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  • 48 Laws of Power

  • Written by: Robert Greene
  • Narrated by: Richard Poe
  • Length: 23 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (397 ratings)

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48 Laws of Power

Written by: Robert Greene
Narrated by: Richard Poe
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Publisher's Summary

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

©2000 Robert Greene and Joost Elffers (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Ethics & Morality History & Theory World
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Critic Reviews

It's The Rules for suits.... Machiavelli has a new rival. And Sun-tzu better watch his back." ( New York Magazine)

What listeners say about 48 Laws of Power

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Profile image for UKP

Not a book for all

Although good souls may get an insight from this book, about how the power hungry humans are manipulating others ( and hence can alert themselves against foul play), it’s not a book for all. It’s a book that tells every human to look outwards, find imperfection in the outer world and manipulate them; a vision totally opposite to the eastern philosophy which tells the man to look inward. To be frank, this book tells us loudly to support evil, may be because the author thinks that the ultimate aim of life is to enjoy power even by destroying your fellow beings. So I personally feel, if you are strong enough to reject all the evil ideas which this book conveys, but you want to understand the chemistry of the evil mind, you can read this book. The writing style, the way the author justifies his laws and the structure of the book are really good. You learn a lot of history too(even though the author is elaborating only a fixed number of cultures and personalities which would help him to justify his laws).

19 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Awesome Phone

That's one of the great Books I have listened to

If you don't know about these laws, then you will be a prey in this society rather than the predator

8 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Apar Agarwal

Must read for leaders and anyone who wishes power

You want power? Want to influence people around you? Want to earn respect and admiration of all around you? Want more loyalty from your subordinates? Want your enemies to fear you?
You are in luck for you have found the perfect book. These lessons are crux of lifetime experiences of monarchs, dictators,bureaucrats, leaders in short anyone who handled power masterfully. Save decades of your precious time and save yourself from con artists and deceivers by reading this book.

7 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Amazon Customer

A well researched and must read book.

An astonishing insight into history and drawing lessons both good and bad. It not only brings out the importance of social skills but also guides to sharpen them. A must read for people who enjoy games of power.

4 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Puspendra Kumar

Subject matter is great.

It helped me gain confidence in learning something about strategic thinking. It's great to learn about ancient wisdom.

4 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Amit Kumar

Captivating, engaging and addictive.

You can learn a lot from this book, enhance your social skills and gain power in every sphere of life.

2 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Sahaj Khetrapal

Best for Self Development

We had this book title but its so much better to listen to here, while working or travelling. These laws will change the way people behave towards you.

2 people found this helpful

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Profile image for apoorv kumar

Remarkable

A remarkable collection of ideas on how to succeed in an ever more political world.

2 people found this helpful

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Profile image for Uma Mahesh

excellent book

excellent narrative and examples. very informative. even if we do no practice it would help to understand world better way.

1 person found this helpful

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Profile image for Soham mehta

phenomenal

honestly it's definitely worth a shot and will be an eye opener to most,

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  • Gaggleframpf
  • 25-02-16

You don't have to be a psychopath to like this.

This is an absolutely amazing book. It will help you to tell your true friends apart from people who just want to use you. It will tell when to give more to your employer, or when to tone down your enthusiasm. It will warn you about going too far in your quest for power.

If you really are a power-hungry maniac, this book will do just as much to help you reach your goals as it will if you are an average joe with no ambitions. I'm an idealist myself - I like to see the good in everyone and I don't like to think of myself as someone who wants "power" over other people.

But that is not an excuse to avoid encountering the incredibly valuable information in this book. At the very least, it will keep you from making poor moves that will cause you to fall out of favor with others. At the most, you will be able to spot when someone else is playing "the game" and use their techniques against them.

I don't like to play the game myself; I don't think power is a game. But I sure as hell like to watch the people who DO live like it's a game spin their wheels as they try and fail to pin me down and make themselves look totally incompetent in the process.

If you're an honest person and if you think rewards and status should be earned by merit and not by raw power or deception, then your reputation and character will go before you and these laws of power will walk behind you.

