The secret methods to getting what you want
Discover the history, secrets, and inner workings of power.
Whether we like it or not, we are born into a perpetual game: the game of power.
The game has been going on since the beginning of time, and we are all players, whether we realize it or not. Sometimes, the game is bloody and overt. However, it is more commonly indirect, discreet, and performed in the shadows.
The question is: Do you understand the rules, and are you playing to win?
Some individuals prefer to ignore it, tricking themselves into believing that we may choose not to participate in the power game. Alternatively, they can argue that the game is wicked and asocial, a vestige of less moral and democratic times. Those who enjoy the game are easily superior to these gamers.
Others, such as dominant schoolyard bullies or charming corporate titans, appear to be natural leaders, dominating without even trying. However, the game is not rigged to their advantage. Anyone who studies and plays the game may learn and master their talents.
In The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene lays out the rules of the game using historical examples from civilizations throughout the world spanning three thousand years. He distils the skills of skilled manipulators, teaching you how to outmanoeuvre your opponents and become a master player, a modern-day Machiavelli.
In this book summary, we'll offer you a first taste of power by summarizing 12 of the book's 48 laws. After all, we wouldn't want to reveal all the secrets, would we?
In this book, you will learn.
How a beginner's mistake might help you win big.
why a finance minister was sent into a cell to plan a magnificent feast for his monarch;
Sometimes, the most excellent way to win a war is to surrender.
1. Don't try to outdo the master.
Have you ever attempted to impress your employer only to have it backfire on you? Well, you may have inadvertently broken the first rule in the game of power, which is, in Greene's words, to never outshine the master.
The first law of power is that we should look modest to our superiors, those with greater authority than ourselves.
After all, strong individuals want to be the focus of attention; striving too hard to impress them might divert attention away from them and onto you, undermining their pride in the process.
But what's worse is behaving superior to them, which may cause your manager to see you as a danger to their position. If this happens, they may—and most likely will—seek to totally remove you from your position.
Consider the connection between King Louis XIV of France and Nicolas Fouquet, the monarch's financial minister. Fouquet, a clever and dedicated advisor, became crucial, although his position as prime minister was not guaranteed when the current minister died. To seek the king's favour, Fouquet hosted a grandiose party at his extravagantly equipped chateau, demonstrating his well-connected and prominent status.
The next day, Fouquet was arrested on the king's orders. Louis XIV felt overshadowed and accused the minister of stealing to acquire such an excessive fortune. The validity of the claim was irrelevant. Fouquet spent his final days in a jail cell.
You now know that acts of luxury and personal genius may not impress your boss—quite the reverse. So, how do you acquire favour? A better technique would be to constantly make the person in charge appear better than everyone else, including you.
Consider Galileo Galilei as an example. He sorely needed cash for his study and devised a fantastic strategy. He had spent years petitioning various clients for funds but was typically given presents rather than money. When he discovered Jupiter's four moons in 1610, he opted to focus on only one family: the Medicis.
Cosimo II de' Medici had recently chosen Jupiter as the Medici dynasty's emblem. When Galileo found Jupiter's four moons, he related them to Cosimo II de' Medici's enthronement, declaring it a cosmic event that prophesied the family's rise to power. He said that the four moons symbolized Cosimo II and his three brothers, while Jupiter was Cosimo I, the father of the four Medici brothers. This boosted his patron's ego, and he saw the finding as a divine sign confirming the family's prominence.
By glorifying the Medici family and associating their name with the universe, Galileo gained a paid job as Cosimo II's official philosopher and mathematician, and he never had to beg for funds again.
2. Take credit for others' work while protecting your own.
Would you ever contemplate claiming pieces of someone else's work as your own by copying a few brilliant snippets? Did you ever steal answers from a classmate on a math test? Maybe you did or didn't, but the reality is that gaining influence frequently entails leveraging the efforts of others.
Why waste energy doing things when someone else can do them for you? Did you know that Serbian physicist Nikola Tesla worked with renowned inventor Thomas Edison? And it was Tesla, not Edison, who played a critical role in refining Edison's relatively crude design and developing his famous dynamo?
