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The Official Robert Greene Thread

jason91

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In the beginning.

@Achilles

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"Let’s say that through some miscarriage of justice, you find yourself locked in prison tomorrow. Browsing through the prison library, you find there is one book that is constantly requested, but hard to get your hands on. What would you think that book was? Legal case STUDIES? Lock-picking manuals? The Bible perhaps? Close, but no cigar.

It’s none other than Robert Greene’s bestselling The 48 Laws of Power, which has sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide. Greene’s books are famously the most requested in correctional facilities across the United States, an achievement he bears with pride. (The author has a folder dedicated to the fan mail he receives from inmates).

However, it’s not just convicts who have taken to Greene’s works. His books are a favourite of WALL STREET executives, movie moguls and hip hop superstars. Some of his more notable fans include rappers Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Jay Z, and Kanye West.

With five international bestsellers on strategy power and seduction, Greene is the hero of schemers, manipulators and the power hungry; from the Hollywood elite to the lowliest criminal. If the subject matter of his books is anything to go by, you’d think he would present like a character from Game of Thrones, cold and conniving.

Yet for all his accolades, Greene seems astonishingly normal. A native of Los Angeles, Robert Greene currently lives a quiet life in a Spanish-style villa in the suburb of Los Feliz. -Foundrmag.com"

I understand your point of view but hardly agree with Greene's books. They are simply a way for him into the market. People tend to purchase things that have some specific message in it. His notable fans (50 cent, Jay Z, etc.) are fans because it adds to their public image (brutal ruthless taking advantage of others at their cost, etc) - which is what sells to the specific target market. It helps the rappers get more market share. The "hood" generally has a view of taking from others. And they generally need books and music like these to supply their belief of how the world works.

The truly successful people generally have continuous relationships - which are mutually beneficial. And they provide value - generally through actions of integrity. Even Robert Greene is adding value to the "hood" by giving them a form of education. Lol

Don't take his books too seriously.. he's not in a position of power, he is a writer. Of course certain contents of his books may be true - but he paints a very imaginary world where people only get ahead by acting in the way described in the book. The people in jail buy into what hes saying because they are in jail.. how do you think they got there in the first place? Lol
 

Ubermensch

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In the beginning.

@Achilles

@ChasingPaper

@S&P


"Let’s say that through some miscarriage of justice, you find yourself locked in prison tomorrow. Browsing through the prison library, you find there is one book that is constantly requested, but hard to get your hands on. What would you think that book was? Legal case STUDIES? Lock-picking manuals? The Bible perhaps? Close, but no cigar.

It’s none other than Robert Greene’s bestselling The 48 Laws of Power, which has sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide. Greene’s books are famously the most requested in correctional facilities across the United States, an achievement he bears with pride. (The author has a folder dedicated to the fan mail he receives from inmates).

However, it’s not just convicts who have taken to Greene’s works. His books are a favourite of WALL STREET executives, movie moguls and hip hop superstars. Some of his more notable fans include rappers Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Jay Z, and Kanye West.

With five international bestsellers on strategy power and seduction, Greene is the hero of schemers, manipulators and the power hungry; from the Hollywood elite to the lowliest criminal. If the subject matter of his books is anything to go by, you’d think he would present like a character from Game of Thrones, cold and conniving.

Yet for all his accolades, Greene seems astonishingly normal. A native of Los Angeles, Robert Greene currently lives a quiet life in a Spanish-style villa in the suburb of Los Feliz. -Foundrmag.com"
 
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Ubermensch

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Hm… i did like the Greens books, but i must say i found Prince to be much better and more useful.


And if there is so much attention on his books, are they really useful to us (i'm referring to the 'the mainstream is not rich'), except to know the ways in order not to fall prey to them?

Greene likens The 48 Laws to a mirror. What readers see in it reflects what they see in themselves. Unfortunately, for his critics, their problem is that he speaks the truth. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That makes some people uncomfortable. For most, it is empowering.

