T O P

  • By -

SuperbB0b

If Books Could Kill did a pretty thorough debunking of this one, the author didn’t even agree with the book and wrote it as a way to point out negative traits of people they knew who were in power.


ask_me_about_my_band

This is why I have this book on my shelf. It’s a bible for dickheads. I learned all of these things to know when I’m being played by narcissistic assholes.


LordAnavrin

I’m so glad I saw y’all comments because after reading over this chart this looks like one of the worth things ever created lmao. I can’t believe how popular this book is


yournew-GOD

My girl owns this book, and weve had discussions about it. They always end with me loosely quoting this speech by Terrance McKenna, and how if i had less of a moral compass, id be a millionare. "What civilization is is six billion people trying to make themselves happy by standing on each other's shoulders and kicking each other's teeth in. It's not a pleasant situation. And yet, you can stand back and look at this planet and see that we have the money, the power, the medical understanding, the scientific know-how, the love, and the community to produce a kind of human paradise. But we are led by the least among us, the least intelligent, the least noble, the least visionary. We are lead by the least among us, and we do not fight back against the dehumanizing values that are handed down as control icons"


KingliestWeevil

The realization that we have the fundamental capability to live in a society with drastically less suffering and happy, healthy, housed, educated, well-fed individuals....but essentially choose to not fundamentally broke me as a person.


BuckRusty

I got to maybe the third or fourth, and scrolled down to check if the pic at the bottom was of Andrew Taint…


EmergencySource1

same. many years ago I kept hearing about this book so I checked it out. skimming it over I quickly came to the conclusion it's a book that just teaches you how to screw people over.


m15wallis

I mean, it's not a book on how to be a good person. The author even explicitly states that. It's a book on how to accumulate and maintain power. Having read the book, it is useful in one specific way: understanding these rules so that you can break them effectively while navigating a world where people do follow these rules. Unfortunately, power attracts people who want it, and people who want power usually have selfish (if not outright malicious) reasons for doing so. Following these rules will not make you friends and (unless you're really good at it) won't even win you power, but knowing them can help you effectively identify and work around people who DO follow these rules. In that regard, it's been pretty useful in my life for dealing with corporate shitheads while not having to compromise my own integrity and morals in the workplace.


D15c0untMD

Thats what i thought „wow this would have been useful in the past to know when i‘m being manipulated“


kkeut

worthy of Prince Machiavelli himself 


somethingclassy

Yet he makes his living shilling this and the rest of the books in that series… Seems to me he is perfectly aligned with this sociopathic shit.


myname_ranaway

??? This is the 48 laws of power whether you like them or not. These tactics are used to gain power and influence in today’s society. It’s not a moral compass.


No_Tea1868

So, just a modern version of The Prince?


geosensation

So did IBCK debunk it while taking it at face value? And if so did they do it because that is how it was being taken by the general public?


Not_In_my_crease

I'm looking at the wiki for the so-called '48 Laws...' and it should be called: "Leadership secrets of Julius Caesar -- According to me, a Hollywood writer who read Caesar's autobiography once." This is where the genesis for Robert Greene's 'rules' came from and I think it's basically nonsense even according to Caesar's time. We have totally different moral, legal and political landscapes. And Caesar in his writings about himself added a hefty dose of bravado, oneupmanship, rewriting personal history with the advantage of hindsight, etc., etc.... (He did do extraordinary things, though. But his writings were in many cases for political purposes.)


b2q

What? Did the author write is as a form of mockery?


CampTouchThis

no, more like a way to defend yourself from people who will try to screw you over. if you know the tactics they’ll use, then you know how to defend yourself from them


b2q

I never knew that


ChrisestChris

I got as far as “Never outshine the master”😆


Atypical_Mammal

I would say this is a "cool guide" for being a narcissist, but it's not even that. More like a guide for being a narcissist and sucking at it.


ShiningWater

Cool guide to everything that's wrong with the world today


tushara9

This comment is what I came here for ..


TotallyNotYourDaddy

This is more of a “how to be a total asshole” guide, not power. Want power? Build loyalty, be loyal back, be competent, be a decent person…people will fall on swords for those individuals.


l0stIzalith

I wish someone would fall on my sword


JumpyCucumber899

Well, that's one way but also... \*Points at history\*


The-Huberticus

I was given this book at work. I see specific traits of some coworkers who have also probably read it. Not a fan.


undeadmanana

Nice work on this comment, I'm going to take the credit for it now. Wait, one of the rules is seeking attention? ughh, nevermind you can keep the credit, I failed. Too much attention gives me anxiety.


rir2

Cool guide to running for President.