Don't use this book to grow in power for power's sake. This is a fool's errand, and ends in your annihilation. Rather learn the laws of power to attain mastery over your own spirit, and to defend against those who would prey upon your honesty and integrity.

1,309 people found this helpful

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  • Juan
  • 14-02-16

Good Road Listen

being a trusting person by nature... and working amongst a bunch of sharks. Listening to this has helped me gain perspectives I've never considered.

298 people found this helpful

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  • Marlon
  • 07-07-16

Interesting

As a Christian I find myself struggling with these laws and approaches to power. Maybe I am naive when it comes to power, or too idealistic. This book seems to outline all the dirty tricks played by politicians to stay in power. The author seems to recommend some of the behavior we naturally disapprove of as an acceptable means to power.

So why did I listen to the whole thing? I thought about returning the book after listening to the first chapter. But I realized that even though I may dislike these "laws of power" they are at play in the world I live in. And even thought I do not believe I will ever live by the majority of these laws, being aware of them has helped open my eyes to what is going on around me.

So I would not highly recommend this book because there is little emphasis, if any, in character. But the book is useful in pointing out how people acquire and maintain power, and there is a benefit to being aware of how power can work.

295 people found this helpful

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  • El Barto
  • 29-05-19

NOT a Self Help Book

Perhaps the best title for this book should be “A Con Man’s Primer” or “The Unabridged Encyclopedia of Selfishness.” An interesting look at cons and power plays throughout history, this book takes a totally amoral look at how to win at all costs.

While many of the points brought out through history are fascinating (and do provide some insights into what others may be doing to exert control or power over you), I certainly wouldn’t want to use this book as a guide for my life simply because it lacks any substance that would help you create and sustain a “real connection” with another human being.

I find it interesting that the manuscript quotes several times from the Bible yet teaches a philosophy that is so directly opposed to what is taught there.

This is a book of contradictions (although it refers to several “paradoxes” of power). One law tells you to take all the credit for performance while another encourages you to give your master the credit. Which is it? Yes, the points are well taken when it comes to these paradoxical principles, but mostly you’re left to ask, “So WHEN do I exercise one law over another one?”

In summary, this is primarily an interesting historical read. Yes, it could help you recognize times when others may be trying to exert control or power over you, but that’s about where its usefulness stops.

207 people found this helpful

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  • Joakim Andersson
  • 13-03-16

The face of human tragedy smiles

This book would be easier to enjoy if it were written as a study in how people attain power, rather than a how-to guide. Not once is it the least bit apologetic or remorseful as it urges you on down the road of complete sociopathy.

At its least harmful, this book merely describes how to pander to the worst aspects of human nature, such as "don't outshine or criticize your master", "don't speak your mind" and just generally "be as fake as possible". And to some extent I can understand this - you do what you have to do, right? It's not your fault if the people around you are judgmental twats or your master is an insecure selfish asshole. And if you wanna attain power in order to change the world for the better, then you can't act like a saint all the time, right? On the other hand, it doesn't just take a strong leader to effect change. The real difference between "better" and "worse" societies lies not in their laws, but in their people. And to attain a society of (intellectually and ethically) better people, it requires people from every social stratum being the best person they can possibly be.

(Also, improved material conditions are a big factor here, but it's not the only factor.)

Let's take science, for instance - do we want a scientific community of rational, enlightened people who put the truth above all, who, while having the same kinds of human flaws as everyone else, do their best to overcome these flaws? Or do we want a scientific community where no one speaks up against whatever unfairness or incorrectness they perceive, where everyone is afraid to step out of line? Because that's exactly the kind of attitude that this book promotes (again, at its least harmful). Everyone is a yes man, unless it is in their own selfish interests not to be.

Also, most people who attain power probably set out to do good, but then end up like everyone else in their position. No one is qualified to evaluate whether they themselves will be better than other powerful people, so the excuse of wanting to attain power so you can do good later doesn't do much to justify the means. I'm not saying you have to be perfect all the time. If you're a politician, just be more honest (or whatever other positive trait) than the politicians around you and reward honesty in colleagues and subordinates (and obviously do your best to not be fooled by fake honesty like this book describes), and you'll have influenced the culture of politics in a positive way.

