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The 48 Laws of Power
This amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive book synthesizes the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz with the historical legacies of statesmen, warriors, seducers, and con men throughout the ages.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Robert Greene
147 books17.7k followersThere is more than one author by this name on Goodreads.
Best-selling author and public speaker, Robert Greene was born in Los Angeles. He attended U.C. California at Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received a degree in classical studies. He has worked in New York as an editor and writer at several magazines, including Esquire; and in Hollywood as a story developer and writer.
Robert has lived in London, Paris, and Barcelona; he speaks several languages and has worked as a translator. In 1995 he was involved in the planning and creation of the art school Fabrica, outside Venice, Italy. There he met Joost Elffers, the New York book packager and discussed with him his idea for a book on power and manipulation, the ultimate modern version of Machiavelli's The Prince.
Robert and Joost became partners and in 1998, The 48 Laws of Power was born. The book has been a national and international bestseller, and has been translated into 17 languages. In 2001, Robert released his second book, The Art of Seduction, which is more than a sequel to The 48 Laws; it is both a handbook on how to wield the ultimate form of power, and a detailed look at the greatest seducers in history.
The third in this highly anticipated series of books, The 33 Strategies of War, hit bookstores January 2006 and offers a strategic look behind the movements of War in application to everyday life. In addition to having a strong following within the business world and a deep following in Washington, DC, these books are also being hailed by everyone from war historians to some of the heaviest hitters in the rap world (including Jay-Z and 50 Cent).
The popularity of these books along with their vast and fiercely loyal audience proves these are profound, timeless lessons from historical leaders that still ring true in today's culture. Robert currently lives in Los Angeles.
Best-selling author and public speaker, Robert Greene was born in Los Angeles. He attended U.C. California at Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received a degree in classical studies. He has worked in New York as an editor and writer at several magazines, including Esquire; and in Hollywood as a story developer and writer.
Robert has lived in London, Paris, and Barcelona; he speaks several languages and has worked as a translator. In 1995 he was involved in the planning and creation of the art school Fabrica, outside Venice, Italy. There he met Joost Elffers, the New York book packager and discussed with him his idea for a book on power and manipulation, the ultimate modern version of Machiavelli's The Prince.
Robert and Joost became partners and in 1998, The 48 Laws of Power was born. The book has been a national and international bestseller, and has been translated into 17 languages. In 2001, Robert released his second book, The Art of Seduction, which is more than a sequel to The 48 Laws; it is both a handbook on how to wield the ultimate form of power, and a detailed look at the greatest seducers in history.
The third in this highly anticipated series of books, The 33 Strategies of War, hit bookstores January 2006 and offers a strategic look behind the movements of War in application to everyday life. In addition to having a strong following within the business world and a deep following in Washington, DC, these books are also being hailed by everyone from war historians to some of the heaviest hitters in the rap world (including Jay-Z and 50 Cent).
The popularity of these books along with their vast and fiercely loyal audience proves these are profound, timeless lessons from historical leaders that still ring true in today's culture. Robert currently lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,551 reviews
November 4, 2011
I think this is a horrible book. Written well enough, sure, whatever, but just so very, very wrong, unless you have no morals. At least with Machiavelli you could make the excuse that he wasn't so much advocating what he said, but merely describing reality. This guy is advocating evil. As I read it I couldn't help wondering how many politicians actually think this way.
If I ever met someone who actually liked this book and wanted to live their life according to it, I would never hire that person, never work for that person, never do business with that person, and would try to avoid any and all relationships with that person. I would like to be quite remotely located physically from any such person.
The sad part is I think the author is just plain wrong. Sure, you can find powerful people who have engaged in the behaviors he espouses (I think it's hard to call them "laws") and have been successful, but how many people live life this way and merely end up in the gutter with no friends, no money, and no power?
True power comes from being good, not to mention being happy, which is philosophically quite a bit more important than being powerful, although ultimately they are one and the same.
If I ever met someone who actually liked this book and wanted to live their life according to it, I would never hire that person, never work for that person, never do business with that person, and would try to avoid any and all relationships with that person. I would like to be quite remotely located physically from any such person.
The sad part is I think the author is just plain wrong. Sure, you can find powerful people who have engaged in the behaviors he espouses (I think it's hard to call them "laws") and have been successful, but how many people live life this way and merely end up in the gutter with no friends, no money, and no power?
True power comes from being good, not to mention being happy, which is philosophically quite a bit more important than being powerful, although ultimately they are one and the same.
March 10, 2013
When it comes to morality and ethics, people are used to thinking in terms of black and white. Conversely, "The 48 Laws of Power" deals primarily with the gray areas. At the risk of sounding melodramatic and trite, I say that most of the Laws covered in this book can be used for great evil or for great good. It depends on the reader. There is really nothing wrong with most of the Laws.
Each Law comes with true stories from history about those who successfully observed it and those who foolishly or naively transgressed it. Robert Greene has an interpretation for each story. Though each Law is self-explanatory, Greene's explanations are not padding, fluff or stuffing to make the book longer. They actually give greater clarification and depth. Greene's insight even extends to crucial warnings about how the Laws could backfire.
There are two reasons to read this book:
1. For attack: To gain power, as have others who have carefully observed the Laws;
2. For defense: To be aware of ways that people may be trying to manipulate you.
Each Law comes with true stories from history about those who successfully observed it and those who foolishly or naively transgressed it. Robert Greene has an interpretation for each story. Though each Law is self-explanatory, Greene's explanations are not padding, fluff or stuffing to make the book longer. They actually give greater clarification and depth. Greene's insight even extends to crucial warnings about how the Laws could backfire.
There are two reasons to read this book:
1. For attack: To gain power, as have others who have carefully observed the Laws;
2. For defense: To be aware of ways that people may be trying to manipulate you.
January 8, 2009
i learned to be eviiiilll with this book....haha actually this book made me realize how shady people can be. Plus how smart you and ambitious you should be about succeeding in life. You got to stand out in this world. If you roll with the bunches you'll become lost. You always have to have a good reputation or if you have a certain reputation you better use it to your advantage (damn im evil hahaha). This book will expose and teach you alot about the real world. One of my first books i really read and enjoyed. it motivated me to keeping learning about myself and people. i highly recommend it.
October 16, 2022
This is a manifesto for misery.
It's a book about crushing your "enemies", mistreating your friends, screwing over anyone and everyone to get ahead. But... for what? Anyone who genuinely thinks power is the ultimate goal of life needs a hug, not a (deranged and deluded) book praising the behaviour of totalitarian dictators (some responsible for the deaths of millions) as people to be admired and emulated.
The publishers of this book did us all a favour by designing the cover to look like a literal red flag -- if someone I knew recommended this book I'd run very far away.
It's a book about crushing your "enemies", mistreating your friends, screwing over anyone and everyone to get ahead. But... for what? Anyone who genuinely thinks power is the ultimate goal of life needs a hug, not a (deranged and deluded) book praising the behaviour of totalitarian dictators (some responsible for the deaths of millions) as people to be admired and emulated.
The publishers of this book did us all a favour by designing the cover to look like a literal red flag -- if someone I knew recommended this book I'd run very far away.
August 28, 2011
I hated every word of this manual for the soulless. It's a perfect example of exactly what's wrong with Big Pharma, big business, Wall Street, and in short capitalism as it's currently practiced. This book, which is kinda-sorta a synthesis of many previous Me First directives (Machiavelli leaps to mind), is a handbook on how to fuck over everyone you come in contact with, in order for you to get "ahead" and "succeed". It'd be awesome for sociopaths and wanna-be-CEOs. It plunged me into despair. Parts of it actually raised gooseflesh on my arms while I was reading, I was so freaked out.
Repellent. Utterly amoral. Reprehensible. Negative 300 million zillion stars.
Repellent. Utterly amoral. Reprehensible. Negative 300 million zillion stars.
February 13, 2013
This book belongs in the category of sad-but-true. For those who have a moral objection to the amoral approach of the authors presentation, I understand your feelings, but I think you miss the point. No matter how we feel about the dubious power plays that have occurred throughout history and that occur in our contemporary private and public lives, the fact is that they exist. Here are 48 approaches to power that you will either attempt to use or you will experience them being used against you at some point in your life, whether you agree with it ethically or not. If you are one who chooses to never use power over another, at least educate yourself to recognize the subtle and not so subtle ways others will attempt to use power against you. Many a despot would have been dis-empowered had their subjects been aware of the mind-games we humans have consistently used against one another throughout history. It may even be that the lack of this knowledge is as responsible for the abuse of power as the propagation of it.
Full of fun and interesting historical anecdotes, this is a thoroughly entertaining read.
Full of fun and interesting historical anecdotes, this is a thoroughly entertaining read.
May 7, 2011
For all the readers and reviewers who don't "get" or like this book, here's what you are not getting: It is fact. This book is not teaching anyone to be amoral. It is teaching you how people really are in the real world. It separates the behaviors and tactics of people in history who have succeeded and failed into the 48 "Laws". It is an explanation of power in the only way it can be expressed.
If you don't want to be a deceitful heartless prick who does whatever he can to whomever all for personal gain, then I praise you. However, YOU STILL NEED TO READ THIS BOOK to protect yourself from aforementioned amoral deceitful pricks. I read this book with this understanding(which Greene also suggests in the book), and came away from it very enlightened. Live your life as you see fit, but I always recommend facing reality in its purest rawest form, and this book really uncovers the seedy underbelly of how powerful people interact with one another.
If you don't want to be a deceitful heartless prick who does whatever he can to whomever all for personal gain, then I praise you. However, YOU STILL NEED TO READ THIS BOOK to protect yourself from aforementioned amoral deceitful pricks. I read this book with this understanding(which Greene also suggests in the book), and came away from it very enlightened. Live your life as you see fit, but I always recommend facing reality in its purest rawest form, and this book really uncovers the seedy underbelly of how powerful people interact with one another.
May 31, 2016
If the author is evil for writing this...am I evil for enjoying it?
December 31, 2019
✘ Law 1: Never outshine the master.
✔ Law 1: Stay humble and respect your mentors.
✘ Law 2: Never put too much trust in friends, learn to use enemies.
✔ Law 2: Don’t use people. Understand we all make mistakes, and set up your life so that the actions of your friends or enemies does not make or break you.
✘ Law 3: Conceal your intentions.
✔ Law 3: Keep your intentions pure and for the good of the world. You will radiate more power than being shady.
✘ Law 4: Always say less than necessary.
✔ Law 4: Speak only the truth, and do it whenever it is necessary.
✘ Law 5: So much depends on reputation. Guard it with your life.
✔ Law 5: So much depends on your reputation, that’s right. But, build one based on good works and there’s no need to guard it. False attacks will be quickly brought into the light and destroyed.
✘ Law 6: Court attention at all cost.
✔ Law 6: Attract the right kind of attention by providing value in any situation.
✘ Law 7: Let others do the work for you, but always take credit.
✔ Law 7: Empower people to do work that helps both of you, and you will never need to take the credit.
✘ Law 8: Make other people come to you. Use bait if necessary.
✔ Law 8: Make other people come to you by always offering solutions to their problems. Then, delegate the work.
✘ Law 9: Win through your actions, never through argument.
✔ Law 9: Beautiful. Actions speak louder than words. Smile and take the high road to instantly win any argument.
✘ Law 10: Infection: Avoid the unhappy and the unlucky.
✔ Law 10: Surround yourself with people who lift you up, so you can all help the unhappy and unlucky find personal freedom too.
✘ Law 11: Learn to keep people dependent on you.
✔ Law 11: Wrong. Teach a man to fish, and he will be an endless source of fish for you.
✘ Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim.
✔ Law 12: Wow, these start to get pretty scummy, huh. Victim? Use honesty and generosity to disarm your team members so you can trust each other.
✘ Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy.
✔ Law 13: Ask for completely one-sided help sparingly. Instead, take care of yourself and find ways to work together that makes life easier for everyone. Never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do for them.
✘ Law 14: Pose as a friend, work as a spy.
✔ Law 14: Are you kidding? To avoid dying as a miserable person, be a good friend. Give endlessly to these people, and you will always have a loyal army behind you.
✘ Law 15: Crush your enemy totally.
✔ Law 15: If you are confronted with evil, crush your enemy totally. Heroes do not hesitate to fight for what is right.
✘ Law 16: Use absence to increase respect and honor.
✔ Law 16: Don’t overstay your welcome or overstep your bounds. Give your best to a few people and projects, which makes your time and presence extremely valuable to others.
✘ Law 17: Keep others in suspended terror: cultivate an air of unpredictability.
✔ Law 17: Variety is the spice of life. Take risks, move fast, and don’t think about things like keeping others in suspended terror. People will just be excited to go on the ride with you.
✘ Law 18: Do not build fortresses to protect yourself – isolation is dangerous.
✔ Law 18: It’s true: loneliness kills. Find other people to go through life with, and help each other when times get tough. Give and take.
✘ Law 19: Know who you’re dealing with- do not offend the wrong person.
✔ Law 19: When dealing with powerful people, you are bulletproof if your actions come from good intentions for everyone involved.
✘ Law 20: Do not commit to anyone.
✔ Law 20: As you mature, you move from dependence and independence to interdependence. Commit to projects that matter, and take your due credit for success or failure. Do not engage in anything that moves you back to dependence.
✘ Law 21: Play a sucker to catch a sucker- seem dumber than your mark.
✔ Law 21: No one likes to be talked-down to. Be patient, keep things simple, and ask leading questions to help others come to conclusions by themselves.
✘ Law 22: Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power.