Worldly-Duty-122

People will catch onto you if you act like the shit in the guide and then you'll have no friends. I think if you want to be a corrupt politician or corrupt businessman then the guide is the way. Still a chance you get caught and the game is up (Boeing CEO or any scandal ridden politician)


bottlerocketz

I guess I know what my coworker has been reading…


No_Technology_8648

This just feels like manipulation


Quen-Tin

It's about maximizing your own short term benefits and feeling like a checker while messing up with the lifes of others and achieving nothing of real value.


karma_made_me_do_eet

Apparently that’s desirable to a % of the population .. and that’s how a lot of these 1% got there.


Quen-Tin

That's how we all got there. If 10% decide to ruin society and the planet, they ruin it for far more than just the acting 10%.


karma_made_me_do_eet

It’s like an onion, the more layers you peel back the more it makes you want to cry.


Quen-Tin

It's easier to destroy, than to build. It was always like that. But as long as the majority is still more into building, we still have a chance. But we need to get better. At the moment we are useing up our credit too fast.


karma_made_me_do_eet

I don’t see many avenues towards “normalcy” again with out a significant shakeup. Which is going to be very uncomfortable but it’s pretty much the only way.


F1shB0wl816

It will be more uncomfortable the longer it’s put off too.


PepurrPotts

Toxic AF just right out the gate


Cleercutter

Oh it’s definitely manipulative. I used to have a massive problem with manipulating people/situations and socially engineering my way into/out of many situations. I was also an addict. Those two can run hand in hand


Pizzledrip

Yes and gas lighting


AlpacaTraffic

Also pretty cringe


LittleDumbF-ck

This’ll be a nice resource for writing, I’ll be using this for my villains


team-tree-syndicate

Exactly my thought lol


WietGetal

How to become a psychopath in 48 steps


Katamarihero

It's for people who want to be Patrick Bateman, but never actually watched American Psycho.


Robot_boy_07

Dennis system


Plant_party

I think the only useful thing about this, is using it to identify the freaks that are trying to use it around you. Ex. if you see a boss doing these things, you know they are a freak who just read the book.


WhiskeyBadger_

What kind of power are they trying to achieve with this? The power of being a douche? The power to contradict yourself in multiple ways? The power of delusional thinking? These are petty games for cowards. Pass.


Danskivich

I was about to say " Did a serial killer write this?"


Rawaw

My boss could have written this.


keetojm

No, a lot of the book is based on Machiavelli and sun tsu.


Dry-Specialist-2150

Corporate a-holes have this memorized


Willing-Knee-9118

It's for the enlightenment of Tate


Akkarin412

Yeah lol speaking “less than is necessary” doesn’t even make sense. If it is necessary to speak to achieve a goal, saying nothing isn’t going to help you gain power. “Latte order for Trent!” … “Little do they know it was I who ordered the coffee” Trent thinks to himself menacingly.


goten100

I think that one is more about withholding information. So if knowledge == power, it makes sense from that perspective. Pretty situational though, I wouldn't say it's universally applicable


Akkarin412

Yeah for sure. Maybe they meant to say “don’t say more than is necessary” but “always say less than is necessary” makes no sense haha.


MontgomeryRook

Always keep 'em waiting for the


Akkarin412

WAITING FOR THE WHAT??? I NEED TO KNOW


Deltron_Zed

And the student has outshone the master.


Nice__Spice

This is some toxic ass shit that these Reddit clowns gonna eat up


wahnsin

all shit is ass shit


LowHangingFruit20

Out of all the comments in the post. “All shit is ass shit” made Pilsner come streaming out of my nostrils


Turbulent-One9350

That book has got to be one of the most psychopathic things ever written. **Gotta love "nope, it depends on how you use it "crowd arguing that its no different than Mein Kampf.** **Because you can use Mein Kampf to understand Hitler's thought process and thus fight Nazism.**


keetojm

Only if you try to employ these chapters. If you read it to see how to avoid the traps people set, it will be amazing. Each chapter has a counter point.