Also, this book always assumes the worst about everyone. I think most professors would encourage rather than be offended by criticism from their Ph.D. students, and I don't think they'd be concerned about being outshone. And this book says that arguing for your point of view is a bad strategy because you'll win over some but offend many more, but with people being far more intelligent today than in centuries past due to the Flynn effect, and with modern education encouraging argumentation and critical thinking, I don't think this is true anymore. At the very least it's far less true than it once was.

The book also says "don't overstep your bounds", and gives an example of a king who had a crown-keeper and a coat-keeper. The crown-keeper's only task was to handle the crown, but he once saw his king sleeping in the garden without a coat, and placed his own coat over the king to keep him warm as it was getting cold. The coat-keeper was punished for negligence, and the crown-keeper was beheaded. Here the book literally assumes the worst. Your employer may be a psychopathic evil tyrant, therefore, never do more than you are assigned to do.

At its worst, this book explicitly encourages you to commit any horrendous act you can possibly gain power from. Steal, leech off of, and take credit for your friends' hard work! Ruin others' reputation for your own benefit! Sacrifice your friends as scapegoats to save your own skin!

(Also in arguing for that last thing, it quoted some ancient guy saying "I would rather betray the whole world than let the world betray me" like that guy's a fucking role model. Is the author actively trying to say the most fucked up shit imaginable?)

Law 15 is "Crush your enemy totally". This might be useful in some situations if you're a medieval king at war, but what if you're running for president of your neighborhood association? Should you crush your rivals completely? Manipulate their kids to hate them, plant child porn on their computer, burn their house down and frame them for insurance fraud? Again, this book is completely unapologetic. It insists that power games are amoral, and never pays lip service to the idea that maybe some things are just fucked up to do. It doesn't say "for medieval kings it was often a prudent strategy to crush their enemies completely". It says to crush your enemies, completely. Out of all the people who have enemies or rivals today, how many do you think are even close to warranted to crush them completely?

While morally reprehensible to the extreme, this book also has some flaws in its reasoning. First of all there is no empirical data whatsoever. Main points of each law are backed up by anecdote and sometimes argumentation of varying quality, but lots of details are merely stated in a way that sounds convincing without being motivated at all. There was also plenty of advice that appeared contradictory to what had been said earlier

I get that some things are just very hard to study scientifically, but surely there are plenty of things to be said about power that can and have been studied, and that have plenty of overlap with what is being discussed here. Power has much to do with the human mind and ways in which it is irrational, and there's plenty of data on that that could have been woven into this book. I also get that you can't argue incessantly for every little detail, but at points it feels like the author wasn't trying hard enough. Also, this probably happened a lot more than I noticed, because it's easier to notice the lack of argumentation (or the bad argumentation) when you don't already agree.

At one point the book said to seem like your success comes from talent rather than hard work, and it motivated this by some seemingly sound but rather arbitrary reasoning. I could just as well make up some reason for the opposite view; you should downplay your talent because it's a lot harder to become talented than hard working, so people will be jealous of your talent but not your hard work. Which of these hypotheses is true probably depends a lot on the culture in as well as your specific situation, so the book shouldn't just authoritatively state "do this" as if it were a general law.

Still, for all its flaws, this book contains valuable insight into the world of power games, so I do not regret reading it.

Verdict: 60%, or 2.4 on a 0-4 scale, or 3.4 rounded to 3 on a 1-5 scale.

203 people found this helpful

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  • Peter
  • 26-06-17

Psychopathy Manual

This book would be more aptly titled: How to be a Psychopath: Strategies of Manipulation and Deceit.

It is an entertaining and useful, yet highly disturbing book. Now that I know the true scope of the drive for power, I see the world through suspicious eyes. If you are someone who seeks power at the expense of all else, this historical guide book will likely thrill you. If you are a normal light hearted good natured sort, you may find this book appalling, as it reads like it was written by the devil himself. Yet you should probably listen to it anyway. If nothing else, it will alert you to the strategies of the wolves around you.