Tesla worked relentlessly for a year on this discovery, sometimes logging 18-hour days in the lab. However, Edison is now credited with inventing the dynamo.
Little has changed. Consider how few politicians compose their speeches and how famous novelists "borrow" from other writers.
However, simply receiving the fruits of others' efforts is insufficient; you must also take responsibility for them. Edison and his business claimed full credit for Tesla's work on the dynamo. Edison did not share a penny of his earnings with Tesla despite promising Tesla $50,000!
Considering Tesla's experience, remember that the credit for any innovation or production is just as important as the invention itself. If you do not claim credit, someone else will step in, steal your idea, and grab all of the credit.
3. Gaining authority over someone entails getting to know them and appearing as their buddy.
You may have had this situation before trying to outmanoeuvre the competition but need help forecasting their plans. How do you get around this?
Another way to obtain influence is to gather critical knowledge about the individuals you wish to control. And to get anything from someone, you must first learn about them. After all, understanding a person's intentions, vulnerabilities, and aspirations will allow you to earn their favour and control their behaviour.
Consider the art dealer Joseph Duveen, who vowed in 1920 to attract businessman Andrew Mellon as a customer. However, Mellon was not easily persuaded, so Duveen tried to pay Mellon's employees by passing him confidential information about their employer.
When Mellon went to London, Duveen followed him. Ostensibly by coincidence, Duveen arrived at the same art gallery Mellon attended and engaged him in a lively conversation.
Because Duveen knew so much about what Mellon enjoyed, he effortlessly acquired his favour by convincing him that they shared similar preferences in art, among other things. As a result, the encounter concluded on a positive note, and Mellon quickly became Duveen's favourite customer.
So, how do you pull off Duveen's trick?
You can pay informants or, better yet, operate as a spy by impersonating a buddy. While most individuals choose to hire spies, this technique is dangerous. After all, how do you know your spies are telling you the truth?
To ensure the accuracy of your information, perform the espionage yourself. This is a challenging feat because individuals often hesitate to reveal personal information to strangers.
They are less covert when with someone they consider a friend; therefore, appearing as a buddy is a highly successful tactic.
4. Act unexpectedly to confuse the competitors.
You're undoubtedly aware that most people dislike unexpected changes, but did you realize that you may utilize unpredictability to your advantage? Acting unexpectedly might throw your competitors off guard. Here is how.
In competitive situations, your opponents will undoubtedly try to figure you out by studying your habits and decision-making, and they will not hesitate to use this knowledge against you. In this case, your best option is to behave unpredictably. Being unexpected will keep your opponents from understanding you, intimidating and unsettling them.
Consider the legendary 1972 chess encounter between Bobby Fischer and Russian champion Boris Spassky. Fischer recognized Spassky's tactic of targeting his opponent's routines and predictability and utilized this knowledge to his advantage by playing as unpredictably as possible.
Even in the days leading up to the match, Fischer needed clarification on whether he would go to Reykjavik, where the duo was scheduled to play. When he finally came, the game was about to be cancelled due to his absence. Following this prank, Fischer complained about everything in the room, including the lights, seats, and noise.
When they eventually started the first match, Fischer made reckless blunders before quitting, which was unusual given his reputation for perseverance. Spassky needed help determining whether he was making mistakes or bluffing.
Fischer had Spassky just where he wanted him. When your opponent is sufficiently bewildered, you are in a beautiful position to win.
Why?
Doing things that perplex your opponent will drive him to try to justify your actions, distracting him from the task at hand and allowing you an opportunity to attack.
So, after two chess games, Fischer started winning game after game with daring plays. Spassky surrendered, and Fischer was crowned world champion.
5. Surrendering to a stronger opponent will allow you to gain strength later.
Have you ever challenged an opponent, knowing you'd never win? While it is customary for people to struggle for glory in all circumstances, this is not the path to power. So, how should you respond when confronted with a more formidable opponent?
Give up.