✔ Law 22: Brilliant. By choosing not to fight & assuredly lose, you can simply continue building your empire while enemies burn each others’ castles down around you.
✘ Law 23: Concentrate your forces.
✔ Law 23: Focus. Succeed by relentlessly pushing and achieving each milestone you’ve set, one by one.
✘ Law 24: Play the perfect courtier (royal advisor).
✔ Law 24: Learn to give solid advice, and you will never be out of the loop. Do not grovel. Powerful people sense attempts at manipulation from a mile away, and if you happen to succeed, it’s only because they’ve decided to play along and manipulate you back.
✘ Law 25: Re-create yourself.
✔ Law 25: If who you are and what you do isn’t working or making you happy, level up.
✘ Law 26: Keep your hands clean.
✔ Law 26: Keep your hands clean, but that doesn’t mean outsource the dirty work. Refuse the dirty work.
✘ Law 27: Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following.
✔ Law 27: Give people something real, transformative, and effective to believe in. Become someone striving to reach an ideal to inspire others.
✘ Law 28: Enter action with boldness.
✔ Law 28: Absolutely. Believe in yourself, fight for yourself, and come out swinging against any odds.
✘ Law 29: Plan all the way to the end.
✔ Law 29: Understand your actions have consequences. Make choices based on the best solution for everyone involved.
✘ Law 30: Make your accomplishments seem effortless.
✔ Law 30: Climb mountains, tell no one. Your work will speak for itself.
✘ Law 31: Control opinions: get others to play with the cards you deal.
✔ Law 31: Give people choices and recommendations that always lead to positive results for both of you.
✘ Law 32: Play to people’s fantasies.
✔ Law 32: When speaking to others, speak to their best version of themselves.
✘ Law 33: Discover each man’s thumbscrew.
✔ Law 33: When someone shows you their weakness, help them turn it into a strength for lifelong loyalty. Don’t use blackmail for short-term control that turns into lifelong grudges instead.
✘ Law 34: Be royal in your own fashion: act like a king to be treated like one.
✔ Law 34: Hold yourself to a high standard. You are the hero of your own story, your own personal coach. Walk with the confidence of knowing you are an equal with all others, and watch doors open for you.
✘ Law 35: Master the art of timing.
✔ Law 35: Use observation, research, and plain old trial-and-error to learn how to say or do the right things at the right time.
✘ Law 36: Disdain things you cannot have: ignoring them is the best revenge.
✔ Law 36: True wealth and happiness comes from an elimination of desire for wants, not the fulfillment of desire for wants.
✘ Law 37: Create compelling spectacles.
✔ Law 37: Do great work that inspires, touches, and solves problems.
✘ Law 38: Think as you like but behave like others.
✔ Law 38: You cannot help people who do not feel comfortable around you. Lead from within. Don’t stand out for the wrong reasons.
✘ Law 39: Stir up waters to catch fish.
✔ Law 39: Stay calm and don’t make decisions out of anger to avoid being caught by people who follow these old rules.
✘ Law 40: Despise the free lunch.
✔ Law 40: There’s no such thing, but give or take a “free” lunch to discuss win-win opportunities.
✘ Law 41: Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes.
✔ Law 41: Be yourself and carve your own path. No one can ever do that better than you.
✘ Law 42: Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.
✔ Law 42: Start at the root of any problem. Don’t just cover up symptoms.
✘ Law 43: Work on the hearts and minds of others.
✔ Law 43: You will be more successful by speaking to the emotions of other people, not just their rational side.
✘ Law 44: Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect.
✔ Law 44: Such a twisted way to state the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. Explain to others how you do not want to be treated with a steady voice and a locked-in gaze, if this becomes an issue.
✘ Law 45: Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once.
✔ Law 45: Too much change is difficult for everyone. When working towards the greater good, sell the vision while taking smaller steps and celebrating wins.
✘ Law 46: Never appear too perfect.
✔ Law 46: No one is perfect. Laugh about your most embarrassing mistakes to become more powerful than those wearing masks.
✘ Law 47: Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory know when to stop.
✔ Law 47: Set goals, achieve them, and review your progress. A life of victory is not a life of excess.
✘ Law 48: Assume formlessness
✔ Law 48: Be like water: adapt and flow. Become an expert in dealing with change. Stick only to your core values.
Best regards, Inti from Lake Titicaca
✔ Law 1: Stay humble and respect your mentors.
✘ Law 2: Never put too much trust in friends, learn to use enemies.
✔ Law 2: Don’t use people. Understand we all make mistakes, and set up your life so that the actions of your friends or enemies does not make or break you.
✘ Law 3: Conceal your intentions.
✔ Law 3: Keep your intentions pure and for the good of the world. You will radiate more power than being shady.
✘ Law 4: Always say less than necessary.
✔ Law 4: Speak only the truth, and do it whenever it is necessary.
✘ Law 5: So much depends on reputation. Guard it with your life.
✔ Law 5: So much depends on your reputation, that’s right. But, build one based on good works and there’s no need to guard it. False attacks will be quickly brought into the light and destroyed.
✘ Law 6: Court attention at all cost.
✔ Law 6: Attract the right kind of attention by providing value in any situation.
✘ Law 7: Let others do the work for you, but always take credit.
✔ Law 7: Empower people to do work that helps both of you, and you will never need to take the credit.
✘ Law 8: Make other people come to you. Use bait if necessary.
✔ Law 8: Make other people come to you by always offering solutions to their problems. Then, delegate the work.
✘ Law 9: Win through your actions, never through argument.
✔ Law 9: Beautiful. Actions speak louder than words. Smile and take the high road to instantly win any argument.
✘ Law 10: Infection: Avoid the unhappy and the unlucky.
✔ Law 10: Surround yourself with people who lift you up, so you can all help the unhappy and unlucky find personal freedom too.
✘ Law 11: Learn to keep people dependent on you.
✔ Law 11: Wrong. Teach a man to fish, and he will be an endless source of fish for you.
✘ Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim.
✔ Law 12: Wow, these start to get pretty scummy, huh. Victim? Use honesty and generosity to disarm your team members so you can trust each other.
✘ Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy.
✔ Law 13: Ask for completely one-sided help sparingly. Instead, take care of yourself and find ways to work together that makes life easier for everyone. Never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do for them.
✘ Law 14: Pose as a friend, work as a spy.
✔ Law 14: Are you kidding? To avoid dying as a miserable person, be a good friend. Give endlessly to these people, and you will always have a loyal army behind you.
✘ Law 15: Crush your enemy totally.
✔ Law 15: If you are confronted with evil, crush your enemy totally. Heroes do not hesitate to fight for what is right.
✘ Law 16: Use absence to increase respect and honor.
✔ Law 16: Don’t overstay your welcome or overstep your bounds. Give your best to a few people and projects, which makes your time and presence extremely valuable to others.
✘ Law 17: Keep others in suspended terror: cultivate an air of unpredictability.
✔ Law 17: Variety is the spice of life. Take risks, move fast, and don’t think about things like keeping others in suspended terror. People will just be excited to go on the ride with you.
✘ Law 18: Do not build fortresses to protect yourself – isolation is dangerous.
✔ Law 18: It’s true: loneliness kills. Find other people to go through life with, and help each other when times get tough. Give and take.
✘ Law 19: Know who you’re dealing with- do not offend the wrong person.
✔ Law 19: When dealing with powerful people, you are bulletproof if your actions come from good intentions for everyone involved.
✘ Law 20: Do not commit to anyone.
✔ Law 20: As you mature, you move from dependence and independence to interdependence. Commit to projects that matter, and take your due credit for success or failure. Do not engage in anything that moves you back to dependence.
✘ Law 21: Play a sucker to catch a sucker- seem dumber than your mark.
✔ Law 21: No one likes to be talked-down to. Be patient, keep things simple, and ask leading questions to help others come to conclusions by themselves.
✘ Law 22: Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power.
✔ Law 22: Brilliant. By choosing not to fight & assuredly lose, you can simply continue building your empire while enemies burn each others’ castles down around you.
✘ Law 23: Concentrate your forces.
✔ Law 23: Focus. Succeed by relentlessly pushing and achieving each milestone you’ve set, one by one.
✘ Law 24: Play the perfect courtier (royal advisor).
✔ Law 24: Learn to give solid advice, and you will never be out of the loop. Do not grovel. Powerful people sense attempts at manipulation from a mile away, and if you happen to succeed, it’s only because they’ve decided to play along and manipulate you back.
✘ Law 25: Re-create yourself.
✔ Law 25: If who you are and what you do isn’t working or making you happy, level up.
✘ Law 26: Keep your hands clean.
✔ Law 26: Keep your hands clean, but that doesn’t mean outsource the dirty work. Refuse the dirty work.
✘ Law 27: Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following.
✔ Law 27: Give people something real, transformative, and effective to believe in. Become someone striving to reach an ideal to inspire others.
✘ Law 28: Enter action with boldness.
✔ Law 28: Absolutely. Believe in yourself, fight for yourself, and come out swinging against any odds.
✘ Law 29: Plan all the way to the end.
✔ Law 29: Understand your actions have consequences. Make choices based on the best solution for everyone involved.
✘ Law 30: Make your accomplishments seem effortless.
✔ Law 30: Climb mountains, tell no one. Your work will speak for itself.
✘ Law 31: Control opinions: get others to play with the cards you deal.
✔ Law 31: Give people choices and recommendations that always lead to positive results for both of you.
✘ Law 32: Play to people’s fantasies.
✔ Law 32: When speaking to others, speak to their best version of themselves.
✘ Law 33: Discover each man’s thumbscrew.
✔ Law 33: When someone shows you their weakness, help them turn it into a strength for lifelong loyalty. Don’t use blackmail for short-term control that turns into lifelong grudges instead.
✘ Law 34: Be royal in your own fashion: act like a king to be treated like one.
✔ Law 34: Hold yourself to a high standard. You are the hero of your own story, your own personal coach. Walk with the confidence of knowing you are an equal with all others, and watch doors open for you.
✘ Law 35: Master the art of timing.
✔ Law 35: Use observation, research, and plain old trial-and-error to learn how to say or do the right things at the right time.
✘ Law 36: Disdain things you cannot have: ignoring them is the best revenge.
✔ Law 36: True wealth and happiness comes from an elimination of desire for wants, not the fulfillment of desire for wants.
✘ Law 37: Create compelling spectacles.
✔ Law 37: Do great work that inspires, touches, and solves problems.
✘ Law 38: Think as you like but behave like others.
✔ Law 38: You cannot help people who do not feel comfortable around you. Lead from within. Don’t stand out for the wrong reasons.
✘ Law 39: Stir up waters to catch fish.
✔ Law 39: Stay calm and don’t make decisions out of anger to avoid being caught by people who follow these old rules.
✘ Law 40: Despise the free lunch.
✔ Law 40: There’s no such thing, but give or take a “free” lunch to discuss win-win opportunities.
✘ Law 41: Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes.
✔ Law 41: Be yourself and carve your own path. No one can ever do that better than you.
✘ Law 42: Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.
✔ Law 42: Start at the root of any problem. Don’t just cover up symptoms.
✘ Law 43: Work on the hearts and minds of others.
✔ Law 43: You will be more successful by speaking to the emotions of other people, not just their rational side.
✘ Law 44: Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect.
✔ Law 44: Such a twisted way to state the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. Explain to others how you do not want to be treated with a steady voice and a locked-in gaze, if this becomes an issue.
✘ Law 45: Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once.
✔ Law 45: Too much change is difficult for everyone. When working towards the greater good, sell the vision while taking smaller steps and celebrating wins.
✘ Law 46: Never appear too perfect.
✔ Law 46: No one is perfect. Laugh about your most embarrassing mistakes to become more powerful than those wearing masks.
✘ Law 47: Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory know when to stop.
✔ Law 47: Set goals, achieve them, and review your progress. A life of victory is not a life of excess.
✘ Law 48: Assume formlessness
✔ Law 48: Be like water: adapt and flow. Become an expert in dealing with change. Stick only to your core values.
Best regards, Inti from Lake Titicaca
January 11, 2014
I completely misunderstood what I was about to read when I got this book. I foolishly thought it was going to be a strongly researched and thoughtful historical investigation into the nature of power with 48 astute observations similar to Good to Great or other thoughtful research.
This books is probably written for and is appealing to the shallow and overconfident who seek to take more from the world than they give by using the perpetually infantile "well, they're doing it!."
If you are committed to understanding the human condition and pushing our socio-evolution to higher and higher levels of mutuality, collaboration, and "peace on earth, good will toward" one another, this book is either comedy, parody, or pathetic. Maybe the author has his tongue in his cheek like Rush Limbaugh who makes bazillions whipping the ignorant into a frenzy. I find that annoying. I find this book annoying.
More concretely, there are two ways to research or investigate a subject; one is to know already what you believe and then find examples that you can stick into your belief system. A good example of this is Creationism. Another good example of this is this book. The other, more...what shall I say, interesting way is to wonder about something, investigate it, look at your findings and see what what you can make of it - even if you don't like what you find.
The world, in my view, is moving - slowly - to a more beautiful way to think about power (Read Robert Greenleaf's The Servant Leader for starters, then read something like The Joy of Work by Bakke and, again, Collins' Good to Great where we find great leaders "looking out the window" when things go well and "looking in the mirror" when things go badly).
You can't talk people out of listening to Rush Limbaugh and those people will love this book. I think I just wandered into the wrong bar. My bad.
This books is probably written for and is appealing to the shallow and overconfident who seek to take more from the world than they give by using the perpetually infantile "well, they're doing it!."