Besides all the rules themselves and the commands to use, manipulate, control, trick and destroy everyone that crosses your path, this book is primarily a collection of historical antidotes. Listening to it will increase your knowledge base of the history of some of the world's most influential power players. It will also help you be alert to such tactics in use in the present.

The narration of this book was perfect. It could not have been done better. The narrator captured the sadistic domineering feel this book requires to a tee. He was engaging and clear with a very agreeable voice and cadence.

160 people found this helpful

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  • V. Taras
  • 12-09-18

Interesting stories blur into a useless flood

As I wrote in my review,

The book is a compilation of very interesting stories.
However, after several chapters, all those stories blur into an easily-forgettable flood of dates, names, and facts.

All you will be able to recall a day later that someone killed or betrayed someone, or lied, or spread rumors, or did something else Machiavellian.

What's presented as "Laws" is is a collection of random, often mutually exclusive observations. Some people lied to get to the top, some were articulate and said a lot and tried to be in the public eye. Others got to the top by being secretive and never seen in public. Some were generous and that helped them succeed, others were greedy and ruthless.

The book is definitely worth reading if you just want to hear a bunch of entertaining historic anecdotes. However, unless you're a student of history and know enough history to recognize the names from these stories and put them in context, if you're like most, you'll forget 95% of these stories the moment you move on to the next chapter.

Treat this book as a great collection of interesting historic stories, but do NOT expect that you will receive a practical advice on how to influence others and achieve your goals.

151 people found this helpful

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  • beavercopa
  • 02-06-19

Does not resonate with my entrepreneurial goals

Deceptive intentions are just not my way. I love great business recommendations. Second motives will not accomplish anything and karma is real. I will go back to Brian Tracy.

147 people found this helpful

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  • James Hallberg
  • 03-07-19

Machiavelli would be proud.

great philosophies for evil people. garbage if you have a moral bone in your body.

124 people found this helpful

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  • JazzUp
  • 18-03-16

Learn from lessons from the past. Great narration!

This book tells a story of lessons that can be learned from examples of things that have happened in history. All of the lessons revolve around a theme of what you should and shouldn't do to put yourself in the best position for power. A little philosophical, but if you enjoy philosophy you will like that piece of it. You don't have to have ambitions of being a power monger to get a lot out of this book. It may make you re-think how you approach things on a day to day basis. It's a little long, but it found it to be engaging and enjoyable the whole way thru.

113 people found this helpful

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  • Santiago
  • 17-10-16

Too little nuance

Pros: The book depicts sometimes ugly yet interesting parts of human nature, often conveniently ignored or hidden.

Cons: Some of the examples are old tales with no bearing in reality. There is no unifying set of ideas, but a collection of pieces of advice modeled after most despicable historical figures.

Most importantly, this book lacks the nuance to distinguish pure power struggles from mutually beneficial value creation. Don't believe power games are all there is to life, unless you are one of those who fill the examples in this book: warlords, con artists and politicians.

69 people found this helpful

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  • Bernice
  • 07-07-16

A Despots Guide to Power!

This book is really very interesting. However the examples of power are mainly from Shakespeare and folklore. This book is not scientifically based and although it is engaging and well narrated, the learning is largely negative and refers to battles that occurred hundreds of years ago. This is a despots guide to power.

I gave up after a few hours as I felt my time could better be engaged on a positive learning experience and one that perhaps had more current relevance.

However the book is very interesting.

26 people found this helpful

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  • biscuitfiend
  • 23-06-16

Read it...or don't

This book has made me interested in classical history, when every move was critical to your power and often your survival too. Humans inherently become amoral when they decide to become effective. You're a member of this species, so learn these principles; play or be played.

18 people found this helpful

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  • Rocky
  • 17-02-17

Favourite book of all time

I could write 10,000 words about how much I love this book. But I won't

If you struggle to influence people in your life and get your own way. This is the book for you.
Just be open minded to concepts that "seem" new but you always knew in the back of your head.

I've studied this book over and over for over a year and I'm sure you came here because you read how great it is.

And yes. It is all it's cracked up to be and more!

13 people found this helpful

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  • catrix
  • 19-08-16

Great for be history!