This is a strange tactic since people automatically battle their adversaries to protect themselves. When a rival behaves aggressively, he expects you to respond in kind. When you know the competitor has you beat, resigning is your best option.
Why?
If you give up, or at least persuade your attacker that you have, you can ensure that he does not do significant harm. Not only that, but your opponent, believing he has won, will lower his guard. When he does, you'll have an excellent opportunity to replenish your strength and prepare for your next move.
Consider Bertolt Brecht, a revolutionary communist writer who fled to the United States in 1941 with other exiled European intellectuals. Following World War II, Brecht and his colleagues were hauled before the US Congress, which was investigating the alleged communist infiltration of Hollywood.
While his fellow radicals raised a disturbance and defied Congress' power by screaming and refusing to cooperate, Brecht remained cool and respectfully answered the questions.
Because of his exemplary behaviour, the authorities freed Brecht and even offered to assist him with his immigration process. In the end, their offer was immaterial because he fled the nation and continued to write about his strong communist ideas.
What about his obstinate friends?
They were banned and couldn't publish for years!
Do what Brecht did and use surrender as a technique for self-empowerment. Instead of making huge sacrifices for a fleeting moment of glory, focus on developing long-term strength.
6. To be viewed as superior, you must behave like one.
Are you in a higher position than someone else? If so, you must do your part unless you desire to be perceived as their equal. But a word of caution: behaving as if you are equal to others when in a superior position will only breed disdain.
Consider Louis-Philippe, King of France, in the 1830s and 1840s. He detested royal rituals and any throne-related symbolism. In defiance of the formality of his office, he was famed for wearing a grey hat and clutching an umbrella instead of his crown and sceptre. He didn't even maintain company with royalty; instead, he befriended bankers.
The king's actions, however, did not benefit him; as a result, both the wealthy and the poor quickly came to despise him. Wealthy people despised the improbable king, while the poor despised a ruler who seemed to be from the lower classes but did not care about them. Even his banker pals turned against him when they discovered they could criticize him without repercussions.
All this animosity grew until the people rose against him, forcing him to leave the kingdom.
People are often sceptical of higher-ups who appear as equals; doing so encourages others to believe you are dishonest since they will presume your modesty is a front to obscure your privileges.
So, what's a better approach?
Instead, utilize the crown method to have others respect you like royalty. Simply put, if you feel you are superior to others and act accordingly, others will soon assume you are as well. They'll presume you have a legitimate reason for acting this way.
Christopher Columbus behaved like royalty, so most people saw him as such. In reality, his strong interactions with the Spanish royal family persuaded the Spanish monarchy to fund his trips.
7. Seduction is more effective than coercion in gaining influence over others.
Consider yourself Chuko Liang, the top strategist for the ancient Chinese empire of Shu. King Menghuo has declared war on China from the south, and it is now up to you to stop him and preserve the kingdom.
However, before you can learn what you should do, you must first understand what you should avoid.
For starters, employing force and coercion is never a good idea, even if it is the simplest one. If you utilize your strength, people will subconsciously despise you because force produces opposition. Liang was aware of this and chose not to attack even though he could have easily crushed the invading force.
However, if he had, Menghuo would have loathed both China and Liang, forcing the nation to constantly defend itself. This would have fatigued everyone involved and increased suspicion.
Seduction is the superior strategy. People frequently act based on their emotions, so by manipulating them, you can force them to do what you want despite their free will.
You may do this by frightening your opponent, making them expect harm, and then unexpectedly treating them gently. When Menghuo attacked China, Liang apprehended him and his entire army. Menghuo became separated from his army. He expected the worst. To his amazement, he was provided exquisite food and drink instead.
While Liang freed his adversary's warriors, he stated that he would only let Menghuo go if the enemy king pledged that if he was ever arrested again, he would submit to the Chinese monarch.
Liang seized Menghuo numerous more times, but he always let him go. Then, on the seventh capture, Menghuo fell to Liang's knees, surrendering himself and his country.