If you are committed to understanding the human condition and pushing our socio-evolution to higher and higher levels of mutuality, collaboration, and "peace on earth, good will toward" one another, this book is either comedy, parody, or pathetic. Maybe the author has his tongue in his cheek like Rush Limbaugh who makes bazillions whipping the ignorant into a frenzy. I find that annoying. I find this book annoying.
More concretely, there are two ways to research or investigate a subject; one is to know already what you believe and then find examples that you can stick into your belief system. A good example of this is Creationism. Another good example of this is this book. The other, more...what shall I say, interesting way is to wonder about something, investigate it, look at your findings and see what what you can make of it - even if you don't like what you find.
The world, in my view, is moving - slowly - to a more beautiful way to think about power (Read Robert Greenleaf's The Servant Leader for starters, then read something like The Joy of Work by Bakke and, again, Collins' Good to Great where we find great leaders "looking out the window" when things go well and "looking in the mirror" when things go badly).
You can't talk people out of listening to Rush Limbaugh and those people will love this book. I think I just wandered into the wrong bar. My bad.
October 12, 2017
الحياة تغيرت كتير بعد لما قرأت كتاب ديل كارنيجي" كيف تكسب الاصدقاء و تؤثر فى الناس" ..اه ..
و بداء أعمال الناس المحترمة كمحترم و الناس الغير محترمة ـ كمحترم طبعا !
..
و لما الواحد دخل الحياة العملية و شاف الدنيا اكتر و اكتر و اتفتحت عينة على حاجات تانية ( زى الحقد و الغيرة و الحسد و حب الشر للغير ..) و غيرها من الصفات القبيحة .. أكتشفت للاسف انك مش لازم تكون شخص سيء ، بس لازم تعرف الناس دى بتفكر أزاى و ازاى تتعامل معاهم...و متنساش انك و انت بتحارب الوحش أنك تتحول لوحش .
..
من القواعد الجميلة هناك و اللى كتبها روبرت جرين بحرفية و واقعية بالغة ..
1- لا تشرق أكثر من الرئيس .
2- قل دائما أقل مما هو ضرورى
3- مش لازم تقول للناس على نواياك
4- العزلة تضيف الى المخاطر اكتر مما تحميك
5- أتقن فن الظهور ( البرادعى أستاذ فى كده )
6- اعرف كويس انت بتتعامل مع مين حتى لا تصيب أحد بجهالة
7- أعمل من بنها ( لان مافيش حد يحب يحس انك اكتر منه ذكاء )
8- ركز مجهودك فى مكان واحد
..و غيرها و غيرها ...
..
الكلام ده يا جماعة فية ناس بتعرفة بعد لما تعيش على سطح الكوكب اربعين و خمسين سنة ..
و نص الناس دى مش هتعرف تطلع منه بجملة مفيدة عن ازاى هو نجح ؟ او يديك نصيحة فى حياتك ؟
أحب اقول للناس بعد قرائة الكتاب ده ..
أهلا بيكم على كوكب الارض
على الرغم انه ماينفعش تكون مثالى فى عالم غير مثالى.. برضو او تتحول لوحش لما تحارب الوحش ( اوعى تنسى انك انسان )
#تعديل
الكتاب موجود في مكتبة ديوان ترجمة العبيكان ، بس انا بفضل ترجمة تاينة جبتها من ديوان برضوا بأسم (السطوة) أبحث عنها علي الانترنت موجودة بوفرة جدا
كتاب فن الاغواء لو حد لقي منة نسخة عربي يعرفني
و بداء أعمال الناس المحترمة كمحترم و الناس الغير محترمة ـ كمحترم طبعا !
..
و لما الواحد دخل الحياة العملية و شاف الدنيا اكتر و اكتر و اتفتحت عينة على حاجات تانية ( زى الحقد و الغيرة و الحسد و حب الشر للغير ..) و غيرها من الصفات القبيحة .. أكتشفت للاسف انك مش لازم تكون شخص سيء ، بس لازم تعرف الناس دى بتفكر أزاى و ازاى تتعامل معاهم...و متنساش انك و انت بتحارب الوحش أنك تتحول لوحش .
..
من القواعد الجميلة هناك و اللى كتبها روبرت جرين بحرفية و واقعية بالغة ..
1- لا تشرق أكثر من الرئيس .
2- قل دائما أقل مما هو ضرورى
3- مش لازم تقول للناس على نواياك
4- العزلة تضيف الى المخاطر اكتر مما تحميك
5- أتقن فن الظهور ( البرادعى أستاذ فى كده )
6- اعرف كويس انت بتتعامل مع مين حتى لا تصيب أحد بجهالة
7- أعمل من بنها ( لان مافيش حد يحب يحس انك اكتر منه ذكاء )
8- ركز مجهودك فى مكان واحد
..و غيرها و غيرها ...
..
الكلام ده يا جماعة فية ناس بتعرفة بعد لما تعيش على سطح الكوكب اربعين و خمسين سنة ..
و نص الناس دى مش هتعرف تطلع منه بجملة مفيدة عن ازاى هو نجح ؟ او يديك نصيحة فى حياتك ؟
أحب اقول للناس بعد قرائة الكتاب ده ..
أهلا بيكم على كوكب الارض
على الرغم انه ماينفعش تكون مثالى فى عالم غير مثالى.. برضو او تتحول لوحش لما تحارب الوحش ( اوعى تنسى انك انسان )
#تعديل
الكتاب موجود في مكتبة ديوان ترجمة العبيكان ، بس انا بفضل ترجمة تاينة جبتها من ديوان برضوا بأسم (السطوة) أبحث عنها علي الانترنت موجودة بوفرة جدا
كتاب فن الاغواء لو حد لقي منة نسخة عربي يعرفني
February 2, 2023
Robert Greene took all the philosophies from Sun Tzu, Machiavellian, and many others and extrapolated them to the current world to help us understand more about the real world and the people living in it. He tells us how to distinguish between right and wrong and the best ways to behave when we are facing a crisis. The only thing you must be careful while reading this book is that you should pick up the ideas that will be helpful for you from this book and try to see whether it is morally correct in your case before trying to implement it.
“LAW 4
Always Say Less Than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.”
July 27, 2021
This is like a how-to manual for sociopaths. My office is full of them.
The most useful part of this book is that you might more quickly identify the type of sociopaths who circlejerk over stuff like this in your workplace. Usually the same sort who got their online MBA writing thesis papers on books like this one, the art of war, and seven habits of highly effective people.
Every one of the 48 rules of power has an example of "obeying the rules: great success" and "didn't obey the rule, probably died a miserable failure". All of these examples are generally from like 900AD and involve politics from the 4th dynasty of Burma or some stupid irrelevant shit like that.
The author has an attitude that everyone is a horrible person who is out to get you if you don't do so first, and his contempt for people seeps through when he constantly refers to people who don't play the power game as "fools" and "suckers".
If you've ever used the term "cats-paw" unironically, you might enjoy this book!
The most useful part of this book is that you might more quickly identify the type of sociopaths who circlejerk over stuff like this in your workplace. Usually the same sort who got their online MBA writing thesis papers on books like this one, the art of war, and seven habits of highly effective people.
Every one of the 48 rules of power has an example of "obeying the rules: great success" and "didn't obey the rule, probably died a miserable failure". All of these examples are generally from like 900AD and involve politics from the 4th dynasty of Burma or some stupid irrelevant shit like that.
The author has an attitude that everyone is a horrible person who is out to get you if you don't do so first, and his contempt for people seeps through when he constantly refers to people who don't play the power game as "fools" and "suckers".
If you've ever used the term "cats-paw" unironically, you might enjoy this book!
November 27, 2020
https://youtu.be/gI3uAFuKWFU
عندما تريد الانتقام ممن اذاك لا تنتقم مباشرة ابدا تنتقم غير بالحيلة دون ان يعلم احد ولا الذي انتقمت منه. بهدوء تتكتك وتاخذ حقك. طعنة في الظهر لا يعلمها احد غيرك
معدل التمثيل يرتفع مع معدل الذكاء لذا لعب الكبار هو صورة مكبرة للعب الصغار. كلما صعدت الى اعلى زادت اللعبة تشابكا وتعقيدا وكثرت الاقنعة والسيناريوهات واصبحت المسرحية اكثر تعقيدا
عندما يحاول احدهم استفزازك لا تغضب وتفقد السيطرة لانك حينها انت من ستبدو بمظهر المجرم وهو سيظهر بمظهر الانسان الكيوت عليك ان تتمالك اعصابك وتقلب عليه القفة. يعني تلعب معه لعبته انت تستفزه لكي تغضبه لكي يفقد السيطرة لكن انت مهما حصل لا تفقد السيطرة على اعصابك. تذكر ان وحدهم الاطفال هم من يغضبون الناضجون لا يغضبون الاذكياء لا يغضبون وحدهم الاغبياء والمجرمون من يغضبون ويفقدون السيطرة
اصنع لك تحالفات دائما. دائما يجب ان يكون لديك تحالفات ابدا انت بصنعها كن لطيفا قدم هدايا تبادل المصالح لا تبقى وحيدا فالوحيد يسهل اصطياده
كلما غيرت ونوعت الاقنعة كان افضل فكل ظرف قناعه الخاص به. غير جلدك من سبع الى ارنب الى افعى الى ثعلب الى ذئب الى ثعلب في ثوب ارنب. وتذكر دائما البشر لا نخرج لهم ابدا بحقيقتها ولا نقول لهم الحقيقة ابدا ولا نرمي امامهم حكمتنا او درر ذكائنا دائما نتلون معهم كما تتلون الحرباء ونقول لهم ما يحبون سماعه وما يجب قوله
اقترب من المتعاطفين فهم يشعرون بانهم بخير وبانهم افضل عندما يتعاطفون معك استغل تعاطفهم لصالحك واجعلهم يتعاطفون معك
البشر في النهاية مجرد كائنات عاطفية ومتدينة ايضا بالفطرة. تحركهم بالدين كما تريد وتحركهم ب��لعاطفة كما تريد خاطب عاطفتهم لانهم في الغالب يصعب عليهم استخدام عقولهم. استخدام العقل يحتاج مجهودا لكن العاطفة تتحرك من تلقاء نفسها
اذا فضحت ما عليك سوى ان تتوب فالبشر يتقبلون التائبين. التائب تغسل ذنوبه كانها لم تكن
تذكر هذا وعلقه في اذنيك حلقة البشر ناكرون للخير بالفطرة لا يمكنك الاعتماد على اعترافهم لك بالجميل على المدى الطويل. لذا لا تعلمهم الصيد اتركهم بحاجتك بع لهم سمكة وخذ ثمنها اعطهم السمكة لكن لا تعلمهم صيدها
ارمي الخير في البحر وتاكد من ان احدهم راك الخير يلمع السمعة ويغطي على الجرائم
البشر الذي كانوا ينممون ويغتابون هم البشر الذين تراهم اليوم في حين انقرض البشر الذين لم يكونوا ينممون. ان النميمة تسمح لك بجمع معلومات حول محيطك وحماية نفسك كما تسمح لك بمعرفة عدوك من صديقك واخذ الاحتياط من السيئيين وتسمح لك بمكافاة من ساعدك وبمهاجمة من تكرهه والحط منه. واكبر مجال للنميمة اليوم هي الصحافة
البشر سيطلبون منك ان تكون طيب لكي ياكلوك لكن لا احد فيهم سيريد ان يكون طيب الجميع يتسابقون من يكون وغدا اكثر من الاخر. البشر يعجبون بالاوغاد ويصفقون لهم لانهم من يصعدون الى اعلى ويحكمون في حين يحبون الطيبين ويحتقرونهم لان الطيبين ينزلون الى اسفل ولان الطيبين بنيتهم الصافية مثيرون للشفقة ومضحكون لانهم يذكرونك الطفولة حيث الطفل لا يعلم شيئا عن البشر وعن العالم
الطيبة تؤدي الى الخجل والخجل يؤدي الى ضعف الشخصية. الانانية تؤدي الى زيادة الثقة بالنفس وزيادة الثقة بالنفس تؤدي الى قوة الشخصية
كل شيء تكتمه ياكلك من الداخل ويسرع في شيخوختك ويسرع الامراض من قبيل الضغط السكري القولون قرحة المعدة...كل ضربة وجهت لك ولم تردها تحني ظهرك وانحناء الظهر يجلب لك ضربات اخرى. في حين كل ضربة وجهتها او قمت بردها تجعل ظهرك مستقيما وراسك مرفوعا وتطيل عمرك وتحسن صحتك واستقامة ظهرك تخيف البشر منك وتجعلهم لا يتجرؤون على توجيه اي ضربة لانهم يعرفون انك ستفترسهم اذا اقتربوا. وفي نفس الوقت لا يمكنك الصراخ على البشر كل شيء بالحيلة جميل وكل شيء مباشر غباء
البشر سيئون هذه حقيقة عالمية لكن لا يمكنك الاعتزال مهما بدا لك اعتزالهم مغريا فان الاعتزال يزيد من الغباء ويفقدك المعلومات التي انت بحاجتها للحفاظ على بقائك. عليك الاختلاط عليك ان تمشي وسطهم لكن بمرونة بكل الوانه وبكل اقنعتك التي ترتديها وبابتسامتك