To understand Greene, you need to understand philosophy. Greene almost lovingly refers to Machiavelli as his "mentor." He used that word. To understand Greene, you need to understand Machiavelli. You need to understand Machiavelli, you need to understand Cesare Borgia, the inspiration for Machiavelli's The Prince.

The philosophy doesn't end with Machiavelli, it only begins. Look at all of the Nietzsche quotes all over Greene's work. They are in every one. In an interview with Joe Rogan, Greene stated that his next book (this was quite some time before he had chosen the title "The Laws of Human Nature") is about the Ubermensch. Surely, Greene knows about Nietzsche's concept of The Ubermensch and its influence upon modern-day superheroes. It's not that Nietzsche first thought of the Ubermensch concept (he didn't); it's what he did with it.


@The Wall

"I see where you're coming from and I agree, he is JUST a writer"

Hm.

He has some real life power, though. Just look at his strategic advising of the American Apparel corporation.

Machiavelli was "just" a writer, yet did he not instruct and guide The Prince, and future Princes (even in death), through the treacherous valleys and shadows of power games at the highest levels?

Not to get religious, but was Muhammad "just a writer"? Was Buddha? Were the authors of the Bible? The "JUST" context doesn't seem right at all here. Words shape the course of human history. I guess if you want to say someone is "JUST" a writer, you should contemplate just what the heck a writer is.

Would you say that the President of the United States is JUST the President? Of course not. So why apply the same word - in the same context - to the guy who is JUST a writer, yet his words of wisdom are guiding the President to determine the laws by which you live.

Robert Greene's name was just dropped in the last Mark Wahlberg movie, The Gambler. That's probably a testament to his real-life power. The guy who wrote the script is, JUST a writer, and he called Greene the modern-day Shakespeare. Subtly. Indirection.

@The Wall

I see, so do you feel that specifically "The 48 Laws" is heavily instructional and clear cut not providing room for personal interpretation like "The Prince" or "Book Of 5 Rings"

Very interesting choice of words there. "Clear cut," when talking about Musashi's magnum opus.

If you found Musashi instructive, then I suggest Dr. HAHA Lung's collected works of mind-warping greatness. While Greene discusses meditation - which he started after being amazed by Curtis Jackson's in-person, real-life power - I have not seem him spell out his meditation techniques in detail... at least not explicitly. Of course, simple lines from Greene works can be used for effective meditation. For instance, in the 33 Strategies of War, he tells the reader to "think of strategy as a series of lines and arrows," all aimed at your goal. If you are meditating on the actions that you need to take to hit your goals, then you're not only "planning all the way to the end," in the context of "grand strategy," you are doing something called Outcome Based Thinking:


That said, Dr. HAHA Lung spells out specific meditation techniques, for specific scenarios, and he talks a whole lot about Musashi and Sun-tzu. I first heard of Dr. HAHA Lung from a military friend of mine. Let's just say that he was trained to be "persuasive." He told me that, in his line of work, they tell you to read HAHA Lung and Robert Greene. They both provide great wisdom and guidance, and they both eloquently glorify Musashi's murderous exploits, while simultaneously (and most importantly), drawing strategic analogies and interpretation.

@The Wall

"Is it not a "tactics" book per se as it does not apply to far broader aspects in life?"

Check out this link.

There is a difference between tactics and strategy, a very well-defined one. Greene's books are books on strategy, yet they also touch on tactics. I do not mean to offend you, but if you truly regard Greene's books as tactics - and not strategy - I think that is a pretty awesome misinterpretation. Greene is very explicitly focused on strategy. In fact, 33 Strategies of War contains a brilliant demonstration of how Sun-Tzu, long-term and strategic thinking defeats tactical thinking.