Even though Liang could kill Menghuo, something his adversary was well aware of, he gave him several opportunities and treated him well every time. As a result, Menghuo became increasingly thankful and obliged to the Chinese ruler, eventually surrendering his own will.
8. In your desire for power, ignore your friends and work with your adversaries.
When you encounter a difficult work situation, it's normal to want to recruit your buddies. After all, who better to help ease the agony of a commercial transaction than a sympathetic friend? Actually, anybody.
Putting your trust in your friends is a bad idea. The explanation is simple: your friends are more inclined to compare themselves to you and hence be envious of your possessions. As a result, the best course of action is to isolate yourself from them.
Chinese emperors frequently perished at the hands of their closest associates, many of whom had received general commissions. Emperor Sung, aware of this dangerous potential, chose a different approach; in 959, he carefully summoned his generals, all of whom were his buddies, to a feast. Once there, he promised them properties and wealth, prompting them to retreat to palaces. Consequently, Sung reigned for another 16 years, which was unprecedented then.
But if you drive your buddies away, who will you work with?
It may appear unusual, but collaborating with your opponents is the best way to increase your influence. In 1807, Talleyrand, France's foreign minister, knew that Napoleon was losing power over the empire. With this in mind, Talleyrand tried to depose him. However, he needed a reliable collaborator to carry out such a risky plot.
In the end, he discovered the ideal candidate in the chief of the secret police, Joseph Fouché, who had long been Talleyrand's political enemy and principal contender for Napoleon's favor. Nonetheless, the alliance worked because both men felt Napoleon was dying and France required a new leader.
So, as Talleyrand undermined Napoleon's diplomatic efforts with Russia, Fouché collaborated with the English to further weaken the Emperor's position. Napoleon was eventually ousted, and while Fouché lost authority, Talleyrand ascended to become an influential minister in the new administration.
9. Instead of arguing, use artistic action to persuade others.
Have you ever had a furious conversation that lasted all night and ended with the other person reluctantly conceding? It's easy for the most obstinate among us to see such events as wins, but the fact is very different.
In reality, persuading someone through discussion wastes time and can be harmful, mainly if the person is vital.
In 131 BC, Roman consul Mucianus embarked on a war to seize the Greek town of Pergamon. He needed a large ship mast converted into a battering ram to smash down the city defences. However, the engineer who was awarded the assignment realized that a smaller mast would be more effective. He disputed with the troops, insisting on bringing the consul the smaller of the two. He was correct: a smaller mast would have functioned better. But it didn't matter. The engineer was stripped naked and beaten to death for causing so much difficulty.
In other words, more than simply being correct and telling others about it is required. A more effective method is to persuade people through clever action. With some preparation, you can often devise a strategy to ensure that your concept wins while convincing your opponent that you agree.
Sir Christopher Wren, the renowned seventeenth-century British architect, was initially commissioned to create a town hall in Westminster. However, he was not left to his own devices. The mayor of Westminster, fearful that the building might collapse and demolish his office on the first floor, asked that two more supporting columns be installed.
Wren understood that the mayor's suspicions were unfounded. Instead of saying so, he just constructed the two columns. Many years later, workmen working on a high scaffold discovered that the columns stopped just before they reached the ceiling. They actually needed to do something to support the structure. The crafty Wren had avoided a pointless conversation while still proving his point. The pillars were later removed.
10. When soliciting assistance from another individual, consider their self-interest rather than their goodwill.
Assuming authority is a challenging endeavour, and if you want to succeed, you must seek assistance from others. But how you ask is crucial. After all, ask folks to help you out of the kindness of their hearts. But it would be a mistake.
In the 1400s, an Italian prince lived in the town of Lucca. The Poggios, a strong family, helped make this prince renowned. However, once in power, he lost touch with his family and focused exclusively on himself.
Outraged by this, the Poggios began plotting with other families to topple the prince. But before they did, Stefano, a member of the Poggio family, advocated that diplomatic measures should be employed instead. Stefano approached the prince, explaining the impending insurrection and begging him to consider what the Poggios had done for him.
