Knowingo
The cover of The 48 Laws of Power

The 48 Laws of Power

Robert Greene, Joost Elffers

Explore 48 strategies for gaining and defending power through reputation, timing, attention, and other people’s motives, including the conditions under which some tactics backfire.

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49 parts, about 49 minutes to read.

At a glance

Author
Robert Greene, Joost Elffers
Parts
49 parts
Reading time
about 49 minutes
The whole book
Also to read in full

What the summary covers

  1. Preface1 min
  2. LAW 1: NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER1 min
  3. LAW 2: NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES1 min
  4. LAW 3: CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS1 min
  5. LAW 4: ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY1 min
  6. LAW 5: SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION, GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE1 min
  7. LAW 6: COURT ATTENTION AT ALL COST1 min
  8. LAW 7: GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT1 min
  9. LAW 8: MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU, USE BAIT IF NECESSARY1 min
  10. LAW 9: WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT1 min
  11. LAW 10: INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY1 min
  12. LAW 11: LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU1 min
  13. LAW 12: USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR VICTIM1 min
  14. LAW 13: WHEN ASKING FOR HELP, APPEAL TO PEOPLE'S SELF INTEREST, NEVER TO THEIR MERCY OR GRATITUDE1 min
  15. LAW 14: POSE AS A FRIEND, WORK AS A SPY1 min
  16. LAW 15: CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY1 min
  17. LAW 16: USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR1 min
  18. LAW 17: KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENDED TERROR, CULTIVATE AN AIR OF UNPREDICTABILITY1 min
  19. LAW 18: DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF, ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS1 min
  20. LAW 19: KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH, DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON1 min
  21. LAW 20: DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE1 min
  22. LAW 21: PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER, SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK1 min
  23. LAW 22: USE THE SURRENDER TACTIC, TRANSFORM WEAKNESS INTO POWER1 min
  24. LAW 23: CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES1 min
  25. LAW 24: PLAY THE PERFECT COURTIER1 min
  26. Law 25: Re Create Yourself1 min
  27. Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean1 min
  28. Law 27: Play on People's Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following1 min
  29. Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness1 min
  30. Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End1 min
  31. Law 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless1 min
  32. Law 31: Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal1 min
  33. Law 32: Play to People's Fantasies1 min
  34. Law 33: Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew1 min
  35. Law 34: Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One1 min
  36. Law 35: Master the Art of Timing1 min
  37. Law 36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge1 min
  38. Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles1 min
  39. Law 38: Think as You Like but Behave Like Others1 min
  40. Law 39: Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish1 min
  41. Law 40: Despise the Free Lunch1 min
  42. Law 41: Avoid Stepping into a Great Man's Shoes1 min
  43. Law 42: Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter1 min
  44. Law 43: Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others1 min
  45. Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect1 min
  46. Law 45: Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform Too Much at Once1 min
  47. Law 46: Never Appear Too Perfect1 min
  48. Law 47: Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed For; in Victory, Learn When to Stop1 min
  49. Law 48: Assume Formlessness1 min

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