Robert Greene describes his favorite law in the 48 Laws, the Law of Formlessness: Law #48. This is the Law in which he describes the dichotomy between Chess and Go, between Western strategic thought and Eastern strategic thought. Look at the scholars of war quoted throughout the Sun-Tzu documentary. In some cases, they sound as if they reading from the pages of 50th Law, 33 Strategies of War, and the 48 Laws of Power. They all say the same thing: Focus on the long-term strategy, not the short-term reality in front of you.
 
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Veloce Grey

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Hm… i did like the Greens books, but i must say i found Prince to be much better and more useful.

Damn straight! I've lost count of the number of awkward social situations I've been in with nothing to say until I remember Prince and let fly with "I got a lion in my pocket and baby he's ready to roar"
 
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Ubermensch

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@Ubermensch, you may have misinterpreted what side i'm agreeing with, maybe I wasn't clear enough



Here I was referring to "The 48 Laws" as clear cut as @Sovereign refers to it having no duality, not Musashi's work. I'll also take on your recommendations after I've finished up with Ready, Aim, Fire thanks.

Robert Greene is JUST a writer just as much as I would call Michelangelo JUST an artist, both pinnacle examples of what being a writer or an artist is. As you stated though the context of me saying it was not very good.



I agree, Robert Greene is a very strategic and philosophically invoking writer and again, you may have misinterpreted it again, the question was directed at @Sovereign and questioning his definition of what a "tactics" book was, out of context it appears very different the question.


Also @Ubermensch a quick question if you may. What are your thoughts on Mastery? I personally loved it but find it hard to apply to business

Consider Robert Greene's influence on 50 Cent.


(3:25 - 4:25):

Master the Art of Timing...

Breakfast Club

@The Wall

The simple concept behind Mastery reflects some of the deepest aspect in the soul of The Fast Lane. There is a process, and you have to respect it. You have to put in lots of hours. First, the first hour. Then hundreds of hours. Then tens of thousands of hours. Always learning, like Musashi.

Ask any military general in a true position of power, and he should know Sun-Tzu. That's a fact. If the business and war parallel is true, then all the more reason to learn the ways of Sun-Tzu. With indomitable mastery, Greene connects aspects of Sun-Tzu's wisdom with seduction, power, and war.

Power requires a specific application of certain skills. It is ironic, because the absolute best of Robert Greene's critics actually reinforce the truth of his work.

You have to be willing to go further than your enemy. You must demonstrate Mastery beyond comprehension to win. All you have to do is know more than your enemy. That's why Sun-Tzu says know your enemy. Know yourself. Know your market, the metaphorical battlefield.

So many of the biographies in Mastery resonate with me, particularly that of Charles Darwin. Arguably the greatest scientist of all time, just because of his discovery, he changed the course of human history. Now that we know our true ancestry, our true origins, this has fascinating applications when you consider the bigger picture.

As the song says, this show we're on right now began 13.9 billion years ago. The Big Bang started it. This fascinates me, and I can't see how it wouldn't fascinate anyone else. When you meditate, trying contemplating deeply on the the fact that you are - literally - the offspring of explosions and stars.

They say to know where you're headed, you have to know where you come from.

Let me get back to Greene's critics.

Let's take the best example. The most intellectual, scholarly example: Jeffrey Pfeffer (born July 23, 1946, St. Louis, Missouri), is an American business theorist and the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, and is considered one of today's most influential management thinkers.[1][2] Pfeffer strives to educate and inspire leaders to seek power through evidence-based management, the knowing-doing gap, high performance culture, and unconventional wisdom.

While Professor Pfeffer is not the most vitriolic of Greene's critics, he is certainly the most distinguished and qualified. And yet, look at him speak and lecture. He exudes, eschews, and espouses so much of what is in the 48 Laws, The Art of Seduction, the 33 Strategies of War, and the 50th Law. Anyone who has seen his lectures and read his work, knows this to be true. In other words, if the folks that doubt Greene's legitimacy were to study true strategy and true power, they would come to the conclusion that many already have: it's the truth.

And so, again, the 48 Laws and all of Greene's work is a mirror.

The ultimate takeaway from this should be - if the War and Business analogy is real - study Sun-Tzu. Study strategy. Study the 33 Strategies.

1) Sun-Tzu and the Art of Business

2) Von Clauzewitz: Business is War

3) Business as War: Fast Company

4) Business is war, soldier tells bosses.
 
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GMSI7D

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Robert Greene's books are not for everyone because most people don't understand the meanings of the books.

these books are for thinkers, not for the masses

the masses don't care about leadership

they are on earth to eat, work, have sex , sleep and die. they are the energy of the leaders

leaders are on earth to honor intelligence , lead society and evolve .

this is 2 worlds completely different . you can't mix leaders and the masses

this is absurd

.
 

Ubermensch

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Whats the best Robert Greene book to get started with. 48 Laws?

The Art of War and Book of Five Rings have both had a big influence on my business mindset so Greene should be right up my alley.

If you like Musashi, make you pick up a copy of Dr. HAHA Lung's books on mind manipulation and mental dominance. Perhaps more than any other author, Lung brilliantly captures the method in the mayhem, murder and madness behind the Musashi myth and legend.

In 33 Strategies of war, Greene also has a riveting section on some of Musashi's masterful myriad of murders.

Replace "killing and crushing the enemy" with "selling and closing the customer" and you will see clear and undeniable parallels between warfare and the boardroom (and the bedroom).

If you know Sun-Tzu well, then you may not opt for the 33 Strategies of war first.

Here is a good summary of the 33 Strategies:


You likely already understand the concepts of psychological manipulation involved in warfare, and the necessity of fluidity and guerrilla-style mindset... which is the only way a small guy can slay a big industry.

If you pick up the Art of Seduction, you might want to pay particular attention to the section on The Rake. As a Rake myself, I relate very strongly with that chapter, and I believe it contains the essence of the proper attitude when selling. A Rake passionately pursues his target until submission ensues. Usually, the sheer intensity of The Rake's approach forces the seduction to a close. Grant Cardone preaches obsessing over one's product, service, offering or business. Drink the Kool-Aid. If you know in your blood, in your bones, that your service or offering fulfills a massive need, then you should rightly obsessed. You should be obsessed, because it is an opportunity to impact the world. You should be obsesses, because it is an opportunity to make tons of money. You should obsess, draw pictures and diagrams, practice your pitch, perfect your script - all of this is basically auditory, free-styled copywriting. In an extremely enthusiastic mind, no reasonable objections exist for his offer. In that mental state, you will naturally muster the necessary words and energy to ultimately shine through in the marketplace.

As with many of Robert Greene's books, you don't really have to pick one up and read it cover to cover. I have, in fact, never read any of his books in this way. You pick them up, and pick things out. At different times in life, of the year, the month, the week or day, different Laws of Power, Strategies of War, or insights from 50 Cent's life and real-life hustling apply to me.

If you feel crunched for time, understand the different sections of Greene's books, and focus only the most imperative sections. If you pick up the 48 Laws of Power, for instance, read the preface and you will see that Greene himself prescribes a kind of piecemeal way of reading the book. Focus on the Keys to Power sections, and gloss over the Transgressions and Observations of the Law. The Keys to Power will outline for you an interpretation of several historical events, yet it is mostly Greene speaking directly to you, the reader.

To be perfectly honest, it has been quite some time since I took the time to actually read a book. Every book I take in these days, I take in via audiobook.

So, on that note:

This wouldn't be much of an Official Robert Greene thread without having his work in the library!

THE 50TH LAW AUDIO, READ BY ROBERT GREENE AND 50 CENT:


First Law of Power: Never Outshine The Master

 
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Ubermensch

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Actually Dr. HAHA Lung made his way onto my reading list last night based off your recommendation on another thread. I am also in a business that involves cold calling and the books look great for applying to that purpose.

You probably already know about Nietzsche, Robert Greene, and the concept of the Ubermensch.