When the prince heard this, he brought the Poggios to his palace, where, rather than amending his ways and repaying the family fairly, he imprisoned and murdered them all, including Stefano.
Simply put, encouraging individuals to do the right thing could be more effective. Instead, appeal to their own interests. However, this can be difficult because most individuals cannot go beyond their own self-interest to consider the self-interest of others!
In the sixteenth century, Portuguese agents in Japan worked tirelessly to build contacts and convert the Japanese to Christianity. The scheme failed not because the Portuguese hesitated to appeal to the Japanese's self-interest but because they were too preoccupied with their religious mission to recognize the Japanese's genuine objectives.
In contrast, when the Dutch came to Japan a century later, they were astute enough to identify these concerns. They discovered that the Japanese needed trade deals that would provide them access to the European market, which the Dutch could provide. As a result, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Japanese ruler, abandoned the Portuguese and formed alliances with the Dutch instead.
11. Being excessively accessible will turn people off; keeping back is essential for attractiveness.
Human nature has irritated almost everyone who has tried dating to some extent. After all, there's a simple formula for love: if your sweetheart responds to your calls, you instantly lose interest; if they ignore you, you go insane with desire. But this isn't limited to love. It is another fundamental rule of power.
It may seem straightforward, but being overly accessible may cause people to lose interest in you. Medea, a city in what is now Iran, was inhabited in the eighth century BC by people who were opposed to rulers and anyone in positions of power. However, without a ruler, pandemonium was nearly unavoidable.
Amid the chaos, Deioces volunteered to arbitrate between the disputing parties and settle their differences. He was good at it, and his efforts earned him tremendous recognition and love. However, as he continued to mediate and resolve conflicts, people began to take his efforts for granted. And because they were still averse to the concept of a powerful king, they had no intention of handing him further authority.
Deioces needed to apply a fundamental power law: being attractive requires unavailability.
After all, it is only when you are gone that people realize how precious you are. Deioces soon recognized that retirement was the only way he could get the accolades he deserved. So, he relocated to the countryside and let Medea return to its previous state of anarchy.
The Medeans soon appeared at his door, imploring him to return and rule over them. He agreed to one condition: a massive palace built for him, equipped to the teeth with bodyguards. After the people accepted, he governed the area for 53 years.
12. Instead of isolating yourself out of fear, surround yourself with people on whom you can rely.
It is natural for people to seek refuge when they are around other people, some of whom are apparent enemies. During times like these, building a castle to hide in is the best option. However, isolating oneself in this manner is detrimental since it shuts you off from power and influence.
You can only achieve great authority if you know what is happening around you. Take the example of China in 220 BC. Ch'i Shih Huang Ti was the Emperor of China and the most powerful person on the planet. However, at the end of his life, he developed paranoia that others were out to harm him. He then withdrew to an opulent palace with a network of covert tunnels protecting it, allowing him to move from room to room undetected.
Anyone who so much as looked at the Emperor would be killed instantly. As a final precaution, the Emperor only travelled alone, carefully disguising himself to escape detection. He died during one of these outings, separated from his family, secluded from his friends, and forgotten by his court.
Isolation is not the answer. Instead, surround yourself with the individuals on whom your strength is based. There is no more excellent antithesis to Ch ' i Shih Huang Ti than Louis XIV, who packed his Versailles castle with courtiers obligated to attend daily social events in his suite.
The aristocracy had been rebelling against the king's expanding power since they had lost the authority to administer and exploit enormous provinces independently of the monarch. The aristocrats were understandably dissatisfied with these reforms.
Louis ended the insurrection by keeping the same noblemen in his rooms, where he could employ his manipulative skills and careful endowment of privileges. In reality, his courtiers competed for his favour and attention.
Final Summary
The game of power is always being played, and it always has been. You can attempt to ignore the game but not opt out. So, your best bet is to study the rules and play to the best of your ability. Throughout history, power and conquest have dominated the planet. Of course, much has changed in the current period, but control and power are still important. By learning from the errors and wins of past power conflicts, you, too, can become a force to be reckoned with—a formidable competitor in the game of power.