Power is the ability of a person to exert his will over another person. When you have power, you are in control over something or someone, and that will make you feel great or extraordinary. On the contrary, if you do not have the power, you appear vulnerable, feeling helpless, or miserable.
The controversial book, “48 Laws of Power,” authored by Robert Greene, argues that you have to strategize on how to have the power to manipulate and control others and not the other way around. The book teaches you how to use power to your own advantage and protection.
One of the striking points that Greene emphasized is when he said that you are putting yourself in danger if you appear to be power-hungry. He likened his explanation of how power is being exercised in the old aristocrat court that happened ages ago. In this court, power works in your favor if your power moves are subtle and covert.
The Old Aristocratic Court
The way he described the court is that it is full of schemes and tactical plans. In this court, there is a master who may be a King, Queen, or ruler such as the emperor, and there are the courtiers.
The author mentioned that the courtier’s position is very delicate. If they act obviously on winning the approval of their master, the other courtiers will cook up a scheme to use against them. The court is a perfect picture of elegance from the outside underlies deep-seated tactics and motives to cover acts that will outwit, outsmart, and defeat their opponent’s plans.
Remarkable Figures Studied by the Author
The 48 laws written in this book are a product of 3,000 years of history and the author’s research of historical figures like the courtier, Niccolo Machiavelli, a Renaissance diplomat. That is the reason why the book of Greene was labeled as the “21st Century Machiavelli.” According to the thesaurus, machiavellian means cunning or scheming. In addition, the other figures he studied include Sun Tzu, Haile Selassie I, Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, Carl von Clausewitz, and P.T. Barnum.
What Do They Say About the Book?
The book “48 Laws of Power” is considered to be relatively shocking as it is unexpected or fascinating as it is beguiling. You may find this book ruthless and devious for some people who are not used to seeing their workplace like being in a civilized war and having this mindset that their colleagues are their opponents. Because here, the author likened the workplace where there is a never-ending need for power struggle and manipulation.
On the other hand, those people have been subjected to this kind of game of power, and they bore the brunt of the power trippers. They are the ones at the receiving end of manipulation, mental torture, and psychological pain.
The author admitted that there are parts of this book that are based on his personal experience. He got inspiration from these experiences and created this book.
Advise of Author: Plan Your Moves Ahead
Nowadays, this is a sad reality in some workplaces. We are not generalizing that all workplaces are like this, but it can happen to some. In order to survive in such an environment, you need to plan your moves several steps ahead. Read on and see what Greene has advised for you.
10 Key Takeaways from the 48 Laws of Power
Although the book is a bit controversial in how it likens the workplace to courts, it does provide several valuable takeaways. This include the following:
1. Subdue Yourself in the Presence of the Master
Strive to make those who are above you in the hierarchy feel comfortable in their status of superiority. However, this does not mean that you do not have to try your best to impress or please them.
What the author here is trying to say is do not go overboard in impressing your master because the repercussions of doing so may work against you. You might cause your master to feel insecure or afraid, especially if you have more special skills or talents than them.
Instead, give your master the feeling that they shine more brightly than you. By doing this, they will not see you as a threat to them. By continuously applying this approach, there will come a time that you will rise up the ladder, gain a better position and have your own power.
Use the knowledge of this law in your favor by flattering your master or feeding his ego. However, do it discreetly. An example of this law is to make your master appear more intelligent than you. Make it appear like you are in need of his expertise by acting naïve or incapable.
2. Having Friends in the Workplace is Not Encouraged
Be always cautious of your work friends. They have the tendency to envy you, so the likelihood of betrayal among friends happens more quickly. Your friends can also feel spoiled with you, and they can also be harsh with you immediately.
Take note that there are more reasons to fear your friends than your enemies. This law also says that if you want someone to be on your side and be loyal to you, it is better to turn to your former enemy for their support.
Since this former enemy will have to exert extra effort to prove something to you. But, in the case that you do not have an enemy, think of ways of how to make one.
3. Protect Your Image and Reputation
Reputation is everything. It builds the foundation of power. Remember, if you have the right reputation, you can make use of this power to let others feel intimidated by you.
On the other hand, if your reputation is weak, you will be vulnerable, and others will feel empowered to attack you from all angles. So, you should be the one to have the power to control other people’s perception of you.
Strategize on how you appear to others. Make sure that your image, thoughts, and emotions are controlled by you and work favorably to your advantage. Protect your reputation from those who attack you. Keep an eye on those people who have the potential to attack your reputation, and make sure to put an end to it before it even starts.
While doing so, you should learn the dynamics of how to make your enemies vulnerable by attacking their own reputation. After that, step back and then let the public opinion be drawn to them.
4. Be Extraordinary
The world has the natural tendency to root for people who are extraordinary. Try to be above mediocre. Considering this, do strive to develop qualities that will set you apart from the ordinary. Let your exceptional qualities draw people’s attention towards you.