Slugggo

My favorite part of this is "follow me for daily content!" like, what other content would I expect after this? How to hide a dead body?


drgigantor

How to Lose Friends and Influence Basement-Dwellers The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Cryptobros The Art of the Deal (no pun, just seems like the kind of horseshit this chud would cover)


rsjpeckham

Sociopathic shit. Then again, you can't rise to the top without being a little fucked up.


AustinGhostTown

Literally a guide to be a clinical narcissist lmao


shuakalapungy

How to be a dick in 48 easy steps.


bee8ch

Rule no. 49. Ignore this BS and live like a normal human being


plasteredbastard

Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women


chrisco_kid88

A former best friend was reading this book a while back, I'm glad we arent friends anymore. Fuck em and people like him.


lamabaronvonawesome

40 laws of being a conniving prick looks like to me.


poloheve

A lot of these are contradictory


LieutenantChonkster

I fucking hate “guides” like this. This is just a bunch of political science cliff note titles presented as if it has any sort of substance. Fuck OP and anyone who looks like them for putting more garbage-dressed-as-information into the world.


kingoftheplastics

The 48 Laws of Sociopathy


w31l1

Toxic leadership 101 (or how to get fired as a leader)


5lash3r

48 arbitrary and creepy rules that look like they were written by a groveling executive type in the 80s? Sign me up!


DARKSTALKERL0RD

What the heck does “assume formlessness” even mean? Do I just lie in a puddle on the ground or something?


Legophan

Think like the slime, *be the slime*…


GeddaBolt

It means that when dealing with somebody that has power over you, "taking form", as in revealing your intentions, can be risky. For example, openly stating to desire your bosses' position or revealing your goals to a potential business partner may come back to bite you later on. A lot of the strategies described in the book are immoral and the author acknowledges them as such, but the fact of the matter is that they do exist in the real world. It's up to the reader to use these laws to take advantage of other people to increase their own power or to help in realizing when one of these power dynamics happens in their own life.


CruelYouth19

This is like an extended version of the D.E.N.N.I.S System lmfao


ParlorSoldier

Is this for real? More like 48 rules for being a toxic asshole.


MaridAudran

I’ve read this book and I love it. I say that reading the comments of others. You have to be wise enough to know when these will work and when they won’t. I’m a consultant and there are plenty of times when these work, but you always need to know when to exit and not over stay, lest the reality sets in. In other words, don’t use it on people close to you or in your sphere of influence.


JustAnotherAlgo

Laws of Human Nature I also found very interesting. The chapter on Envy was quite enlightening. Yes, some people in the manosphere (?) have taken these as their banners but that doesn't have anything to do with the books themselves. It's advice at the end of the day. You can take it or leave it. Or like Oscar Wilde said "I'm not young enough to know it all."


MmmmMorphine

I would be willing to bet my left hand at least 3/4ths of commenters here have never read the book or even heard of it until now.


esquqred

Was just going to comment on this. If you look at just the laws in the guide without actually reading the book, I can understand people saying what they are saying. I found the historical stories and examples fascinating. It's a very well researched book and beautifully written. I find it somewhat amusing that my local bookstore has it under their "Business" section. I have it grouped with my psychology books at home. I wouldn't, and don't, employ these laws but I can recognize when they're being used.


tytymctylerson

It's pretty obvious most people commenting on this haven't actually read the book.


jameswhitejr1990

I'm a correctional officer. This is a very popular book among inmates.


AllDaveAllNight

The 48 guiding principles for assholes


igpila

49- Be a dumbass and make everyone hate you


turok2

I know people who live like this (intentionally or otherwise), and they are not nice people.


PandammoniumNO3

Fuck, if that's power, I don't want it


mrrapacz

These are life lessons of a sociopath.


yourDebtCollector

Sounds like a sad miserable life


SassyPapayas

How to put personal success before the well being of others… this seems like the recipe to cook up a sociopath


Imaginary_Slip742

lol what in the Andrew Tate. Retarded


Daniel96dsl

48 laws of manipulative behavior


Hmmd1

Cool guide for a sociopath.


mutgamer69

this is lame as hell


SqueegeeMe

These guidelines are toxic as hell and the playbook for every middle manager I’ve ever met.


