The desire for power is a fundamental human behavior. When one feels that he has no power over others or events, he is likely to be depressed. Everyone wants power. Those who pretend to have no desire for power are either deceiving themselves or attempting to deceive others. Power is like a drug that makes you stronger each time you taste it. The more you get, the more you want.
Even though it is a fundamental human behavior, the desire for power is considered impolite and selfish. It is widely held that those who seek power must seem to have no interest in it, and on the contrary they must pretend to care only about others. The one who can disguise his pursuit of power with his care for others ends up becoming the most powerful. This seems paradoxical but the fact remains that you cannot honestly and forthrightly pursue power. You invariably have to disguise both your means and your ends.
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a collection of “laws” based on historical and philosophical anecdotes. These laws are amoral as they themselves don’t take into account any sense of right or wrong. Instead, the laws focus on how one can increase their influence over any situation, regardless of their moral consequences. This book explores the nuances of manipulating people around you for establishing power.
The book focuses on how to gain power in any situation, regardless of whether it’s morally right or wrong, and it uses specific anecdotes from history to illustrate the “rules of power”. These laws may seem scandalously frank, but you can apply them without violating any of the strictures of public morality, which, according to Robert, is the way to get the best results.