ان الطفل الذي يتقن الكذبة في سن مبكر يمتلك معدل ذكاء اكثر من اقرانه. لان الكذبة المتقونة تعني تلاعب بالحقائق وقلبها واختراع سيناريو متقن لدرجة يبدو فيه حقيقة وهذا ليس في متناول الجميع
فن الاغواء بالنسبة للرجل الجنتلمان الذي يحقق للنساء حلمهم الرومانسي بذلة انيقة وكلام حلو وتلاعب بالمشاعر يجعلهن يشعرن بمختلف انواع المشاعر فرح حزن سعادة تعاسة اهتمام تجاهل هدايا تشويق غموض...يلعب بمشاعرهن كما يلعب الموسيقى بالة الكمان ويعزف ويتقن العزف. بالنسبة للمراة الحورية الساحرة التي تغني في البحار وتغرق السفن ساحرة بالوانها احمر اخضر ازرق فوشيا ازرق سماوي ازرق ليلي ....اكسسوارات تزيد من السحر تمايل في المشية خضوع بالقول غموض فن الصيد انها قريبة جدا وفي نفس الوقت بعيدة جدا كالحلم تعطش لكنها لا تروي العطش
اذا كشفت اللعبة ادر اوراق اللعبة والعب على المكشوف
هناك عقلان العقل الباطني والعقل المنطقي. في الغالب العقل الباطني هو من يتحكم هو من يسجل العادات لكي يسرع الحركة لان العقل المنطقي بحاجة الى الوقت للعمل. التسويق والاشهارات تستهدف العقل الباطني والبرمجة تستهدف العقل الباطني. برمجة العقل بالباطني بالايحاء والتلميح يمكنك ادخال اي فكرة تريدها بالتلميح فقط
البشر يهمهم شيء واحد مصلحتهم مصالحهم تحركهم تريد ان تحركهم امسك بمصلحتهم. انظر الى اين تتجه المصلحة ثم تحكم في اتجاهها. مثلا في التسويق لا نقول ابدا نحن نريد ان نبيع لكم البشر لا يهتمون بما تريده انت البشر يهتمون بما يريدونه هم. في التسويق نقول نقدم لكم انتم خدمة نحن هنا في خدمتكم انتم
البشر مهما انكروا تاكد انهم لاراديا وربما بدون ان ينتبهوا يحبون جميلي الشكل ويضفون عليهم ذكاء وشخصية قوية وجميلة ويثقون بهم. ويحبون المنافقين لا احد يريد سماع الحقيقة لانها بشعة لكن الجميع يريد من يمدحه ويشير لنقاط قوته. من مصلحتك ان تحلي لسانك وتحل�� شكلك
البشر يستخدمون استراتيجيتان للصعود. الاستراتيجية الاولى حطم لكي تصعد انت كاسد فوق وهم تحت لن تهتم لاقوال الحشرات مجرد حشرات يقتلها التجاهل بالتجاهل الحشرة تحترق وتموت من تلقاء نفسها واذا كانت هناك حشرة جد مزعجة هنا يجب ان تتخلص منها بالحيلة تتخلص منها نهائيا بهدوء وبدون صداع. والاستراتيجية الثانية استراتيجية الاسود بذكائك ستصعد
تظاهر دائما بالقوة لكي لا تتداعى عليك الكلاب كما تتداعى على القصعة اذا سقطت سيهجم عليك الجميع الاقوياء والجبناء. دائما اظهر القوة في ضعفك كن قويا حقيقة لا يجب ان يشتم فيك البشر رائحة الخوف لكي لا يهجموا. كن كبريطانيا في قمة خسارتها تظاهرت بامتلاكها لاسطول بحري وربحت الحرب
البشر لا نرى افعالهم ولا نستمع الى اقوالهم فهم ممثلون رائعون وبارعون ايضا لكن مهما بلغت براعتهم ومهما كان تمثيلهم متقنا لا بد ان تخونهم لغة جسدهم وعيونهم. انظر الى عيونهم فالعيون تفضح الحسد والكراهية والحقد والحب وانتبه الى لغة جسدهم فلغة جسدهم تقول الحقيقة وربما قد تقول عكس ما تقوله اقوالهم وافعالهم. انت لا تتحرك حسب اقوالهم او افعالهم انت تتحرك حسب لغة جسدهم. لان لغة الجسد هي اول لغة تواصل بها البشر فيما بينهم وهي اللغة التي من الصعب تزييفها لا بد ان تفلت منهم حركة جسد خاطئة
لا تعطي اسرارك لاحد لانك بذلك كانك تعطيهم السكاكين التي سيطعنونك بها
لا تثق في اي كائن بشري لكنك تتظاهر بانك تثق مراعاة للمشاعر
لدفع الحاسد عليك ان تشتكي اليه من مشاكلك السطحية لكي تطفئ حسده ولا يظن انك تعيش السعادة وهو المعذب في الارض ويحاول احراقك لكي تنطفئ ناره في المقابل لا تشتكي له من مشاكلك الحقيقية لانه سيطعنك بها
السمعة هي اهم شيء تمتلكه يجب ان تلمع سمعتك اما اللعبة تلعب في الكواليس قذاراتك تتركها في الكواليس
يجب ان تدمج الشر في تركيبتك لانك اذا كنت ارنوب ابيض فاول مقابلة لك مع الشر قد تتسب لك بصدمة تفقدك عقلك. وعليك ان تتعلم لغة الافاعي هذه هي اهم اللغات تلك اللغة التي حروفها غريبة وسماعها غريب لكن ما ان تتعلمها ستسمعها وتفهمها وتتكلم بها
You have to control your feelings. Perhaps expressing your feelings makes you feel good but it has a very high cost. Feelings makes you brain stop and you need your brain if you want to be a good player. Let people be angry make people angry to make their brain stop but keep your brain working and don't let anyone makes you angry. Be a good player don't be a little kid don't act like a kid
People are bad this is truth but there is something worse than people loneliness. Loneliness makes you lose all information that you need to survive. You have to walk between people but with conditions masks. You have to wear a certain mask for certain situation. you have to learn how to act how to smile when you have to how to cry when you have to what to tell and what you don't have to tell. and you have to be really careful don't trust anyone but act like you trust anyone. be an actor a good actor if you want to walk between people and wear a smile
People move towards their interests. Interests makes people move. If you want them to move like you want you have to have their interests
Some people rise in the hierarchy by defining goals and realising it and some people rise in the hierarchy by destroying others. be aware of destructor they will attack you and they will make their attack like 'I just laugh with you why are you serious'. No they don't laugh with you their goal is destroying your estime de soi your love of yourself to make it easy to destroy you. you have to play their game and laugh with them
People like hypocrits even if they deny it. Hypocrits tell to people what they want to hear. People like beautiful people too they find them smarter more confident more trustfull
Don't give your help to people without their demand. They will not appreciate it let them demand you
When you do good to people be sure to make them dependant of you and when you need them you find them. Don't rely on their gratitude. People don't give thank even to the god who create them and you expect them to thank you you weak creature
Keep your reputation good you need it. I you want to play play in the background
People are sensible creature and telling them the truth will hurt them. Truth are ugly people don't like truth they like who talk to their feelings. All people have feelings but few have brains
A lion doesn't torture himeself with the opinion of sheep. when you are a lion you don't move your head to listen to insects. you ignore them you have more important things to do in you life than have a war with insects. perhaps if there is a very important insect who makes a lot of noise you can then find a way to kill it indirecty indirectly you use your brain and you kill it indirectly
عندما تريد الانتقام ممن اذاك لا تنتقم مباشرة ابدا تنتقم غير بالحيلة دون ان يعلم احد ولا الذي انتقمت منه. بهدوء تتكتك وتاخذ حقك. طعنة في الظهر لا يعلمها احد غيرك
معدل التمثيل يرتفع مع معدل الذكاء لذا لعب الكبار هو صورة مكبرة للعب الصغار. كلما صعدت الى اعلى زادت اللعبة تشابكا وتعقيدا وكثرت الاقنعة والسيناريوهات واصبحت المسرحية اكثر تعقيدا
عندما يحاول احدهم استفزازك لا تغضب وتفقد السيطرة لانك حينها انت من ستبدو بمظهر المجرم وهو سيظهر بمظهر الانسان الكيوت عليك ان تتمالك اعصابك وتقلب عليه القفة. يعني تلعب معه لعبته انت تستفزه لكي تغضبه لكي يفقد السيطرة لكن انت مهما حصل لا تفقد السيطرة على اعصابك. تذكر ان وحدهم الاطفال هم من يغضبون الناضجون لا يغضبون الاذكياء لا يغضبون وحدهم الاغبياء والمجرمون من يغضبون ويفقدون السيطرة
اصنع لك تحالفات دائما. دائما يجب ان يكون لديك تحالفات ابدا انت بصنعها كن لطيفا قدم هدايا تبادل المصالح لا تبقى وحيدا فالوحيد يسهل اصطياده
كلما غيرت ونوعت الاقنعة كان افضل فكل ظرف قناعه الخاص به. غير جلدك من سبع الى ارنب الى افعى الى ثعلب الى ذئب الى ثعلب في ثوب ارنب. وتذكر دائما البشر لا نخرج لهم ابدا بحقيقتها ولا نقول لهم الحقيقة ابدا ولا نرمي امامهم حكمتنا او درر ذكائنا دائما نتلون معهم كما تتلون الحرباء ونقول لهم ما يحبون سماعه وما يجب قوله
اقترب من المتعاطفين فهم يشعرون بانهم بخير وبانهم افضل عندما يتعاطفون معك استغل تعاطفهم لصالحك واجعلهم يتعاطفون معك
البشر في النهاية مجرد كائنات عاطفية ومتدينة ايضا بالفطرة. تحركهم بالدين كما تريد وتحركهم ب��لعاطفة كما تريد خاطب عاطفتهم لانهم في الغالب يصعب عليهم استخدام عقولهم. استخدام العقل يحتاج مجهودا لكن العاطفة تتحرك من تلقاء نفسها
اذا فضحت ما عليك سوى ان تتوب فالبشر يتقبلون التائبين. التائب تغسل ذنوبه كانها لم تكن
تذكر هذا وعلقه في اذنيك حلقة البشر ناكرون للخير بالفطرة لا يمكنك الاعتماد على اعترافهم لك بالجميل على المدى الطويل. لذا لا تعلمهم الصيد اتركهم بحاجتك بع لهم سمكة وخذ ثمنها اعطهم السمكة لكن لا تعلمهم صيدها
ارمي الخير في البحر وتاكد من ان احدهم راك الخير يلمع السمعة ويغطي على الجرائم
البشر الذي كانوا ينممون ويغتابون هم البشر الذين تراهم اليوم في حين انقرض البشر الذين لم يكونوا ينممون. ان النميمة تسمح لك بجمع معلومات حول محيطك وحماية نفسك كما تسمح لك بمعرفة عدوك من صديقك واخذ الاحتياط من السيئيين وتسمح لك بمكافاة من ساعدك وبمهاجمة من تكرهه والحط منه. واكبر مجال للنميمة اليوم هي الصحافة
البشر سيطلبون منك ان تكون طيب لكي ياكلوك لكن لا احد فيهم سيريد ان يكون طيب الجميع يتسابقون من يكون وغدا اكثر من الاخر. البشر يعجبون بالاوغاد ويصفقون لهم لانهم من يصعدون الى اعلى ويحكمون في حين يحبون الطيبين ويحتقرونهم لان الطيبين ينزلون الى اسفل ولان الطيبين بنيتهم الصافية مثيرون للشفقة ومضحكون لانهم يذكرونك الطفولة حيث الطفل لا يعلم شيئا عن البشر وعن العالم
الطيبة تؤدي الى الخجل والخجل يؤدي الى ضعف الشخصية. الانانية تؤدي الى زيادة الثقة بالنفس وزيادة الثقة بالنفس تؤدي الى قوة الشخصية
كل شيء تكتمه ياكلك من الداخل ويسرع في شيخوختك ويسرع الامراض من قبيل الضغط السكري القولون قرحة المعدة...كل ضربة وجهت لك ولم تردها تحني ظهرك وانحناء الظهر يجلب لك ضربات اخرى. في حين كل ضربة وجهتها او قمت بردها تجعل ظهرك مستقيما وراسك مرفوعا وتطيل عمرك وتحسن صحتك واستقامة ظهرك تخيف البشر منك وتجعلهم لا يتجرؤون على توجيه اي ضربة لانهم يعرفون انك ستفترسهم اذا اقتربوا. وفي نفس الوقت لا يمكنك الصراخ على البشر كل شيء بالحيلة جميل وكل شيء مباشر غباء
البشر سيئون هذه حقيقة عالمية لكن لا يمكنك الاعتزال مهما بدا لك اعتزالهم مغريا فان الاعتزال يزيد من الغباء ويفقدك المعلومات التي انت بحاجتها للحفاظ على بقائك. عليك الاختلاط عليك ان تمشي وسطهم لكن بمرونة بكل الوانه وبكل اقنعتك التي ترتديها وبابتسامتك
ان الطفل الذي يتقن الكذبة في سن مبكر يمتلك معدل ذكاء اكثر من اقرانه. لان الكذبة المتقونة تعني تلاعب بالحقائق وقلبها واختراع سيناريو متقن لدرجة يبدو فيه حقيقة وهذا ليس في متناول الجميع
فن الاغواء بالنسبة للرجل الجنتلمان الذي يحقق للنساء حلمهم الرومانسي بذلة انيقة وكلام حلو وتلاعب بالمشاعر يجعلهن يشعرن بمختلف انواع المشاعر فرح حزن سعادة تعاسة اهتمام تجاهل هدايا تشويق غموض...يلعب بمشاعرهن كما يلعب الموسيقى بالة الكمان ويعزف ويتقن العزف. بالنسبة للمراة الحورية الساحرة التي تغني في البحار وتغرق السفن ساحرة بالوانها احمر اخضر ازرق فوشيا ازرق سماوي ازرق ليلي ....اكسسوارات تزيد من السحر تمايل في المشية خضوع بالقول غموض فن الصيد انها قريبة جدا وفي نفس الوقت بعيدة جدا كالحلم تعطش لكنها لا تروي العطش