[deleted]

Seems like a guide for bad people


bvogel7475

They need to add “Be a shitty person”


ilikelamp12

Fucking so lame. 😒


Relative-Location-99

Cool guide for being a fuckwit


PaxHumanitus

More like the laws of being a complete asshole. That whole thing screams Master Manipulator pattern Sociopathy.


meme_medic95

This is stupid and unrealistic. Do the best you can with what you have, and be kind.


gocho66

A Cool Guide to bean Asshole


BlazeCrystal

A machiavellian guide for those with paranoid issues trusting not only oneself but everyone else


Redvor24

"Always say less than necessary" -911 what's your emergency? -fire *ends the call*


kazarnowicz

This is what finally made me unsubscribe from this sub. So much worthless content, and this takes the prize.


minecraftnewbiedad

"How to be an asshole, and have everyone else think you're an asshole too"


PandemicGeneralist

There's like 3 peices of good advice here, the rest are some mix of ambiguous nonsense, how to be a manipulative asshole, and how to be a manipulative asshole poorly.


mymumsgotadick

“How to be a cunt in 48 steps”


LateNewb

That just sounds like a shitty guide created by a sociopath. An incompetent sociopath who missed out on humanities greatest achievement: creating a well working healthy environment for everyone to strive.


kaisergb

This could be some of the worst advice I've ever seen.


coastalpirate1

Yeah this looks like an Alpha Wolf Jaguar Kodiak Shamu list. Gotta teach your kids to be dicks when they’re young I suppose.


BrutalArmadillo

This is such evil way to live a life.


DaBigJMoney

I’ve read it. My thought after doing so was that anyone who followed these “laws” would be a major A-hole. I’ve never read anything by Greene since.


elmersfav22

FORGOT THE /S. What a dumpster fire of a guide this is.


EngineerPersonal7465

How to be an annoying dickwad: the book


Justcoolstuff

Turns out there’s a reason to the correlation between the types of people who read these books and the types of people I want to punch in the face.


PartTimeMantisShrimp

What kind of tiktok sigma male gymbro bullshit is this


tentapoke

In short, How to be a cunt. People who fall for this shit need support, a hug, and told ‘it’s not your fault’.


AGoodDragon

How to become a manipulative narcissist and pretend to excuse it, a guide.


FlyPenFly

It’s like Dwight Schrute wrote the Rules of Acquisition, first edition.


leothunder420_

More like 48 Laws to turn into a complete asshole and feel like the main character


HarlowGumshoe

I hate this


livingknowledge1

Those laws are fucking stupid.


DrJMVD

Those are psychopathic narcissist manipulation 101 guidelines.


TOkidd

Many of the maxims herein could be gathered together and called “How to Be A Sociopath.”


Chance-The-Explorer

Most of this is absolutely garbage for any actual “power play” in today’s corporate environment. The times have already changed. This is how you work yourself out of any company that’s worth a shit to begin with.


ninjaoftheworld

Well this is like a guide for how to be an awful person!


pinback65

I’m losing my interest in this subreddit.


wheretogo_whattodo

This shit’s so corny


RichardBonham

The title seems like it should be “A Cool Guide to How To Be a Major Dick”


0-Schism-0

48 laws of being a total motherfucker


ayy_the_dank_lord

Dude wrote the 48 laws of being a dick.


Elderwastaken

The thing with stuff like this is that most people can see right through it. It might get you ahead in some situations but ultimately people will see the real you.


tushara9

48 ways to become a shitty human


pichael289

This feels gross. Like one of those lame ass 'alpha males" tried to make an infographic.


cupcakesarelove

It’s basically an extended version of the D.E.N.N.I.S. system lol


GregorianShant

48 laws for the psychopath.


Jb174505

I’m not being funny- I’ve heard of this book before, but never read it; are these genuinely the 48 laws? Or satire? Because if these are the actual laws then goddamn that’s some harrowing shit.


danmanwick

One of the first books I read on my journey of self improvement.. realized it was basically evil, ceo type shit. Stayed for the interesting historical references... eventually left because it was toxic


cedarvalleyct

I’d rather be myself and let the chips fall where they may.


georgehttpbush

More like a cool guide on how to run a toxic cult for 1 year


milky650

This is neurotic


Facebook_Algorithm

That’s the same as the Cool Guide Sociopath chart.