Also, do not be afraid to stir controversy as long as this controversy will not tarnish your reputation. It says here that it is better to be controversial than to be lost to ambiguity.
Our appearance is all too important; remember that we are judged according to our appearance. Stand out. Draw attention to yourself. Do ways to make yourself larger than life, and your light must shine brighter than others.
5. Avoid the Unhappy and Unfortunate
One’s emotional state can be infectious. By all means, try to avoid those people who succumb to misery because misery can be contagious and can eventually kill your light.
You may have this notion that you might be helping them by exerting efforts to make them feel better, but unfortunately, you are not. By helping them, you are also dragging yourself down. Instead, be in the company of the happy and the lucky people.
Avoid those who live turbulent lives like those with unhappy and broken relationships, those who seem to magnet misfortune, those who are perennially unhappy, and who always suffer from discontentment.
Stay away and flee from this kind of people the moment you encounter them. Do not make friends with them. Do not try to help them either. Arguing with them will not do you any good. Do not recommend and pass them to your friends or acquaintances for help. Avoiding them at all costs is best for you.
6. Choose Your Rivals and Enemies Carefully
Make sure not to target the wrong person. Because if you will, if you cause the wrong person to feel offended, you are also making yourself a target of that person for life.
You need to choose your rivals and enemies very carefully. If there were cases when you behaved in such a way that another person found unacceptable or objectionable, the best is to be polite and act with respect.
Never insult them, even in instances when they act ridiculous. You will never know when that type of behavior will come back to you and backlash.
7. Use Your Charm to Win Your Master and the Opposition
Play and act the part of a perfect courtier. The reality of the world is that we are dictated by power and political adeptness. A perfect courtier is someone who strategically uses flattery.
He is the one who knows how to act and behave in the presence of his superiors. In instances when he has to use power in the presence of his superiors, he does it obliquely and gracefully.
If it is inevitable for you to be charming or superior, be cautious of flaunting it to avoid the eyes of the envious, who are regarded as monsters of vanity. Or try your best to tone down your superior qualities in the presence of this kind of person.
8. Do Not Accept Free Gifts or Free Ride
There is no such thing as free lunch. Avoid being a free rider. If it is being offered for free, be wary by not trusting the gesture or the person.
Put in mind that underneath those favors are hidden motives, and there will always be strings attached. When you pay for your own, you are also freeing yourself from the burden of having to return the gratitude to them.
9. Appeal Through Emotions and Minds
Penetrate the hearts and minds of other people. When you approach people by appealing to their hearts and minds, their support will be long-term. In some situations, when you try to force or coerce them, the solution will be short-term.
Other people will have this kind of resentment that when you coerce them, they will rebel or plot something that will not be favorable to you behind your back. Instead of forcing people and making them follow your will, seduce or charm them.
Seducing is uncovering their weaknesses and desires. Use this knowledge to your advantage. If there is any form of resistance, try to soften it by appealing to their emotions. Invest in the things that are valuable to them or those that cause them to fear. But above all, try your best to know what is in their hearts and minds.
10. Change Should Be Injected in Small Portions and in a Gradual Manner
We all know that change can be good. However, human as we are, we are creatures of habits. If you want to impose change, do not do it one-time big time. Better to inject and effect change gradually.
Too big a change, even if it is a positive change, can cause a lot of distress and may cause people to rebel. When you like to build a power base, do not try to institute widespread change immediately.
Do not impose drastic change at one strike. Instead, inject changes little by little and do it gradually. Strike a balance to show some degree of respect for the past or the existing ways of working. Make any changes unnoticeable and gentle as much as possible.
Final Words
The above-stated take-away from the book “48 Laws of Power” summarizes some of the key laws mentioned in the book that can pique your interest as the advice is quite contrary to the norm. Without the need to read the book, these 10 key takeaways will give you an idea of what to expect from the book. The relevance of this summary is to offer you a choice if you want to dig deeper into the book or not.
You will find reviews of the book that says that the “48 Laws of Power” book is amoral, ruthless, and cunning. Controversial as it is, there was no way of stopping the clamor of this book. It became New York’s bestseller as it sold millions of copies. This book will show you how to observe, gain, and defend yourself from being subjects of control and manipulation.
The bottom line is, it is always your decision whether you heed the 48 laws of power or be a skeptic to it. As you lift the pages of the book, there might be instances that you may have your own “light bulb moments” or at times find yourself ridiculing the book. Some may find the laws odd or atypical to be applicable to them. But for those who have experienced being controlled and manipulated, it can be a source of knowledge and wisdom that no one like Greene has been bold enough to put into writing and publishing it.
At the end of the day, how you perceive the book will depend on you. In short, after reading the book, the choice is yours on what actions you must take.
Related: The Top 10 Takeaways from the Book: “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham
