What You'll Learn:
Before becoming a best-selling author, Robert Greene had about 80 jobs around the world in fields as varied as construction work, interpreting, and screenwriting. Greene combined his globetrotting adventures and interactions with all kinds of people with his survey of thousands of years of human decision making to distill 48 general principles that govern the human hunger for power. For people looking to gain power, guard against losing power, or simply understand its dynamics, Greene’s book has been hailed as an important read by luminaries in world politics, business, film, and music. The following provides a sampling of the rules that animate the power game that people can’t help but play.
Key Insights:
- Even if you are smarter or more talented than your superior, keep that to yourself.
- If you can’t control your words, you can’t control yourself, and you will show yourself unworthy of respect and power.
- If you can keep someone in a state of constantly reacting to your moves, you remain in a state of control.
- Ask for help in a way that shows how it will benefit the other person—not how it will benefit you.
- If you lack the strength to beat an enemy, temporary surrender is the best way to bewilder him and bide time for a counterattack.
- Know what you want and plan to that end, anticipating possible setbacks to and ramifications of your path to power.
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