اذا كشفت اللعبة ادر اوراق اللعبة والعب على المكشوف
هناك عقلان العقل الباطني والعقل المنطقي. في الغالب العقل الباطني هو من يتحكم هو من يسجل العادات لكي يسرع الحركة لان العقل المنطقي بحاجة الى الوقت للعمل. التسويق والاشهارات تستهدف العقل الباطني والبرمجة تستهدف العقل الباطني. برمجة العقل بالباطني بالايحاء والتلميح يمكنك ادخال اي فكرة تريدها بالتلميح فقط
البشر يهمهم شيء واحد مصلحتهم مصالحهم تحركهم تريد ان تحركهم امسك بمصلحتهم. انظر الى اين تتجه المصلحة ثم تحكم في اتجاهها. مثلا في التسويق لا نقول ابدا نحن نريد ان نبيع لكم البشر لا يهتمون بما تريده انت البشر يهتمون بما يريدونه هم. في التسويق نقول نقدم لكم انتم خدمة نحن هنا في خدمتكم انتم
البشر مهما انكروا تاكد انهم لاراديا وربما بدون ان ينتبهوا يحبون جميلي الشكل ويضفون عليهم ذكاء وشخصية قوية وجميلة ويثقون بهم. ويحبون المنافقين لا احد يريد سماع الحقيقة لانها بشعة لكن الجميع يريد من يمدحه ويشير لنقاط قوته. من مصلحتك ان تحلي لسانك وتحل�� شكلك
البشر يستخدمون استراتيجيتان للصعود. الاستراتيجية الاولى حطم لكي تصعد انت كاسد فوق وهم تحت لن تهتم لاقوال الحشرات مجرد حشرات يقتلها التجاهل بالتجاهل الحشرة تحترق وتموت من تلقاء نفسها واذا كانت هناك حشرة جد مزعجة هنا يجب ان تتخلص منها بالحيلة تتخلص منها نهائيا بهدوء وبدون صداع. والاستراتيجية الثانية استراتيجية الاسود بذكائك ستصعد
تظاهر دائما بالقوة لكي لا تتداعى عليك الكلاب كما تتداعى على القصعة اذا سقطت سيهجم عليك الجميع الاقوياء والجبناء. دائما اظهر القوة في ضعفك كن قويا حقيقة لا يجب ان يشتم فيك البشر رائحة الخوف لكي لا يهجموا. كن كبريطانيا في قمة خسارتها تظاهرت بامتلاكها لاسطول بحري وربحت الحرب
البشر لا نرى افعالهم ولا نستمع الى اقوالهم فهم ممثلون رائعون وبارعون ايضا لكن مهما بلغت براعتهم ومهما كان تمثيلهم متقنا لا بد ان تخونهم لغة جسدهم وعيونهم. انظر الى عيونهم فالعيون تفضح الحسد والكراهية والحقد والحب وانتبه الى لغة جسدهم فلغة جسدهم تقول الحقيقة وربما قد تقول عكس ما تقوله اقوالهم وافعالهم. انت لا تتحرك حسب اقوالهم او افعالهم انت تتحرك حسب لغة جسدهم. لان لغة الجسد هي اول لغة تواصل بها البشر فيما بينهم وهي اللغة التي من الصعب تزييفها لا بد ان تفلت منهم حركة جسد خاطئة
لا تعطي اسرارك لاحد لانك بذلك كانك تعطيهم السكاكين التي سيطعنونك بها
لا تثق في اي كائن بشري لكنك تتظاهر بانك تثق مراعاة للمشاعر
لدفع الحاسد عليك ان تشتكي اليه من مشاكلك السطحية لكي تطفئ حسده ولا يظن انك تعيش السعادة وهو المعذب في الارض ويحاول احراقك لكي تنطفئ ناره في المقابل لا تشتكي له من مشاكلك الحقيقية لانه سيطعنك بها
السمعة هي اهم شيء تمتلكه يجب ان تلمع سمعتك اما اللعبة تلعب في الكواليس قذاراتك تتركها في الكواليس
يجب ان تدمج الشر في تركيبتك لانك اذا كنت ارنوب ابيض فاول مقابلة لك مع الشر قد تتسب لك بصدمة تفقدك عقلك. وعليك ان تتعلم لغة الافاعي هذه هي اهم اللغات تلك اللغة التي حروفها غريبة وسماعها غريب لكن ما ان تتعلمها ستسمعها وتفهمها وتتكلم بها
You have to control your feelings. Perhaps expressing your feelings makes you feel good but it has a very high cost. Feelings makes you brain stop and you need your brain if you want to be a good player. Let people be angry make people angry to make their brain stop but keep your brain working and don't let anyone makes you angry. Be a good player don't be a little kid don't act like a kid
People are bad this is truth but there is something worse than people loneliness. Loneliness makes you lose all information that you need to survive. You have to walk between people but with conditions masks. You have to wear a certain mask for certain situation. you have to learn how to act how to smile when you have to how to cry when you have to what to tell and what you don't have to tell. and you have to be really careful don't trust anyone but act like you trust anyone. be an actor a good actor if you want to walk between people and wear a smile
People move towards their interests. Interests makes people move. If you want them to move like you want you have to have their interests
Some people rise in the hierarchy by defining goals and realising it and some people rise in the hierarchy by destroying others. be aware of destructor they will attack you and they will make their attack like 'I just laugh with you why are you serious'. No they don't laugh with you their goal is destroying your estime de soi your love of yourself to make it easy to destroy you. you have to play their game and laugh with them
People like hypocrits even if they deny it. Hypocrits tell to people what they want to hear. People like beautiful people too they find them smarter more confident more trustfull
Don't give your help to people without their demand. They will not appreciate it let them demand you
When you do good to people be sure to make them dependant of you and when you need them you find them. Don't rely on their gratitude. People don't give thank even to the god who create them and you expect them to thank you you weak creature
Keep your reputation good you need it. I you want to play play in the background
People are sensible creature and telling them the truth will hurt them. Truth are ugly people don't like truth they like who talk to their feelings. All people have feelings but few have brains
A lion doesn't torture himeself with the opinion of sheep. when you are a lion you don't move your head to listen to insects. you ignore them you have more important things to do in you life than have a war with insects. perhaps if there is a very important insect who makes a lot of noise you can then find a way to kill it indirecty indirectly you use your brain and you kill it indirectly
October 11, 2013
يُعتبر الكتاب نسخة محدّثة وأكثر عمومية لكتاب الأمير لمؤلفه ميكافيللي؛ فبينما ركّز الأخير على القواعد الواجب اتّباعها لتحقيق الانتصارات السياسية وفرض السطوة، اتكأ روبرت جرين على حوادث تاريخية، سياسية وغير سياسية، لاستنباط قواعد تساعد في فهم طبيعة النفس البشرية بشكل عام، وكيفية تسخيرها للحصول على السطوة بالأخص في العمل.
وجدتُ الكتاب مفيدًا وواقعيًا لأقصى درجة، لكنه ليس لذوي النظرة الوردية للحياة، فغالبًا لن يصدقوا حرفًا مما جاء فيه، وسيتّهمون كاتبه باللئم والخبث. كما لا أنصح أن يقرأه خريجًا جديدًا لم ينخرط بعد في قذارة الواقع، ولم يحتكّ بدَنَس العمل أيًا كانت طبيعته، لأنه ببساطة لن يستوعب ما ذُكر من قواعد. يُفضّل أن تكون مررت بقدرٍ ما من المشاكل والمواجهات و"الخوازيق" في عملك حتى تتسنّى لك الاستفادة من الكتاب؛ فأنا من أنصار أن تُرمى في البحر لتتعلم السباحة، ثم لنتحدث بعدها عن الأخطاء التي ارتكبتها، ولن ��نساها ما حييت، حتى في عملي فأنا أفضل تلك الطريقة في التدريس؛ أن أعرض المشكلة أولًا على الطالب، وأتركه يحاول فيها بشتى الطرق حتى يُرهَق تمامًا، ثم نتدارس الأخطاء التي وقع فيها لاحقًا.
والأهم أن ليس كل قارئ للكتاب بقادرٍ على الإفادة منه، فالقواعد تتطلب قدرًا من الذكاء الاجتماعي لفهمها ثم تطبيقها في الواقع، وتختلف قدرات البشر في تقدير الأمور بالطبع، كما تتباين مقدرتهم على تحديد نوع الفخ الذي يُنصب لهم وأية قاعدة تستوجب الاستخدام في اللحظة الراهنة.
سيفيد القارئ من القواعد المذكورة إن كان موظفًا صغيرًا، أو متوسط المركز، أو رئيسًا. سيجد في كل قاعدة حتمًا ما يمكنه من تسخيرها لصالحه لتلائم وضعه الخاص. ستجد في بعضها نفسك، وستجد في البعض الآخر أشخاصًا تعرفهم.
عرض روبرت جرين القواعد على النسق التالي:
نصّ القاعدة•
أمثلة على انتهاك القاعدة•
أمثلة أخرى على مراعاة القاعدة. كان من الذكاء أن يذكر أمثلة الانتهاك أولًا.•
مفاتيح للسطوة•
اقتباس من معلم•
الصورة: تساعدك على تذكُّر القاعدة•
عكس القاعدة، ومتى تلجأ له•
الكتاب حافل بالأمثلة التاريخية التي يعضد بها الكاتب كل قاعدة، وقد يتكرر نفس المثال في أكثر من قاعدة لكن بتناول مختلف في كل مرة.
وجدتُ الكتاب مفيدًا وواقعيًا لأقصى درجة، لكنه ليس لذوي النظرة الوردية للحياة، فغالبًا لن يصدقوا حرفًا مما جاء فيه، وسيتّهمون كاتبه باللئم والخبث. كما لا أنصح أن يقرأه خريجًا جديدًا لم ينخرط بعد في قذارة الواقع، ولم يحتكّ بدَنَس العمل أيًا كانت طبيعته، لأنه ببساطة لن يستوعب ما ذُكر من قواعد. يُفضّل أن تكون مررت بقدرٍ ما من المشاكل والمواجهات و"الخوازيق" في عملك حتى تتسنّى لك الاستفادة من الكتاب؛ فأنا من أنصار أن تُرمى في البحر لتتعلم السباحة، ثم لنتحدث بعدها عن الأخطاء التي ارتكبتها، ولن ��نساها ما حييت، حتى في عملي فأنا أفضل تلك الطريقة في التدريس؛ أن أعرض المشكلة أولًا على الطالب، وأتركه يحاول فيها بشتى الطرق حتى يُرهَق تمامًا، ثم نتدارس الأخطاء التي وقع فيها لاحقًا.
والأهم أن ليس كل قارئ للكتاب بقادرٍ على الإفادة منه، فالقواعد تتطلب قدرًا من الذكاء الاجتماعي لفهمها ثم تطبيقها في الواقع، وتختلف قدرات البشر في تقدير الأمور بالطبع، كما تتباين مقدرتهم على تحديد نوع الفخ الذي يُنصب لهم وأية قاعدة تستوجب الاستخدام في اللحظة الراهنة.
سيفيد القارئ من القواعد المذكورة إن كان موظفًا صغيرًا، أو متوسط المركز، أو رئيسًا. سيجد في كل قاعدة حتمًا ما يمكنه من تسخيرها لصالحه لتلائم وضعه الخاص. ستجد في بعضها نفسك، وستجد في البعض الآخر أشخاصًا تعرفهم.
عرض روبرت جرين القواعد على النسق التالي:
نصّ القاعدة•
أمثلة على انتهاك القاعدة•
أمثلة أخرى على مراعاة القاعدة. كان من الذكاء أن يذكر أمثلة الانتهاك أولًا.•
مفاتيح للسطوة•
اقتباس من معلم•
الصورة: تساعدك على تذكُّر القاعدة•
عكس القاعدة، ومتى تلجأ له•
الكتاب حافل بالأمثلة التاريخية التي يعضد بها الكاتب كل قاعدة، وقد يتكرر نفس المثال في أكثر من قاعدة لكن بتناول مختلف في كل مرة.
June 27, 2011
Did you ever notice how sometimes the right book comes along at the right time? I bought this book way back in '01, almost as a joke--it was so politically incorrect, but mostly for the stellar historical references-- remember, he who forgets the past is destined to repeat it. Little did I realize this tome was to become one of the most dog-eared and spine-cracked books in my collection. Initially, I was trying to make sense of the havoc that schemers and liars were wreaking upon me. I used to be naive & innocent, kinda. But then I started relying on some, but not all, of the laws to survive and thrive. Some great lessons from this book:
1. Learn to control your emotions.
2. Contingency. Flexibility. Have a "Plan B."
3. Learn from your past.
4. Life is a game, don't take it personally.
What I can't seem to learn is how to conceal my intentions, and play the role of a "courtier." That said, I can unconditionally and unequivocally recommend this book, just for the mini liberal arts "Western Civ" education you'll receive. Read it, you'll have some good conversation at random water coolers and cocktail parties, you might even score a spot on Jeopardy, but you'll definitely kick some poor, weak, sots ass at Trivial Pursuit.
