• Name: 48 Laws of Power
• Author: Robert Green
• Type: #literature/book
• Source: #source/book
• Link: Good reads
• Annotation:

Notes¶

Power is a subtle currency. How we perceive each other is largely subconscious and part of evolution. Jordan Peterson speaks of the dominance heirachy that is billions of years old and something that we cannot fight. Our social constructs have evolved over millennia, we intuitively (or subconsciously) know things about others based on posture, stance, facial expressions, previous knowledge. All this paired with the intelligence that exists within us which we do not control either leads us to become a lot more dependent/controlled by our biology and conditioning than we would like to admit.

This book exposes some of those subconscious "laws" of the natural world. How do we as human beings respond to others in certain situations and how can we navigates this heirachy in a beneficial way?

1. Always make people think highly of themselves¶

The fastest way to losing power is to make those above you want you gone. If you want to rise in the ranks, don't make the ranks hate you. People like those who make them feel larger, not smaller.

Laws:¶

1. Never outshine the master
2. Never appear too perfect
3. Play a sucker to catch a sucker - seem dumber than your mark
4. Think as you like, behave like others
5. Avoid stepping into a great mans shoes

2. Hide the effort of your labour¶

No one likes a show-off. This is similar to the previous law. If your efforts are splayed out for all to see, all that people think is how little they have done. Keep your work hidden and make people feel like they have contributed.

Laws:¶

1. Conceal your intentions
2. Always say less than necessary
3. Get others to do the work, take the credit
4. Keep your hands clean
5. Make your accomplishments seem effortless

3. Stand up straight with your shoulders back¶

How you posture yourself is how you are perceived. If you feel powerful, you become powerful. Act the position you want, but don't be cocky about it. Remember the position you currently hold, but act the position you want.

Laws:¶

1. So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life
2. Recreate yourself
3. Play the perfect courtier
4. Be royal in your own fashion - act like a king to be treated like one
5. Assume formlessness
6. Do not go past the mark you aimed for - in victory, learn when to stop
7. Enter action with boldness

4. Use social engineering to craft a culture of your choosing¶

Culture is made, whether consciously or unconsciously. Be intentional about the culture you want in your workplace/classroom/family. It takes intentional effort to "show" people what a great culture is.

Laws:¶

1. Play on peoples need to believe to create a cult like following
2. Play to peoples fantasies
3. Create compelling spectacles
4. Infection - avoid the unhappy and unlucky
5. Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies
6. Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim
7. Preach the need for change but never reform too much at once

5. Be the centre of positive attention¶

It doesn't matter what you can do, it matters what people think you can do. Build up your image by doing the tasks no one else wants to do. Keep people dependant on you. Make yourself irreplaceable.

Laws:¶

1. Learn to keep people dependent on you
2. Know who you're dealing with, do not offend the wrong person
3. Court attention at all costs
4. Keep others in suspended terror - cultivate an air of unpredictability
5. Work on the hearts and minds of others
6. Make others come to you - use bait if necessary
7. Use absence to increase respect and honour
8. Do not build a fortress to protect yourself - isolation is dangerous.

6. Be patient¶

Power is not built in a day. Timing, commitments, perception, planning. This is all part of growing in power. Playing the game takes consistent effort over a long period of time.

Laws:¶

1. Do not commit to anyone
2. Control the options - get others to play with the cards you deal
3. Pose as a friend, work as a spy
4. Plan all the way to the end
5. Win through your actions, never through your argument
6. Disarm and infuriate using the mirror effect

7. Use force¶

Do not be scared to use force when necessary. Sometimes conflict is the only way through a problem. Sometimes you need to out muscle someone who is trying to shove you off. Learn when to use force.

Laws:¶

1. Concentrate your forces
2. Strike the shepherd to scatter the sheep
3. Stir up the waters to catch the fish
4. Discover each mans thumbscrew
5. Crush your enemies totally