The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Book Summary

Here are all 48 laws from Robert Greene's "The 48 Laws of Power," presented in a concise list. Each law is stated briefly, as they are in the book, without detailed explanations or examples (those are covered in the book itself). These laws are designed to be provocative and strategic, focusing on the acquisition, maintenance, and defense of power, often drawing from historical and psychological insights. Note that the laws are presented as maxims and should be understood in their broader context, as Greene includes "Reversals" for many, suggesting they aren’t absolute but situational.

1. Never Outshine the Master


2. Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies


3. Conceal Your Intentions


4. Always Say Less Than Necessary


5. So Much Depends on Reputation—Guard It with Your Life


6. Court Attention at All Costs


7. Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit


8. Make Other People Come to You—Use Bait if Necessary


9. Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument


10. Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky


11. Learn to Keep People Dependent on You


12. Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim


13. When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to Their Mercy or Gratitude


14. Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy


15. Crush Your Enemy Totally


16. Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor


17. Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability


18. Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself—Isolation Is Dangerous


19. Know Who You’re Dealing With—Do Not Offend the Wrong Person


20. Do Not Commit to Anyone


21. Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker—Seem Dumber Than Your Mark


22. Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power


23. Concentrate Your Forces


24. Play the Perfect Courtier


25. Re-Create Yourself


26. Keep Your Hands Clean


27. Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following


28. Enter Action with Boldness


29. Plan All the Way to the End


30. Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless


31. Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal


32. Play to People’s Fantasies


33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew


34. Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One


35. Master the Art of Timing


36. Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge


37. Create Compelling Spectacles


38. Think as You Like But Behave Like Others


39. Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish


40. Despise the Free Lunch


41. Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes


42. Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter


43. Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others


44. Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect


45. Preach the Need for Change, But Never Reform Too Much at Once


46. Never Appear Too Perfect


47. Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed For; In Victory, Learn When to Stop


48. Assume Formlessness

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By Jerry Ramonyai