An edition of The 48 Laws of Power (1998)

The 48 laws of power

  • 4.1 (961 ratings) ·
  • 37,646 Want to read
  • 2,943 Currently reading
  • 920 Have read

My Reading Lists:

Create a new list


  • 4.1 (961 ratings) ·
  • 37,646 Want to read
  • 2,943 Currently reading
  • 920 Have read

Buy this book

Last edited by Drini
April 17, 2025 | History
An edition of The 48 Laws of Power (1998)

The 48 laws of power

  • 4.1 (961 ratings) ·
  • 37,646 Want to read
  • 2,943 Currently reading
  • 920 Have read

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.

Publish Date
Publisher
Penguin
Language
English
Pages
452

Buy this book

Previews available in: English German

Edition Availability
Cover of: The 48 laws of power
The 48 laws of power
2000, Penguin Books
in English
Cover of: Power: Die 48 Gesetze der Macht
Power: Die 48 Gesetze der Macht
August 1, 1999, Carl Hanser
Hardcover in German
Cover of: The 48 laws of power
The 48 laws of power
1998, Penguin
Paperback in English
Cover of: The 48 Laws of Power
The 48 Laws of Power
1998, Viking
Hardcover in English - 1st ed.

Add another edition?

Book Details


The Physical Object

Format
Paperback
Number of pages
452

Edition Identifiers

Open Library
OL25418275M
ISBN 10
0140280197

Work Identifiers

Work ID
OL1968368W
Wikidata
Q574219

Source records

Internet Archive item record

First Sentence

"Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV's finance minister in the first years of his reign, was a generous man who loved lavish parties, pretty women, and poetry."

Work Description

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power in to forty-eight well explicated laws. As attention--grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws teach the need for prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), the virtue of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many demand the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"), but like it or not, all have applications in real life. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P. T. Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded--or been victimized by--power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

Community Reviews (36)

Pace 7 Medium paced 44% Slow paced 33% Fast paced 11% Meandering 11% Enjoyability 9 Engaging 54% Exciting 27% Neutral 18% Clarity 5 Clearly written 28% Effective explanations 28% Well organized 28% Dense 14% Difficulty 8 Intermediate 30% Advanced 20% Beginner 20% University 20% Expert 10% Breadth 7 Comprehensive 37% Focused 37% Interdisciplinary 25% Genres 7 Philosophical 22% Research 16% Based on a true story 11% Exploratory 5% Textbook 5% Encyclopedia 5% Nonfiction 5% Essay 5% Reference 5% Drama 5% How-to 5% Memoir 5% Mood 8 Informative 27% Reflective 27% Mysterious 18% Scientific 18% Inspiring 9% Impressions 9 Highly recommend 20% Recommend 16% Quotable 16% Life changing 12% Original 8% Citable 4% Unremarkable 4% Overhyped 4% Field defining 4% Actionable 4% Best in class 4% Length 11 Long 61% Medium 30% Short 7% Credibility 6 Objective 40% Accurate 30% Outdated 20% Subjective 10% Features 6 Chapters 40% Bibliography 30% Table of contents 20% Index 10% Content Warnings 1 Insensitivity 100% Style 5 Technical 60% Slang 40% Purpose 9 Self-help 29% Problem solving 16% Learn about 16% Inspiration 8% How-to 8% Entertainment 8% Broaden perspective 4% Fact checking 4% Hope 4%

Lists

History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
April 17, 2025 Edited by Drini Edited without comment.
April 17, 2025 Edited by Drini Merge works
December 23, 2024 Edited by AgentSapphire Reverted Spam
December 22, 2024 Edited by johnwilly1111 Edited without comment.
December 9, 2009 Created by WorkBot add works page