1. Learn to control your emotions.
2. Contingency. Flexibility. Have a "Plan B."
3. Learn from your past.
4. Life is a game, don't take it personally.
What I can't seem to learn is how to conceal my intentions, and play the role of a "courtier." That said, I can unconditionally and unequivocally recommend this book, just for the mini liberal arts "Western Civ" education you'll receive. Read it, you'll have some good conversation at random water coolers and cocktail parties, you might even score a spot on Jeopardy, but you'll definitely kick some poor, weak, sots ass at Trivial Pursuit.
December 30, 2014
The book is little more than a collection of conflicting laws that are supported only by anecdotal evidence. Good for entertainment and historical vignettes but no real substance or takeaways here.
April 3, 2009
This book does not have to be construed as a means to cruel and heartless power any more than Sun Tzu's The Art of War should be viewed as such. Are some power tactics manipulative? Yes. Does getting to the top sometimes involve taking an opportunity away from someone else? Yes. Is power necessarily a bad thing? No. Often, yes. Though this is not necessarily the case. Greene outlines a number of the aspects of power, giving concrete and interesting examples from history.
For those that say they cannot stomach this book I say they have dich0tomous view of the world, for there is nothing on this earth that is purely good or purely evil. Even the taking of a human life, murder, has circumstances under which it is not viewed as an evil act. Altruism is not always done with the intent of doing good selflessly; though it may sound like an oxymoron there is such a thing as selfish altruism.
To read this book is to gain knowledge, specifically knowledge of power, and unless you intend to use that knowledge for evil reasons, it is nothing more than information as one can find in another book. Dale Carnegie's famous How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the most popular and best-selling psychology/self-help books of all time - and yet I doubt the same critics whose stomachs turn in the reading of this book would say the same of the former. The information in that book involved power tactics and social manipulation to more an extent than does this book.
Some power tactics that are employed or described herein may be viewed as immoral or unethical, but the author does not sanction nor encourage them. And they are not all unethical - this would mean every person that has gained power is in some way immoral, and while this may be true on many counts, I believe certainly there are many exceptions. He simply has simply done his homework and can speak knowledgeably on the subject of power. Whether the reader intends to use this knowledge for good or bad is up to them.
I might also add that, for one to have such a visceral, negative reaction to this book - perhaps there is something unacknowledged within yourself that caused such a reaction? It is that which we do not acknowledge about ourselves that rules us all.
For those that say they cannot stomach this book I say they have dich0tomous view of the world, for there is nothing on this earth that is purely good or purely evil. Even the taking of a human life, murder, has circumstances under which it is not viewed as an evil act. Altruism is not always done with the intent of doing good selflessly; though it may sound like an oxymoron there is such a thing as selfish altruism.
To read this book is to gain knowledge, specifically knowledge of power, and unless you intend to use that knowledge for evil reasons, it is nothing more than information as one can find in another book. Dale Carnegie's famous How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the most popular and best-selling psychology/self-help books of all time - and yet I doubt the same critics whose stomachs turn in the reading of this book would say the same of the former. The information in that book involved power tactics and social manipulation to more an extent than does this book.
Some power tactics that are employed or described herein may be viewed as immoral or unethical, but the author does not sanction nor encourage them. And they are not all unethical - this would mean every person that has gained power is in some way immoral, and while this may be true on many counts, I believe certainly there are many exceptions. He simply has simply done his homework and can speak knowledgeably on the subject of power. Whether the reader intends to use this knowledge for good or bad is up to them.
I might also add that, for one to have such a visceral, negative reaction to this book - perhaps there is something unacknowledged within yourself that caused such a reaction? It is that which we do not acknowledge about ourselves that rules us all.
July 17, 2021
A book of wisdom, a compilation of tactics, hordes of to-avoid mistakes, rich set of brilliant tested ideas for thriving.
Although many of the rules might seem devilish, they'd better be considered as lessons to be aware of in perilous social life.
This book is unspeakably well written. Everyone can definitely benefit having it read for its lessons are ones that have been tested and utilized throughout the history by bold figures.
I really enjoyed this book and learned an intense amount of knowledge.
Although many of the rules might seem devilish, they'd better be considered as lessons to be aware of in perilous social life.
This book is unspeakably well written. Everyone can definitely benefit having it read for its lessons are ones that have been tested and utilized throughout the history by bold figures.
I really enjoyed this book and learned an intense amount of knowledge.
May 9, 2016
Definitely read this book if you're planning on being a war general soon. Or if you want to destroy your "enemies."
If you want to be happy, probably this book is useless for you. Most of the models of power ended up being killed or miserable.
This book is pretty useful--anyone who doesn't see it as satire or rates it as 5 stars, you should probably avoid in your daily life--they think you're tool and are incapable of human love.
If you want to be happy, probably this book is useless for you. Most of the models of power ended up being killed or miserable.
This book is pretty useful--anyone who doesn't see it as satire or rates it as 5 stars, you should probably avoid in your daily life--they think you're tool and are incapable of human love.
October 22, 2022
بعد 4سنوات عدت وقرات هذا الكتاب بالإنجليزية. وهذا كان رأي فيه.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
أوت 22
انا بعد عدة شهور من النقاشات و قراءة كتب أخرى
لأن ذلك السؤال المركزي بقي يقلقني انا كرهت هذا كتاب لكن الا يوجد كتاب ديني او بحث إسلامي يبرز لي الوجه الآخر للقوة : القوة الحقيقة .
حتى الحمد الله و بنعمة الله و فضله وجدتها اليوم في خطبة لدكتور راتب النابلسي زاده الله علما و حفظه الله.
و هذا رابط و سوف اضعه في اخر مراجعتي القدبمة التي كانت في شهر ديسمبر 2018.
و أدعوكم من فضلكم لنشر هذه المحاضرة و مراجعة فقط لإبراز المعنى الحقيقي للقوة لدينا امة الإسلامية
و جزاءكم الله خيرا.
Écouter الخطبة (70) : القوة - الإيمان قوة مطلقة par موسوعة النابلسي #np sur #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/nabulsi-encycl...
علما قبل بدأ بالكتابة هذا ليس راي محايد و ليس موضوعي.
انا منحازة جدا للوفاء و الأخلاص و الثقة و الصراحة و لكل القيم الفضلى .
أي نعم انا عنيدة و رغم النصيحة اصررت على القراءة.
لانني مثلي مثل اغلب أشخاص او النساء لا اعرف بضبط.
حين يتملك بنا الافتتان بكاتب او الكتاب او اي الشئ.نرغب في تعرف عليه اكثر.
ذلك م صار معي تعرفت على هذا الكاتب طبعا ليس في صالون او مكتبة بل مع كتابه "فن الاغواء "نتيجة مراحعة مستفزة من احد اصدقاء الاعزاء "عبيد"
* لا اعرف لم هذا الكاتب بذات حظي مع كتبه الاستفزاز السلبي او إيجابي .🤔
فاعجبت به حد الافتتان لدرجة انني كتبت معلقة مو مراجعة على قول الصديق الحلبي
لذلك قررت قراءة له اكثر و وقع إختيار على هذا الكتاب.الذي بصدفة وجدت احد الرفاق و الزملاء اعطاه نجمة وحيدة يتيمة.و رغم نصحه لي بعدم القراءة و بين لي الأ سباب.
لكن اجتمع عندي العند مع الافتتان و قررت ان اقرا لأكتشف سبب.
و كانت الويلات و الخيبات و إصطدمت بصخرة الواقع ☺🏔🗻 .
صخرة الحقيقة و إستيقظت من وهم الأفتتان و وجدت نفسي اسمع مستغربة و اكرر "هل هذا هو الكاتب الذي أعحبك؟ تأكدي،،
هل مازلت ستواصلين إستماع ماذا تنتظرين اكثر؟ ماذا بقي و لم يطعن فيه؟"
و رغم كل اعجاب بأسلوبه .
لا احتمل الدفاع على النفاق و ضرب القيم و الا اكون شريرة تمشي على الارض أو الساحرة الشريرة.
قررت التوقف و اقدم اعتذار للزميل
نعم انه كتاب لا يستحق و لا نحمة.
هل اعطي نجمة او اقيم من يدافع و يناادي بتملق الرئيس و استخدام اصدقاء كالكبش فداء و ان نرتكب اخطاء و نلقي بها على الأخرين و ان نخفي نوايانا و نغير مبادئنا واقوالنا حسب الظروف و الهدف واضح هو :
القوة و السلطة و النفوذ و ان نكسب م نريد .
اهلا بكم في بلاط النفاق السياسي و وحوش الانسانية و بم انني مكتفية حد التخمة بنفاق السياسي الخاص بنا لست مستغدة لسماع مزيد.
هذا كتاب لا يقرأ .لان هويتنا و مبادئنا سوف تقف حاجز متين و الحمد الله امام هذا الهراء.
بالإسم الإنسانية و القيم الفضلي و النويا الحسنى لا تقرأ.
رابط معنى الحقيقي للقوة لدى الامة الاسلامية.
Écouter الخطبة (70) : القوة - الإيمان قوة مطلقة par موسوعة النابلسي #np sur #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/nabulsi-encycl....
و هذا رابط pdf.
http://www.nabulsi.com/web/article/48...
23 november 2018🌸
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
أوت 22
انا بعد عدة شهور من النقاشات و قراءة كتب أخرى
لأن ذلك السؤال المركزي بقي يقلقني انا كرهت هذا كتاب لكن الا يوجد كتاب ديني او بحث إسلامي يبرز لي الوجه الآخر للقوة : القوة الحقيقة .
حتى الحمد الله و بنعمة الله و فضله وجدتها اليوم في خطبة لدكتور راتب النابلسي زاده الله علما و حفظه الله.
و هذا رابط و سوف اضعه في اخر مراجعتي القدبمة التي كانت في شهر ديسمبر 2018.
و أدعوكم من فضلكم لنشر هذه المحاضرة و مراجعة فقط لإبراز المعنى الحقيقي للقوة لدينا امة الإسلامية
و جزاءكم الله خيرا.
Écouter الخطبة (70) : القوة - الإيمان قوة مطلقة par موسوعة النابلسي #np sur #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/nabulsi-encycl...
علما قبل بدأ بالكتابة هذا ليس راي محايد و ليس موضوعي.
انا منحازة جدا للوفاء و الأخلاص و الثقة و الصراحة و لكل القيم الفضلى .
أي نعم انا عنيدة و رغم النصيحة اصررت على القراءة.
لانني مثلي مثل اغلب أشخاص او النساء لا اعرف بضبط.
حين يتملك بنا الافتتان بكاتب او الكتاب او اي الشئ.نرغب في تعرف عليه اكثر.
ذلك م صار معي تعرفت على هذا الكاتب طبعا ليس في صالون او مكتبة بل مع كتابه "فن الاغواء "نتيجة مراحعة مستفزة من احد اصدقاء الاعزاء "عبيد"
* لا اعرف لم هذا الكاتب بذات حظي مع كتبه الاستفزاز السلبي او إيجابي .🤔
فاعجبت به حد الافتتان لدرجة انني كتبت معلقة مو مراجعة على قول الصديق الحلبي
لذلك قررت قراءة له اكثر و وقع إختيار على هذا الكتاب.الذي بصدفة وجدت احد الرفاق و الزملاء اعطاه نجمة وحيدة يتيمة.و رغم نصحه لي بعدم القراءة و بين لي الأ سباب.
لكن اجتمع عندي العند مع الافتتان و قررت ان اقرا لأكتشف سبب.
و كانت الويلات و الخيبات و إصطدمت بصخرة الواقع ☺🏔🗻 .
صخرة الحقيقة و إستيقظت من وهم الأفتتان و وجدت نفسي اسمع مستغربة و اكرر "هل هذا هو الكاتب الذي أعحبك؟ تأكدي،،
هل مازلت ستواصلين إستماع ماذا تنتظرين اكثر؟ ماذا بقي و لم يطعن فيه؟"
و رغم كل اعجاب بأسلوبه .
لا احتمل الدفاع على النفاق و ضرب القيم و الا اكون شريرة تمشي على الارض أو الساحرة الشريرة.
قررت التوقف و اقدم اعتذار للزميل
نعم انه كتاب لا يستحق و لا نحمة.
هل اعطي نجمة او اقيم من يدافع و يناادي بتملق الرئيس و استخدام اصدقاء كالكبش فداء و ان نرتكب اخطاء و نلقي بها على الأخرين و ان نخفي نوايانا و نغير مبادئنا واقوالنا حسب الظروف و الهدف واضح هو :
القوة و السلطة و النفوذ و ان نكسب م نريد .
اهلا بكم في بلاط النفاق السياسي و وحوش الانسانية و بم انني مكتفية حد التخمة بنفاق السياسي الخاص بنا لست مستغدة لسماع مزيد.
هذا كتاب لا يقرأ .لان هويتنا و مبادئنا سوف تقف حاجز متين و الحمد الله امام هذا الهراء.
بالإسم الإنسانية و القيم الفضلي و النويا الحسنى لا تقرأ.
رابط معنى الحقيقي للقوة لدى الامة الاسلامية.
Écouter الخطبة (70) : القوة - الإيمان قوة مطلقة par موسوعة النابلسي #np sur #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/nabulsi-encycl....
و هذا رابط pdf.
http://www.nabulsi.com/web/article/48...