Hard to get into at first, but the author tells great stories. Upon realising that this has nothing to do with my life whatsoever, I enjoyed it for learning about the power plays of famous and not so famous people from history.

12 people found this helpful

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  • Joshua Offer
  • 30-11-15

Could easily turn you into a megalomaniac!

Great analysis of the rise and fall of power throughout history. Insightful tidbits for thought. Brilliantly read. I feel well equipped to take on the world now.

11 people found this helpful

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  • Patrick
  • 20-07-15

Just amazing!!

I wouldn't change a thing about this. I especially loved the narrator he was perfectly chosen

8 people found this helpful

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  • K. Nwangwu
  • 04-09-19

First book I ever finished. Loved it

Stayed engaged all through. Formless my favourite of all. It goes without saying, careful application of the laws in this day and age is paramount.

7 people found this helpful

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  • Christina
  • 02-01-19

Lots of anecdotes, not enough evidence.

Good list of ideas but no attempt was made to back any of them up with science or game theory. In many places, laws contradicted with each other and the concept of each law having a 'reversal' was indicitive of the laws being too broad and simplistic.

7 people found this helpful

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  • August Luure
  • 19-01-20

just another book to manipulate others

Nothing new, very repetitive. But he has a lot of interesting examples from history.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Tom
  • 23-04-18

Just try 3 Laws

Where does 48 Laws of Power rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best books, if you're one who strives for a better life

What did you like best about this story?

Wonderfully organised and sequenced

Any additional comments?

Just pick 3 laws that really hit you hard. Try them in your everyday interactions.

11 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 12-06-19

Temporary power

Interesting opinion, books based on manipulation and deceit. I don’t believe these laws will bring lasting power.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Villa
  • 02-04-19

How to be successive

I have learnt so much in this book. This book has taught me how to be a better version of myself and helped me understand the reasons behind many actions we make today. It does not hold back on some of the brutal truths. A crucial book that teaches the essence of what makes a person powerful and influential. Honestly, you will make better choices after reading this book.

6 people found this helpful

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  • blanchard0b
  • 12-10-17

Amazing

Great performance, great content, great author. Amazing sums it up well. Robert Greene is a very good writer and thinker

6 people found this helpful

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  • Michael Cassius
  • 08-08-19

PERFECT ... for anyone, everyone, for all reasons

This book should be considered as staple reading for everyone who sees value in knowing the personalities they will inevitably come to deal with - its incredibly written, historical examples are accurate, entertaining and easily digestable in their own right.

I've purchased hardcopies for myself that we're loaned but never to returned lol, copies as gifts and copies on most digital book channels.

I can't gush enough how this book prepared me in business and in social situations ... if only I discovered this book sooner.

All I can say is just read it, learn it, love it, live it... (and you'll thank the author 'Robert Greene' later).



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  • alexkusuma
  • 26-09-17

Great readings, but extremely outdated

The author just freely interpret historical event into his heart content; some of the laws contradicts the other, Talleyran become his example, in some of his 'law' as he's the perfect example of that law why he was a success; a few "laws" later, Talleyran doing the same thing at the same period of historical time become his model example why he was a failure.
He does have an interesting interpretation of historical events - however, historical events is also a biased documentations of past events; and the writer's interpretation made it even more biased tailored to suits his "laws".
Luckily the reader have a very lovely voice and intonation, which make listening to this book very interesting.
I would consider this a fiction rather than non-fiction; because even that he's using historical facts & events, the interpretation and usage of them as example was up to his heart content rather than as-is.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 14-02-16

The best book for how to live your best life

I have now purchased the hard copy and am enjoying the lessons even more, if that is possible. Unbelievably well-researched and written superbly.

4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • mr
  • 03-04-18

a very interesting book

This book has some great insights into how politics affect your every day life and how a bit of thought about how you operate can have significant impact on your outcomes

3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 28-04-21

Good book to put you to sleep

Talks about each power for only a couple of minutes, then continues on with history lesson’s that put me to sleep within minutes.

2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 20-10-20

Of limited use

Often contradictory, repetitive, weak logic and generally irrelevant. This book was a waste of time and effort. The only interesting aspect was the historic examples of immoral manipulation.

2 people found this helpful