Sociopathic concerns aside, the book reads like a poetic argument. Examples, parables and folk tales give historical justification for even the most viscious tendencies. The 48 Laws themselves are insightful, although - like any argument - one sided.

I give the book the highest rating possible, as it offers some truly valuable insight. Having graduated college with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, I wish I'd read it earlier. It provides an excellent framework for the analysis of (ambitious) human interactions.

One must (hopefully) disagree with the author from the outset that what sets humans above all others is our ability to deceive, and what separates humans from each other is their ability in doing so. Read the book with that in mind, and you'll come out a better person.


A great book   October 1, 1998
This book is not only informative but written with great wit. I really enjoyed it. This, and Lieberman's NEVER BE LIED TO AGAIN, are the two best business books I've read in a very long time. There are so many books on spirituality and while I think that's great, it's good to have some balance in the marketplace with books like these.


A very fun book to read!   September 30, 1998
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I don't agree at all with the author's global metaphor that, "life is like a war." However, I do think that they make a very entertaining (and funny!) study of war, confidence scams, seduction, and politics. This book contains many very interesting viewpoints on history and human interactions. Everyone I have shared this book with has had a good laugh at the bluntness of the writing, called it 'evil,' and then they bought a copy for themselves.

Reading this book was like reading the rules on the back of the top of a Monopoly board game. It describes a game that we don't have to play, or we may decide to play it our way. But no matter how we approach the game, it sure is a whole lot less frustrating to know the rules. Therefore, I think that this is a great book for the timid, non-ruthless people in the world. Just knowing the rules that other people may be playing with could save uncountable careers, romances, businesses, and lives.

Now, let me ask you a question. Who would be the people who would have the most to lose should a book like this become very popular? Powerless losers, or master con-artists who would have the curtain of secrecy pulled away from their game? The truly ruthless people in the world already know just about everything in the book, it isn't news to them!

One warning! Only talk about this book with your coolest, most trusted non-work-related friends. One man actually asked one of my friends, "Why would you study that if you didn't want to use it for evil?" Sure Buddy, and all of the psychologists are studying human nature so that they can really mess us up. I believe that our lives can either be a gift or a curse to other people. Everything is a tool and can be used for either constructive or destructive purposes.

In sum, BUY THIS BOOK, it is GREAT! (Robert and Joost: I will be waiting for the check!)


FALLS SHORT OF ITS POTENTIAL   September 30, 1998
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

The concept was good. A book exploring power, how it works and the so called laws of power. Unfortunately it might better be called the laws of ancient Chinese secrets. Power is far more reaching than the historical analysis of this book. While looking at ancient Chinese and French antedotes, there is far more to power than those isolated cultures. Some of the Laws are relative today, but the book uses far too many examples of these historical periods and none from today. The book would have much greater impact if the author had looked at more recent examples of power and how it applies to our current world.`


A must buy! A must buy! A must read! A must read!   September 23, 1998
This book has taught me many things about the human psyche and how to handle every situation that arises. Power is a game that we must treat seriously. We are all courtiers in this royal court (earth). We cannot avoid it, and we can only embrace it. Go ahead, read it, its worth it.