23 november 2018🌸
November 26, 2014
في مسلسل عربي، كان فيه واحد غنى بيدي موظف رشوة فالموظف بيقول له: بتديني رشوة؟ فالغنى بيقول له لأ دي مش رشوة دي عربون محبة .. فالموظف قال اذا كان كده ماشي وأخدها
الكتاب ده الصح انك تسميه رشوة .. لكن مؤلفه مسميه عربون محبة
يعني الكتاب اسمه قواعد القوة .. والمفروض يبقى قواعد الدناءة
هذه النسبية في المسميات .. هي من أشد ما كان ينتقده عبد الوهاب المسيري في الغرب
أعتقد أنه لا توجد قاعدة بهذا الكتاب إلا وكان�� هناك آية قرانية أو حديث شريف يأمرنا بعكسها أو على الأقل باجتنابها
اذا أردت أن تصبح شخصا شريرا وقويا وربما غنيا .. فالتزم بما في هذا الكتاب
أو في قول آخر .. إذا أردت أن تكسب العالم وتخسر نفسك .. فاتبع تلك القوانين
الكتاب ده الصح انك تسميه رشوة .. لكن مؤلفه مسميه عربون محبة
يعني الكتاب اسمه قواعد القوة .. والمفروض يبقى قواعد الدناءة
هذه النسبية في المسميات .. هي من أشد ما كان ينتقده عبد الوهاب المسيري في الغرب
أعتقد أنه لا توجد قاعدة بهذا الكتاب إلا وكان�� هناك آية قرانية أو حديث شريف يأمرنا بعكسها أو على الأقل باجتنابها
اذا أردت أن تصبح شخصا شريرا وقويا وربما غنيا .. فالتزم بما في هذا الكتاب
أو في قول آخر .. إذا أردت أن تكسب العالم وتخسر نفسك .. فاتبع تلك القوانين
August 3, 2011
If you want to be known as a psychopath, let this be your bible.
June 22, 2022
I've seen many people disliking this book because it's evil. What they do not understand that this book is meant to be evil. And in its execution, it was spectacular. This book is a classic.
I think the world is a horrible place because good people don't understand evil scheme, or can't plot evil scheme when its necessary to fight the evil. As evil minds are generally ruthless in executing their schemes, they win most of the time. To fight it, you must play dirty when necessary.
That being said, this book has enormous seductive power which could transform you to a manipulating mind. Here are a few laws that I particularly liked..
Law 1: Never outshine your master.
Law 4: Always say less than necessary.
Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people's self interest, never to their mercy or gratitude.
Law 19: Know who you are dealing with, do not offend the wrong person.
Law 40: Despise the free lunch.
Law 46: Never appear two perfect.
What makes the book a fun read is that each law is bolstered by historical stories, where either observance of the law or transgression of the law is exemplified. So the reader can relate the laws to real life scenarios, even in his own life.
This is an exceptionally well written book.
I think the world is a horrible place because good people don't understand evil scheme, or can't plot evil scheme when its necessary to fight the evil. As evil minds are generally ruthless in executing their schemes, they win most of the time. To fight it, you must play dirty when necessary.
That being said, this book has enormous seductive power which could transform you to a manipulating mind. Here are a few laws that I particularly liked..
Law 1: Never outshine your master.
Law 4: Always say less than necessary.
Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people's self interest, never to their mercy or gratitude.
Law 19: Know who you are dealing with, do not offend the wrong person.
Law 40: Despise the free lunch.
Law 46: Never appear two perfect.
What makes the book a fun read is that each law is bolstered by historical stories, where either observance of the law or transgression of the law is exemplified. So the reader can relate the laws to real life scenarios, even in his own life.
This is an exceptionally well written book.
August 24, 2016
Let me start by stating that I was EXTREMELY skeptical about this book, though I had heard so much about it prior to reading it (I don't know, maybe it was the mood I was in). My first thoughts while reading the preface were "Oh god...please don't let this be another book written from the point of view of an arrogant, self centered, self absorbed, narrow minded individual who only sees the world from his end of the spectrum, and believes that without his personal philosophy the rest of us mere mortals would be doomed!" I am pleased to say that I was TOTALLY wrong and pleasantly surprised. I loved this book!
I give the author a tremendous amount of credit for even attempting to take on an issue as COLOSSAL as power and sum it all up in 430 pages. As I stated earlier I was extremely skeptical and was under the impression that this book would be mainly propaganda infused and maybe laced with a little personal philosophy here and there. As I dug deeper into this great work though, I found that the author's personal philosophy actually takes a backseat to the historical references and stories that would eventually take center stage and serve as an excellent way to prove his point and drive it home. I found the accounts of the different powerful figures from ancient civilization all the way up to modern times to be very effective, logical, and convincing. It's always hard to disagree with someone when there's a clear cut example to support the claim.
Now I would not recommend this book to the faint of heart. I reiterate that as the author had to have tough skin to address the topic of power, so should the reader in order to read this book and understand it, let alone enjoy it. This book addresses power from every single angle and aspect of it; from exercising power over ones self and his or her own actions, to having power over other people and their actions. I was expecting a lot of sugar coating and flattering words (as you usually get when power is being addressed) but to the contrary there was a boldness and a distinctly honest quality about this book. That had to have taken a lot of courage...salute. The fact that this was Robert Greene's 1st book is commendable in that respect.
The word "game" often resurfaces throughout in reference to power,(to whom it may concern) I found that interesting. Power took on the form of politics(which I'm not usually into) and leadership was addressed in an almost microscopic type fashion which made the read more interesting. Some of my favorite historical figures appear throughout also to add clarity. People like Julius Caesar, Otto Von Bismarck, and Sun Tzu have recurring roles in this extreme display of excellence.
Power is more times than often romanticized and made to seem alluring and seductive, but very few people dare to explore the object of it from every angle and address the dangers that abound when it is abused; making it easy for an author to inadvertently send an unsuspecting reader of one of these "in a perfect world" type books into a merciless, unrelenting, and unforgiving environment only to be devoured due to misguidance and unpreparedness. The 48 Laws Of Power is not one of those books.
Now there are things that I TOTALLY disagree with in this book. There were portions that I read and thought to myself " I would never do anything like that." On the flip side I was glad that those parts were included also because they gave me insight in to the psyche of the person who would and actually does the things that I choose not to do. Then there are also parts that I TOTALLY agree with; parts that I read and got EXTREMELY excited about! I found myself saying "now that's EXACTLY what I would do!" I personally think that's what makes for a great read. Having the notoriously wicked villain only makes you love the heroic character all the more.
The 48 Laws Of Power has a little bit of everything in it. Power is addressed, so naturally there's deceit, greed, treachery, corruption, and scandal involved. There's a hint of romance with ancient tales like the story of Ninon de Lenclos and Marquis de Serigne. There's also a pinch of heartbreak like you'd find in the story of King Henry the 13th and Catherine of Argon: both aspects of power that I just happen to find fascinating. Surprisingly there were also instances in which those who appeared to be powerful were actually powerless for whatever reason. This book addresses power from every angle, legitimate and illegitimate, in an unbiased way and I appreciated and enjoyed that aspect immensely.
I recommend this book to the man or woman who has reached a crossroad in his or her life and has found themselves staring down the barrel of a powerful decision... either become or remain a subordinate: a life where there's a lot less risk, danger, and treachery involved...or Boss Up: take initiative and pursue a position of leadership and endure the hardships, responsibilities, and drawbacks that being a leader entails. I would also recommend this book to the person who has already acquired a position of leadership somehow, whether it be through hard work and sacrifice, or simply through inheritance. I think all such would find this book to be a tremendous help in deciding on whether to simply bask in what has already been given to you and carry on tradition, or blaze your own path and set your own rules...make your mark.
This may be an oldie to some, but I'm sure there are still a few that have yet to take a gander at this and marvel as I did. In conclusion: real will always recognize real and it is impossible for one to miss the realness that resides between the pages of The 48 Laws Of Power... Salute.
I give the author a tremendous amount of credit for even attempting to take on an issue as COLOSSAL as power and sum it all up in 430 pages. As I stated earlier I was extremely skeptical and was under the impression that this book would be mainly propaganda infused and maybe laced with a little personal philosophy here and there. As I dug deeper into this great work though, I found that the author's personal philosophy actually takes a backseat to the historical references and stories that would eventually take center stage and serve as an excellent way to prove his point and drive it home. I found the accounts of the different powerful figures from ancient civilization all the way up to modern times to be very effective, logical, and convincing. It's always hard to disagree with someone when there's a clear cut example to support the claim.
Now I would not recommend this book to the faint of heart. I reiterate that as the author had to have tough skin to address the topic of power, so should the reader in order to read this book and understand it, let alone enjoy it. This book addresses power from every single angle and aspect of it; from exercising power over ones self and his or her own actions, to having power over other people and their actions. I was expecting a lot of sugar coating and flattering words (as you usually get when power is being addressed) but to the contrary there was a boldness and a distinctly honest quality about this book. That had to have taken a lot of courage...salute. The fact that this was Robert Greene's 1st book is commendable in that respect.
The word "game" often resurfaces throughout in reference to power,(to whom it may concern) I found that interesting. Power took on the form of politics(which I'm not usually into) and leadership was addressed in an almost microscopic type fashion which made the read more interesting. Some of my favorite historical figures appear throughout also to add clarity. People like Julius Caesar, Otto Von Bismarck, and Sun Tzu have recurring roles in this extreme display of excellence.
Power is more times than often romanticized and made to seem alluring and seductive, but very few people dare to explore the object of it from every angle and address the dangers that abound when it is abused; making it easy for an author to inadvertently send an unsuspecting reader of one of these "in a perfect world" type books into a merciless, unrelenting, and unforgiving environment only to be devoured due to misguidance and unpreparedness. The 48 Laws Of Power is not one of those books.
Now there are things that I TOTALLY disagree with in this book. There were portions that I read and thought to myself " I would never do anything like that." On the flip side I was glad that those parts were included also because they gave me insight in to the psyche of the person who would and actually does the things that I choose not to do. Then there are also parts that I TOTALLY agree with; parts that I read and got EXTREMELY excited about! I found myself saying "now that's EXACTLY what I would do!" I personally think that's what makes for a great read. Having the notoriously wicked villain only makes you love the heroic character all the more.
The 48 Laws Of Power has a little bit of everything in it. Power is addressed, so naturally there's deceit, greed, treachery, corruption, and scandal involved. There's a hint of romance with ancient tales like the story of Ninon de Lenclos and Marquis de Serigne. There's also a pinch of heartbreak like you'd find in the story of King Henry the 13th and Catherine of Argon: both aspects of power that I just happen to find fascinating. Surprisingly there were also instances in which those who appeared to be powerful were actually powerless for whatever reason. This book addresses power from every angle, legitimate and illegitimate, in an unbiased way and I appreciated and enjoyed that aspect immensely.
I recommend this book to the man or woman who has reached a crossroad in his or her life and has found themselves staring down the barrel of a powerful decision... either become or remain a subordinate: a life where there's a lot less risk, danger, and treachery involved...or Boss Up: take initiative and pursue a position of leadership and endure the hardships, responsibilities, and drawbacks that being a leader entails. I would also recommend this book to the person who has already acquired a position of leadership somehow, whether it be through hard work and sacrifice, or simply through inheritance. I think all such would find this book to be a tremendous help in deciding on whether to simply bask in what has already been given to you and carry on tradition, or blaze your own path and set your own rules...make your mark.
This may be an oldie to some, but I'm sure there are still a few that have yet to take a gander at this and marvel as I did. In conclusion: real will always recognize real and it is impossible for one to miss the realness that resides between the pages of The 48 Laws Of Power... Salute.
June 16, 2023
- "قواعد السطوة" بحث تاريخي او استقراء لأحداث وقصص تاريخية من أجل استخلاص الزبدة منها واستنباط قاعدة عامة تتلاءم مع طرح الكاتب وتخدم هدفه. فلذلك قام الكاتب بإنتقاء القصص التي تلاءم مشروعه وقرأها بالطريقة التي تخدم مسار أفكاره رغم ان القصص ذاتها قد تُقرأ على أوجه اخرى ومتعددة، كما ان انتقاء القصة من صيرورة تاريخية قد يحيدها عن مضمونها الأصلي وسياقها الفعلي.
- اتبع جرين في القواعد نمطاً محدداً:
نصّ القاعدة
أمثلة على انتهاك القاعدة
أمثلة أخرى على مراعاة القاعدة
مفاتيح للسطوة
اقتباس من معلم
صورة
عكس القاعدة
كانت القواعد بسيطة كقوانين يجاول جرين ان يرسيها او كخلاصات، وأعطى أمثلة عديدة لكل قاعدة ومن ثم اقتبس من احد المفكرين او المحتالين او الجنرالات نصاً يخدم القاعدة وصورة توضّح القاعدة او ترسخها في العقول (فالصورة تساوي الفكلمة) وأعطى لاحقاً أمثلة تعكس القاعدة. انتقاء تطبيق القاعدة او عكسها يخضع لمتغيرات ووقائع لم يذكرها الكاتب! كما ان الأمثلة اتت غالباً لمحتالين وقوّادين ونصّابين وسياسيين، وكان من الظلم حشر بسمارك بين هذه الزمرة.
- حسناً، بالنسبة للقواعد فبعضها صحيح ونراه كل يوم في حياتنا العملية والإجتماعية، واذا كان المرء لن يتصرف طبقاً لها فمعرفتها لتجنب ان تطبّق عليه ستكون مفيدة جداً له. بالنسبة للأمثلة، القصص كانت متنوعة وممتعة وستزيد الكثير للمخزون المعرفي، كما انها ستذكرك بأحداث جرت وتجري وستجري في المستقبل! بشكل عام الكتاب سيكون مفيداً لمن يقرأه.
