everything and must be protected at all costs. It is important to maintain a positive image and avoid any actions that could tarnish it.
Law 6: the court will consider in any way
This law advises that one should always be in the spotlight and grab attention. This helps to build a following and creates a sense of power and influence.
Law 7: If people do work for you, you always take credit
One should delegate tasks to others, but take credit for the results. This helps to establish one's authority and position of power.
Law 8: Attract people so that they will come to you
One should create a sense of allure and mystery, attracting others to come to them. This creates a sense of power and control over others.
Law 9: Instead of telling show in your action
Actions speak louder than words. It is important to show one's abilities and strength through actions rather than arguments.
Law 10: Infection: Don’t be unhappy and unlucky
One should avoid people who are unhappy or unlucky as they can drag you down. It is important to surround one with positive and successful people.
Law 11: Make people depend on you
This law advises that one should create a sense of dependency on others, making them reliant on their actions and decisions. This creates a sense of power and control over others.
Law 12: Always use honesty and generosity to make safe your victim
This law advises that one should use honesty and generosity as a tool to disarm others. This creates a sense of trust and disarms any suspicion or mistrust.
Law 13: Before request, you have to know the personal responsibilities of that person.
This law advises that when asking for help, it is important to appeal to the other person's self-interest. This creates a sense of obligation and increases the chances of success.
Law 14: show as a friend, work as a secret agent
This law advises that one should appear as a friend to others, but use this position to gather information and intelligence. This allows you to stay ahead of others and maintain a sense of power.
Law 15: defeat your enemy completely
This law advises that one should not leave any room for their enemy to come back. It is important to destroy any opposition, preventing them from becoming a threat in the future.
Law 16: Don’t be available always
This law advises that one should use the power of absence to create a sense of longing and desire in others. This increases one's perceived value and creates a sense of respect and honor.
Law 17: Keep others in balanced fear: grow an air of volatility
This law advises that one should cultivate an air of unpredictability, keeping others on their toes and in a state of suspense. This creates a sense of fear and respect in others, establishing one's power.
Law 18: Do not live alone.
This law advises that one should not isolate oneself completely, as it can be dangerous. It is important to maintain a network of allies and supporters to protect one another and maintain power.
Law 19: don’t support the wrong person.
This law advises that one should be aware of the people they are dealing with and avoid offending the wrong person. This prevents retaliation and protects one's power.
Law 20: Do not entrust anyone
This law advises that one should avoid committing to anyone completely, as it can limit one's options and power. It is important to maintain flexibility and adaptability in all situations.
Law 21: Act like naive
This law advises that one should appear less intelligent than their opponent, making them underestimate you. This creates a sense of overconfidence in the other person, allowing you to gain the upper hand.
Law 22: Use the give-up method: change weakness into supremacy
This law advises that one should use the power of surrender to turn a weakness into strength. This creates a sense of control and allows one to dictate the terms of the surrender.
Law 23: focus your forces
This law advises that one should focus their efforts and resources on a single objective, rather than spreading themselves too thin. This increases the chances of success and consolidates one's power.
Law 24: occupy yourself with the perfect noble
This law advises that one should master the art of flattery and become the perfect courtier, pleasing those in power and gaining their favor. This allows one to establish their position of power and influence.
Law 25: improve yourself
This law advises that one should be adaptable and able to change their identity and persona when necessary. This allows one to stay ahead of others and maintain power in changing circumstances.
Law 26: don’t do wrong things
This law advises that one should avoid getting their hands dirty and delegating unpleasant tasks to others. This allows one to maintain a positive image and avoid any negative repercussions.
Law 27: Play on people's requirements to make your way easy
This law advises that one should create a sense of belief and passion in others, creating a following that is willing to do anything for you. This creates a sense of power and influence over others.
Law 28: Enter accomplishment with courage
This law advises that one should act with boldness and confidence, inspiring others to follow your lead. This establishes one's position of power and creates a sense of respect for others.
Law 29: Always have a plan
This law advises that one should plan and anticipate all possible outcomes and scenarios. This allows one to stay ahead of others and maintain their position of power.
Law 30: Make your activities seem easy
This law advises that one should make their accomplishments seem easy, creating a sense of awe and admiration in others. This increases one's perceived value and power.
Law 31: manage the options: get others to play with the work you do
This law advises that one should control the options and create the rules of the game, forcing others to play by your terms. This creates a sense of power and control over others.
Law 32: use people's fantasies
This law advises that one should tap into people's fantasies and desires, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation. This creates a following and increases one's power and influence.
Law 33: find out each man's thumbscrew
This law advises that one should identify the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of others, to gain leverage and control over them. This allows one to manipulate others and maintain power.
Law 34: Be majestic in your manner: act like a ruler to be treated like one
This law advises that one should act like a king and project a sense of royalty and power, to be treated as such. This creates a sense of respect and admiration in others, establishing one's position of power.
Law 35: Manage time
This law advises that one should master the art of timing and know when to act, and when to wait. This allows one to seize opportunities and maintain control over situations.
Law 36: contempt things you cannot have: just ignore those
This law advises that one should ignore and disdain things they cannot have, to protect their ego and maintain their power. This creates a sense of detachment and control over one's emotions.
Law 37: make forceful spectacles
This law advises that one should create compelling spectacles and events, to capture people's attention and create a sense of awe and wonder. This increases one's perceived value and power.
Law 38: Think the way you like but act according to people
This law advises that one should behave like others, conforming to their expectations and norms, while maintaining their thoughts and beliefs. This allows one to blend in and avoid negative attention.
Law 39: mix up water to catch fish
This law advises that one should create chaos and disruption, to gain an advantage over others. This creates a sense of confusion and allows one to take advantage of opportunities.
Law 40: look down on the free lunch
This law advises that one should avoid taking something for nothing, as it creates a sense of obligation and indebtedness. This allows one to maintain independence and power.
Law 41: know your limits
This law advises that one should avoid trying to fill the shoes of a great person, as it creates unrealistic expectations and can lead to failure. It is better to carve out one's path and establish their legacy.
Law 42: Hit the shepherd and the sheep will disperse
This law advises that one should strike at the source of power, to create a sense of fear and uncertainty in others. This allows one to maintain control and influence over others.
Law 43: gain the trust of people
This law advises that one should work on the hearts and minds of others, to gain their trust and loyalty. This creates a sense of influence and power over others.
Law 44: deactivate and enrage with the reflected result
This law advises that one should use the mirror effect, reflecting the behavior of others to disarm and infuriate them. This allows one to gain the upper hand in a situation.
Law 45: lecture on the need for change, but not all in a single time
This law advises that one should preach the need for change while maintaining the status quo. This creates a sense of progress and innovation while avoiding any negative repercussions.
Law 46: Never be perfect
This law advises that one should never appear too perfect, as it creates a sense of resentment and envy in others. It is important to show some flaws and weaknesses, to appear more relatable and human.
Law 47: Do not go beyond, you should know when to stop.
This law advises that one should not overstep boundaries, even when they have achieved success. It is important to know when to stop and avoid creating unnecessary enemies or causing harm to oneself.
Law 48: shapelessness
This law advises that one should be adaptable and flexible, changing their form and approach to suit the situation. This allows one to maintain control and avoid being predictable or vulnerable.