The 48 laws of power
The 48 Laws of Power or Power - The 48 Laws of Power (English original title: The 48 Laws of Power ) is a book from 1998. It is the first book by the American writer Robert Greene , was through his experiences as Screenwriter in Hollywood designed and should show ways to gain or strengthen social influence. The book was a bestseller both in the US and internationally and has now been translated into 24 languages.
root
Robert Greene was inspired for his book by the doctrine of power processes founded by Niccolò Machiavelli . Machiavelli's The Prince in particular can be described as the ancestor of the work. In addition, it contains influences from related works by writers such as Baltasar Gracián (Art of Sophistication), Sūn Wŭ , Miyamoto Musashi , Hán Fēi , Giacomo Casanova and many more.
Core topic
Robert Greene himself describes his book as "the ultimate encyclopedia of power". Using examples from history, he develops laws of power, the observance of which is intended to increase the power and personal status of the reader. Failure to follow them will diminish one's influence and reputation. Greene calls these laws timeless and claims that they apply in all cultures and - regardless of the size of the community - in all human communities.
Content structure
The German edition has 535 pages. After an eight-page introduction, the 48 laws follow. Each law has its own chapter. First you will find the respective law with an associated concise explanation, each comprising four to ten sentences. This is followed by historical anecdotes about compliance and non-compliance with the law. At the center of these examples are historical figures such as Otto von Bismarck , Catherine the Great , Cleopatra , Alexander the Great , Mao Zedong , Haile Selassie , John F. Kennedy , Henry Kissinger and various con artists as well as old Chinese statesmen. Greene then explains the respective “keys to power” in a corresponding section. Finally, the eventual “reversal” of the law follows. This shows in which special situations the observance is disadvantageous and when exactly the opposite procedure can be an advantage.
The 48 laws
The following is a list of the 48 laws, as they precede the respective chapters in the book:
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Web links
- Power, Seduction and War: The Robert Greene Blog (English) - Robert Greene's blog , with numerous additions to the topic
- The 48 Laws of Power (English) - Review of the book by Murray Walden