- يالنسبة للترجمة، فقد لفتني ان المترجم قام بحذف الهوامش والإقتباسات كما قام بتغيير احدى الصور لإعتباراته الإيديولوجية وهذا أقل ما يقال فيه انه سوء أمانة وعدم احتراف.
- ختاماً، ومن خلال التجارب العملية، اذا اجتهد الإنسان فيما يقوم به وأبدع به سيمتلك الحق لأن يترقّى، لكن هذا الحق غير مضمون فإذا لم يطالب به ويدعمه بالقوة سيضيع ولذلك عليه الا يكون ساذجاً والحياة محكومة بالكثير من المتغيرات.
- اتبع جرين في القواعد نمطاً محدداً:
نصّ القاعدة
أمثلة على انتهاك القاعدة
أمثلة أخرى على مراعاة القاعدة
مفاتيح للسطوة
اقتباس من معلم
صورة
عكس القاعدة
كانت القواعد بسيطة كقوانين يجاول جرين ان يرسيها او كخلاصات، وأعطى أمثلة عديدة لكل قاعدة ومن ثم اقتبس من احد المفكرين او المحتالين او الجنرالات نصاً يخدم القاعدة وصورة توضّح القاعدة او ترسخها في العقول (فالصورة تساوي الفكلمة) وأعطى لاحقاً أمثلة تعكس القاعدة. انتقاء تطبيق القاعدة او عكسها يخضع لمتغيرات ووقائع لم يذكرها الكاتب! كما ان الأمثلة اتت غالباً لمحتالين وقوّادين ونصّابين وسياسيين، وكان من الظلم حشر بسمارك بين هذه الزمرة.
- حسناً، بالنسبة للقواعد فبعضها صحيح ونراه كل يوم في حياتنا العملية والإجتماعية، واذا كان المرء لن يتصرف طبقاً لها فمعرفتها لتجنب ان تطبّق عليه ستكون مفيدة جداً له. بالنسبة للأمثلة، القصص كانت متنوعة وممتعة وستزيد الكثير للمخزون المعرفي، كما انها ستذكرك بأحداث جرت وتجري وستجري في المستقبل! بشكل عام الكتاب سيكون مفيداً لمن يقرأه.
- يالنسبة للترجمة، فقد لفتني ان المترجم قام بحذف الهوامش والإقتباسات كما قام بتغيير احدى الصور لإعتباراته الإيديولوجية وهذا أقل ما يقال فيه انه سوء أمانة وعدم احتراف.
- ختاماً، ومن خلال التجارب العملية، اذا اجتهد الإنسان فيما يقوم به وأبدع به سيمتلك الحق لأن يترقّى، لكن هذا الحق غير مضمون فإذا لم يطالب به ويدعمه بالقوة سيضيع ولذلك عليه الا يكون ساذجاً والحياة محكومة بالكثير من المتغيرات.
من يلتزم بالطيبة طوال الوقت يسحقه المد الهائل من الأشخاص الذين ليسوا طيبين
ميكافيللي
January 12, 2022
Wow. Where to start? I really didn’t know what I was getting into with this book. I found it in my Kindle library (probably bought it as a daily deal at some point) and I vaguely remembered a couple bloggers I follow have mentioned it. The premise seemed interesting (sounded to me like a lot of interesting examples of historical leadership), so I dove in. After reading one chapter, I had to go research this book more because I couldn’t figure out what I was reading.
After a quick consult with Wikipedia, I learned the book is popular with “prison inmates and celebrities” and some further research revealed how controversial the book is due to the themes of seduction, manipulation, and war (the book has been banned in some US prisons as a supposed security measure). With that context, I realize this is definitely not the usual book I would read, but my (morbid) curiosity was sparked and I like reading different points of view.
But this point of view was scary. The author describes the world as a battlefield, and we all need to manipulate and deceive each other in our quest for power. The author and I clearly have very different definitions of power – power to me is gained through trust and respect, not destruction and cruelty. My mouth dropped open almost every time I started reading about a new law and I would have to take a couple breaths to calm down. Here are some of the gems that really made my blood pressure rise:
“Our good name and reputation depend more on what we conceal than what we reveal. Everyone makes mistakes, but those who are truly clever manage to hide them, and to make sure someone else is blamed. A convenient scapegoat should always be kept around for such moments.” (Law 26 – Keep Your Hands Clean)
“If you find yourself in a lowly position that offers little opportunity for you to draw attention, an effective trick is to attack the most visible, most famous, most powerful person you can find.” (Law 6 - Court Attention at All Cost)
“Friends will say that they love your poetry, adore your music, envy your taste in clothes – maybe they mean it, often they do not.” (Law 2 - Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies)
“Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.” (Law 11 – Learn To Keep People Dependent on You)
Law 7 – Get Others To Do the Work For You, But Always Take the Credit…no further commentary needed on this one.
It’s also worth mentioning the multiple references to obeying your “master” throughout the book – you should protect your master's ego at all costs by only doing what’s asked of you and acting dumber than you are if necessary. All of this is terrible leadership (and life!) advice. I noticed that a lot of the “laws” are contrary to currently accepted advice on being a good leader…and a good citizen. The book was published in 1998, and admittedly I was still in high school at that time and living in a bubble under my parents’ roof, but the world hasn’t changed that much, right?? I know we’ve made advances in social equality and inclusion since then (although there’s still a long way to go), but I don’t really think this was sound counsel 20+ years ago either.
The concepts weren’t actually all bad. There are some messages in the book, like actions speak louder than words and don’t be unnecessarily cruel to people, but the whole thing is just framed as life is a war and the ultimate goal is to manipulate everyone around you. For example, in Law 14 – Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy (after a while, you can’t help but laugh at the titles of the laws!), the main example is that a big-time art dealer wanted Andrew Mellon’s business in the early 1900s. The art dealer did a lot of research on what Mellon liked and found a way to get in front of Mellon to show him his expertise and that he understood Mellon’s tastes. Mellon was impressed, hired the guy, and ended up with an art collection he loved. And the art dealer guy got the commission that he was looking for. To me, this sounds like taking an interest in someone and creating mutual value – good business advice for anyone trying to sell something. But the book made this into some elaborate spy game where the art dealer was just trying to manipulate the unsuspecting millionaire for his own personal gain.
Although I’m sure I’m completely undermining my “power” by saying this, I like to try to find the good in everything. As a result, I resigned myself to stop hate-reading the book around the fifth chapter and just accept it for what it is. I wasn’t going to agree with most of the author’s views, but each law was “supported” by an interesting story about a historical figure. Most of the examples were of egotistical men (with a few women sprinkled in) trying to manipulate and deceive each other, but there were a lot of interesting stories from ancient China and the Roman Empire, and I came away from the book with a list of some people and places I want to learn more about (preferably from less belligerent books!).
But then I got to Law 27 – Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following. You shouldn’t let gullibility go to waste and, in order to form your own cult, you just need to “simply follow the five steps of cultmaking that our charlatan ancestors perfected over the years.” I had to call it and officially mark this book as DNF, I can’t do another 200+ pages of this. This book is so confusing to me and I began to wonder if there was some joke I wasn’t getting, because the author can’t be serious. In one last ditch effort to understand, I found a 2012 article from The Guardian with Robert Greene’s thoughts on his book. He said, “I believe I described a reality that no other book tried to describe. I went to an extreme for literary purposes because I felt all the self-help books out there were so gooey and Pollyanna-ish and nauseating.” I appreciate that perspective and this book is definitely like no other I've read, but I guess Mr. Greene and I just experience different realities and his extreme is a little too extreme for me.
If you see life as a giant war that needs to be won, this is the book for you. But please don’t read it. The concepts in this book won’t give you the “power” you’re looking for in this world. There are a lot more productive books out there to guide you on how to become more influential and respected.
After a quick consult with Wikipedia, I learned the book is popular with “prison inmates and celebrities” and some further research revealed how controversial the book is due to the themes of seduction, manipulation, and war (the book has been banned in some US prisons as a supposed security measure). With that context, I realize this is definitely not the usual book I would read, but my (morbid) curiosity was sparked and I like reading different points of view.
But this point of view was scary. The author describes the world as a battlefield, and we all need to manipulate and deceive each other in our quest for power. The author and I clearly have very different definitions of power – power to me is gained through trust and respect, not destruction and cruelty. My mouth dropped open almost every time I started reading about a new law and I would have to take a couple breaths to calm down. Here are some of the gems that really made my blood pressure rise:
“Our good name and reputation depend more on what we conceal than what we reveal. Everyone makes mistakes, but those who are truly clever manage to hide them, and to make sure someone else is blamed. A convenient scapegoat should always be kept around for such moments.” (Law 26 – Keep Your Hands Clean)
“If you find yourself in a lowly position that offers little opportunity for you to draw attention, an effective trick is to attack the most visible, most famous, most powerful person you can find.” (Law 6 - Court Attention at All Cost)
“Friends will say that they love your poetry, adore your music, envy your taste in clothes – maybe they mean it, often they do not.” (Law 2 - Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies)
“Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.” (Law 11 – Learn To Keep People Dependent on You)
Law 7 – Get Others To Do the Work For You, But Always Take the Credit…no further commentary needed on this one.
It’s also worth mentioning the multiple references to obeying your “master” throughout the book – you should protect your master's ego at all costs by only doing what’s asked of you and acting dumber than you are if necessary. All of this is terrible leadership (and life!) advice. I noticed that a lot of the “laws” are contrary to currently accepted advice on being a good leader…and a good citizen. The book was published in 1998, and admittedly I was still in high school at that time and living in a bubble under my parents’ roof, but the world hasn’t changed that much, right?? I know we’ve made advances in social equality and inclusion since then (although there’s still a long way to go), but I don’t really think this was sound counsel 20+ years ago either.
The concepts weren’t actually all bad. There are some messages in the book, like actions speak louder than words and don’t be unnecessarily cruel to people, but the whole thing is just framed as life is a war and the ultimate goal is to manipulate everyone around you. For example, in Law 14 – Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy (after a while, you can’t help but laugh at the titles of the laws!), the main example is that a big-time art dealer wanted Andrew Mellon’s business in the early 1900s. The art dealer did a lot of research on what Mellon liked and found a way to get in front of Mellon to show him his expertise and that he understood Mellon’s tastes. Mellon was impressed, hired the guy, and ended up with an art collection he loved. And the art dealer guy got the commission that he was looking for. To me, this sounds like taking an interest in someone and creating mutual value – good business advice for anyone trying to sell something. But the book made this into some elaborate spy game where the art dealer was just trying to manipulate the unsuspecting millionaire for his own personal gain.
Although I’m sure I’m completely undermining my “power” by saying this, I like to try to find the good in everything. As a result, I resigned myself to stop hate-reading the book around the fifth chapter and just accept it for what it is. I wasn’t going to agree with most of the author’s views, but each law was “supported” by an interesting story about a historical figure. Most of the examples were of egotistical men (with a few women sprinkled in) trying to manipulate and deceive each other, but there were a lot of interesting stories from ancient China and the Roman Empire, and I came away from the book with a list of some people and places I want to learn more about (preferably from less belligerent books!).
But then I got to Law 27 – Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following. You shouldn’t let gullibility go to waste and, in order to form your own cult, you just need to “simply follow the five steps of cultmaking that our charlatan ancestors perfected over the years.” I had to call it and officially mark this book as DNF, I can’t do another 200+ pages of this. This book is so confusing to me and I began to wonder if there was some joke I wasn’t getting, because the author can’t be serious. In one last ditch effort to understand, I found a 2012 article from The Guardian with Robert Greene’s thoughts on his book. He said, “I believe I described a reality that no other book tried to describe. I went to an extreme for literary purposes because I felt all the self-help books out there were so gooey and Pollyanna-ish and nauseating.” I appreciate that perspective and this book is definitely like no other I've read, but I guess Mr. Greene and I just experience different realities and his extreme is a little too extreme for me.
If you see life as a giant war that needs to be won, this is the book for you. But please don’t read it. The concepts in this book won’t give you the “power” you’re looking for in this world. There are a lot more productive books out there to guide you on how to become more influential and respected.
October 7, 2012
Robert Greene has done an excellent job of distilling how power works at the macro level, among great generals, statesmen, larger-than-life seducers, and even top CEOs at Fortune 500 companies. But most of us do not experience power in the way that is presumed by these examples. Most of us experience a much more fluid, shifting, and consensus-based form of power among people whom we must work with over and over again over many years and cannot afford to treat as disposable. This book is of limited value for understanding power in such normal, everyday situations where those exercising power lack the ability to behead, poison, or even to fire those with whom they work.
The book works very well as a history of how absolute power has been accumulated, preserved, and lost. It works much less well as an set of instructions for how to exercise influence in a world where power is much more diffuse and unstable than it is in almost any of the examples that the author relies on as the basis for his "laws."
The book works very well as a history of how absolute power has been accumulated, preserved, and lost. It works much less well as an set of instructions for how to exercise influence in a world where power is much more diffuse and unstable than it is in almost any of the examples that the author relies on as the basis for his "laws."
June 18, 2008
I couldn't stomach this book so to be fair I only finished about a quarter of it so I can't speak for the whole thing. A friend recommended it to me. It seemed to justify selfishness on these somewhat flawed ethics-based arguments. I think it's a recommended reading for business majors. Some folks love it. A good book to check out on power that takes a somewhat different approach is Thich Naht Hanh's "The Art of Power".
Want to read
January 2, 2022On my way to become a gatekeeping gaslighting girlboss 👀
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