Kazira

If you think that you know every tenet and trick of achieving ultimate power in your field of work because you have read Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” or because you are well versed in the Machiavelli-ism or because you are familiar with the renditions of Chanakya, think again. You haven’t even come close to what this book has to offer! It provides the teachings of these Great War Politicians and a whole lot more – that too in the form of easily digestible nuggets of 48 laws.

The book’s been around for some time now (first published almost 10 years ago) and I first read it a few years ago. I still think this book is one of the best books (on management and leadership) that I have ever read. Also, after reading this book I can relate with some of the decisions that corporate CEOs and the politicians make. I can better understand what law they are trying to adopt or ignore.

I personally think that these are fairly good laws for those who wish to attain power in their life; regardless of the area that they work in. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t agree with all the laws given in this book – I don’t think I’ll be able to apply ALL of them – even if I had the right circumstance or motivation. But then, may be that’s why I’m not as powerful as I could possibly be. For example – one of the laws mentioned in this book is “Pose as a friend, work as a Spy” – I guess I can never do this – I’m either a good friend or a good enemy but never a slimy version of both at the same time. With that said, I did and continually do apply some of the other laws (which I agree with) to benefit my cause and further my case (from time to time).

The followings are the laws outlined in the book in the form of 48 chapters. Each chapter then offers past historical events that got favorable or unfavorable results after following or not following the law. The author has masterfully gathered these historical tidbits along with quoting relevant writings of the politicians or political advisors to support each law.

Law #1. Never Outshine the Master

Law #2. Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Law #3. Conceal your Intentions

Law #4. Always Say Less than Necessary

Law #5. So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Law #6. Court Attention at all Cost

Law #7. Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit

Law #8. Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

Law #9. Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Law #10. Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

Law #11. Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

Law #12. Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim

Law #13. When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest – Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

Law #14. Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Law #15. Crush your Enemy Totally

Law #16. Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Law #17. Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Law #18. Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

Law #19. Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

Law #20. Do Not Commit to Anyone

Law #21. Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark

Law #22. Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

Law #23. Concentrate Your Forces

Law #24. Play the Perfect Courtier

Law #25. Re-Create Yourself

Law #26. Keep Your Hands Clean

Law #27. Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cult like Following

Law #28. Enter Action with Boldness

Law #29. Plan All the Way to the End

Law #30. Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Law #31. Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal

Law #32. Play to People’s Fantasies

Law #33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Law #34. Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one

Law #35. Master the Art of Timing

Law #36. Disdain Things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best Revenge

Law #37. Create Compelling Spectacles

Law #38. Think as you like but Behave like others

Law #39. Stir up Waters to Catch Fish

Law #40. Despise the Free Lunch

Law #41. Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

Law #42. Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter

Law #43. Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Law #44. Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

Law #45. Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once

Law #46. Never appear too Perfect

Law #47. Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop

Law #48. Assume Formlessness

The only additional law (that I have observed powerful folks apply in the past) that this book may not have covered (though Laws #2 and #14 do come close) is “Understand the fact that in politics and war – there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies”. I must credit a Bollywood movie (titled “Page 3”) for this law.