48 Laws of Power

[IIVI]

It's a great book, but like anything you can't fully apply it 100% to your life because each person's circumstances are different.

No matter what people say, I see many places where it applies in my field (software engineer). People are people at the end of the day.

How To Win Friends and Influence People has many of the same principles and it's a little more streamlined, but doesn't cover everything in the 48 Laws of Power. The Prince is another good one.

This isn't a book to help build your career if you don't have one yet, but it's a book that can enhance it. They can all explain a lot of human interactions and I tend to learn what I've used defensively (to know if someone is trying to pull something) rather than manipulate people.

 

[Sister Mary Clarence]

And btw I have the book on Kindle and haven't read it, (I didn't pay and I have the 50th law which I read and didn't pay for either) but yea I know personally for me, trying to break into tech, How to Win Friends and Influence people helps me disarm people as a tatted black man and gain favor in certain situations to leverage for my advantage

Check out Influence: The Power of Persuasion

 

[Luke Cage]

48 laws of power ain't no college textbook lol. Just a random guy who wanted to make some money writing up general sound-good bullshyt. Lot of them ain't even consistent and got the different laws contradicting each other.

I'm just comparing it to books i remember reading in college. specifically for a sociology class and poli sci as well now that i think of it.
Basically using the opinion of wise men as doctrine, whether or not the stuff they speak about actually applies to you or not.

 

[kdslittlebro]

Some I was already practicing without putting real words or thought behind them. Adopted a few others. Some I just let fall by the wayside, but gave me something to look out for.

 

[360dagod]

Have everyone in your workplace and community think you are a sociopath brehs

The workplace is the PERFECT place to use it at...you not there for them anyways..the ones who show real are the ones you might vibe with

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

Book is for beta male suckas for real and comes off as a white man's experience from the perspective of working in an office full of other white men backstabbing each other for the next promotion.
The entire tone of the book is basically "how to get over on others before they get over on you".

I'd rather spend my time reading books like James Baldwin "The Fire Next Time", or Paulo Coelho "The Alchemist" covering life from a non-fiction and fiction perspective touching on hardships but presenting practical and forward thinking solutions to live better as a society and as individuals.

Hell, Dame Dash gave better advice in his breakfast club interview than that doofus did in writing the "48 laws of power".
The book got popular in circles of people that think the title sounds cool and gloss over the "48 laws" themselves without really understanding the context they're delivered in.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

48 laws of power ain't no college textbook lol. Just a random guy who wanted to make some money writing up general sound-good bullshyt. Lot of them ain't even consistent and got the different laws contradicting each other.

That's all it is lol. It further proves that you can easily write a book to a fool. Just get a bunch of stories, use some logic, have a way with words, and instant profit. Its all a act to run pockets for some game that has been done and is free 99 if you hit up the library and dig deeper. Reminds me of the book "Unfukk Yourself" where the author kept saying the same shyt over and over. Soon I realize that this was not a "self help" book, but just a hustle for folks that want to feel the power. When in reality, they need a holy bible, a jazz album, and a job application. Some dreams and goals, some shyt.

48 Laws is a good gateway into other booked like The Prince, Art of War, Plato's Republic , etc.

Do not read this book alone, follow through and read more in-depth literature

So much this. Its basically the Pokemon of philosophy books. Its fast food intellect for centipede ass smooth brains to pretend they are "deep", when in reality the book is collecting dust.

 

[Nokids]

Had the book since high school and it got some good laws in it but the better books to read from Robert Greene are 33 strategies of war, art of seduction, laws of human nature.

 

[DonFrancisco]

That's all it is lol. It further proves that you can easily write a book to a fool. Just get a bunch of stories, use some logic, have a way with words, and instant profit. Its all a act to run pockets for some game that has been done and is free 99 if you hit up the library and dig deeper. Reminds me of the book "Unfukk Yourself" where the author kept saying the same shyt over and over. Soon I realize that this was not a "self help" book, but just a hustle for folks that want to feel the power. When in reality, they need a holy bible, a jazz album, and a job application. Some dreams and goals, some shyt.

So much this. Its basically the Pokemon of philosophy books. Its fast food intellect for centipede ass smooth brains to pretend they are "deep", when in reality the book is collecting dust.

I've read it and it borrows from other more in-depth, better literature. Do not outshine the master is straight from The Prince.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

I've read it and it borrows from other more in-depth, better literature. Do not outshine the master is straight from The Prince.

Since you on that tip, I need some recommends to expand my smooth brain cells

 

[pawdalaw]

This fax. You definitely wouldn't see this shyt down south and parts of north east, west coast folk gotta tighten up.

Why every black person i know entire book collection consist of self help type shyt?
chicken soup for your wallet, how to keep a woman, spiritual empowerment type shyt. etc etc. Entire book collection is basically full of liberal arts degree textbooks.

Never hear brehs talking about pure science fiction novels or anything fun. just stay reading about other peoples opinions on shyt.

Self help books help the author make money off you. that's it. If you want to read a book that actually helps with your life, reading intro to coding, or some shyt where you might learn an actually marketable skill, People already agree liberal arts majors are useless, yet stay reading the same shyt in their free time thinking they really gonna do something with that highly subjective knowledge.

Because people and human resources are the most profitable investment. Most of those who have earned fortunes were not the smartest in the room. They surrounded themselves with greatness.

The psyche of black folks as it relates to spiritual/universal laws and principles is wired in such a way that mastery of self leads to the ultimate purpose of life which is happiness and being of service to others.

I don't have the book in question but I'm of that ilk. I also love true crime, street shyt, most stuff hip hop related, environment nature and designing one's life to be independent...not sure if I would consider anything I read pure entertainment.

What benefits have you gotten from sci-fi?

 

[Spiider]

I read it for last year and for the most part I just saw it as a joke. If you tried to follow most of the laws in the book nobody would want to be around you. The anecdotes about stuff that happened throughout history were interesting though

 

[Hollywood Co]

48 Laws is definitely an intro into human behavior and how to navigate certain situations that life tends to present. The stories do account for actual history from Greene’s viewpoint so I don’t think it’s a waste of time reading it. Just like any book, you take what stands out to you most and KIM.

 

[Pseudonym]

I like the little anecdotes but I don’t see myself being ruthless like that unfortunately.

However, Mastery by the same author helped me in my career.

 

[MJ Truth]

Yes, thats how they stay successful, endorsement of products like these books. not the actual content of the books. One dude mentioned 50 cent who the author of the book actively works with as a business partner

Robert Greene on ‘The 48 Laws of Power,’ Embracing Loneliness, Working With 50 Cent

It’s all about how you frame the situation you’re in.

observer.com

They linked up for that book years after 50 was already famous though breh lol.

But I get it. You’re very upset people have chosen to read self help books because they’re useless, when we should be more focused on reading sci fi books and other nerd canon in order to move Black culture forward.