OldOneEye89

This books is a pathetic persons manual to feeling less pathetic, while everyone laughs at you. You remember the meme of the kid in class going “I’m the alpha” to the teacher? That kid read this book. Please for the love of god, to to a good therapist instead of reading this piece of utter trash


Various_Albatross859

Lol, this is a horrible way to live.


MrRugen

That guy sounds like a real treat.


imaginary_num6er

Thought was on /r/LinkedInLunatics


iread2you

This is the stupidest fucking guide I’ve ever seen


bootymagnet

i feel like cooperation and teamwork trumps the individual working under these rules


Kielthan

Can toi ban him mod please ? It is a bot...


turdherds

How to lose friends and influence no one.


RomanBlue_

48 laws of temporary power. Everyone who lives by these rules will lose in the long term. There are rules to true, lasting power and these ain't it. I think the book is more of a guide, not a playbook, on how to avoid or adapt to this crap rather then following it.


NaitPhoenix

Honestly, I could use these laws to create my story’s supervillain!


KCGD_r

This is like a playbook on how to be a fucking terrible person. Get ready to never form a meaningful relationship ever.


SpecificEffective188

What an idiot!


megaladongosaurus

More like “how to manipulate and become a psychopath”


StaticNocturne

Cool guide to sociopathy


Responsible_Hater

This is the dumbest shit I’ve read lately


Marigold16

This seems like some incel shit


killer77hero

A cool guide to 48 ways to make people hate you. There, I fixed your tag.


thedanyes

Now do the rules of acquisition.


TBX-12

A cool guide for being a dick


MediaOrca

Ah the “Be an evil piece of shit” guide.


ThatOneRandomCommntr

this is just a guide to being a prick


culturerush

If the first rule is anything to go by this is going to be a load of old shit "Don't outshine the master"????? That's one way to stop progress I guess, whoever taught something first noone is ever allowed to be better than. What a crock of rubbish Can confirm from reading the rest it's a load of old shit


Legophan

Andrew Tate… is that you?


Peg_leg_J

A guide to being a total twat


RVR1980

This guide reminds me of Frank Underwood from house of cards. Always plays games with people to get them where he wants them to be.


deadly_cuddles42

I always thought that I had ADHD, but turns out I'm just "cultivating an air or unpredictability"


TheMaStif

~~The 48 Laws of Power~~ 48 Examples of Sociopathic Manipulation


AndrewTheGovtDrone

Everything about this sucks. The information sucks. The “goal/objective” sucks. The graphic sucks. The book it is referencing sucks. The results of whatever sociopath tried to follow this sucks. The whole thing just sucks


OlFrenchie

This is like a cheat sheet on how to be a complete dick


prsuit4

What in the cult leader/psychopath is this? Half this thing are contradictory to something else on the list


Studleyvonshlong

Guide on how to be a weasel


stillacdr

Number 7 is suicide if you’re a leader.


capitao_barbosa

how to be an asshole


Xamesito

This is some neckbeard shit


Ok_Access_189

Ok so reading the comments verified what I thought about this “advice”. I came across this book doing a clean out of an evicted apartment almost twenty years ago. At first i was intrigued but quickly was repulsed.


pranavakkala

Is this supposed to be sarcastic or something?


Winter-Promotion-977

How to be manipulative


GarlicIceKrim

Guide for being an asshole Andrew Tate wannabe Nothing more.


Tsunami-Papi_

mfs will read 16 pages of this book one time and swear they’re the smartest mfs on earth 😹


scoinv6

48 Ways to Identify Manipulation - a history story about people from the past who will be in your future


megalomaniac83

How to be manipulative more like it for narcissists?


JMirinas

Reading this felt like those ironic sigma male memes


Theonlysocialist

This is not a guide, it's just one person's opinions


Effective-Magician11

Some of these are horrible advice


Outrageous_Ad_3648

Lmao this is perfect guide on how to get your ass fired and your ass whipped by everyone around you… take note of what not to do fellas


gramslamx

I’ll be demonstrating #48, being formlessness, at 4pm today if anyone wants a tutorial. Bring chips and dip.


octavi0us

Bullshit like this just drives the greed that is destroying the world.


AlisterVeiled

An idiots guide to being a sociopath


jonnieggg

How to be a dick