The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

​"Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive."

Whether you like it or not, power is a game that is constantly being played. In this controversial bestseller, Robert Greene distills three thousand years of history into 48 precise laws, drawing from the lives of figures like Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Queen Elizabeth I.

Some laws teach the value of prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), others teach the value of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many emphasize the necessity of self-preservation ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"). This is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control. It is a cold, hard look at the mechanics of influence that stripped away the veneer of "playing fair" to show how the world actually works.

​Read this masterclass in strategy to understand the hidden rules of the social hierarchy.