On the first page of Dr. HAHA Lung's Mind Control, he writes: Before Nietzsche, philosophy was only philosophy. After Nietzsche, philosophy became dangerous...

Dr. HAHA Lung talks about the Will to Power. Greene quotes Nietzsche multiple times - perhaps even as much as he quotes Sun-Tzu, King Alexander and Napoleon - in every single one of his books.

Nietzsche knew that we would speak of him this evening. He knew that the words he left behind would imbue men with an unbeatable power, a burning energy within that can force and bend reality.

I can count on one hand the authors that allowed me to alter my mindset so dramatically that I do not even recognize the old me. Lung helped me get through a breakup with my sort of girlfriend of several years; it helped me sever ties with a business partner that used to call me his best friend; it helped me cut ties with family members that just wanted to borrow money; helped me cut ties even with my parents, and eventually nearly all of my family.

I think that you will appreciate Lung's visceral verbiage; you'll find pages full of invigorating stories about enemies eviscerated by the swords and strategies of Musashi, Spartacus, Atilla the Hun, et al.

Will definitely pick this up. Obsession resonates with me and that sounds like the mindset I am trying to develop.


Jordan Belfort (in)famously described the telephone as an M-16, and termed the phone wielder as a warrior. With incorruptible determination, you must bring a relentless onslaught of noise to the marketplace. Go for broke, especially if you Glen Gary Gordon Gekko money.

How does Belfort put it: Ah, yes... deal with your problems by becoming RICH!

Say what you will about Belfort, but he proved the power of the phone when he hit almost a million a week.

That level of production is possible without screwing over customers, by offering a legitimate service that addresses a specific niche.
 

Ubermensch

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If you make at least $1,000,000 in a year, you can do the Grant Cardone Milly dance: 7:15 - 7:45.

"Milly, Milly, Milly..."

Grant Cardone's story deserves repeating.

Whom warrior among the Fastlane clan will crush the enemy totally?

The enemy? The enemy is the day, the time that begs you to waste it. The enemy is all of the distractions, all of the normal a$$ people, distracting you with their normal a$$ people shit.

The enemy is the action of mindlessly checking your Facebook.

To fully bridge the gap between my potential and my reality, I have to rely upon the love of what I do to get me through. I have endured hours, days, and nights of pain, of

I feel numb, because of the $HINE of the hustle. I now see the logical, unbreakable, inescapable connection between the level of effort I expend and the results I receive back from the universe.

Fate is kind of a misunderstood phenomena. People think that you have to chase fate. You don't. Every man and woman has his own fate in his hand, like a boomerang that they can either do nothing with, or throw.

That boomerang is all of your uniqueness as a person, everything genetically, spiritually, and philosophically that makes you who you are.

Most people waste their boomerangs.

Most people use their boomerangs as coat hangers for their work uniforms.

Some people have rusty boomerangs that don't shine, due to lack of use.

Some people have lost their boomerangs.

Some of us, however, have put our hearts and souls into the ricochet. The thrower's act of throwing reverses fate, especially when he slings it with the rage of 1,000 suns.

King Alexander's shot ricochet with enough force to etch his name in history forever, as if Zeus himself set off an eternal lightening storm in the appropriate formation.


Marshall Mathers' ricochet became Eminem.

David's ricochet - or did he use a slingshot? - dropped Goliath with one shot.

MJ DeMarco's ricochet spawned the Fastlane.

Nietzsche ricochet is the uprooting of all that is weak, and cementing forever in the soul only the most supremely dominant of virtues.

 

Longinus

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What I don't understand is, from the books, one can tell that Greene is a genius at manipulation and all the inner workings of human behaviour. In short, he knows how to play the game of life. So, why is he still an author and not in a power of position (world/country leader, head of an international company, charismatic cult leader etc...)?

I heard him saying once that he describes the behavior but he doesn't encourage it. Also as a bestselling author, I think he's happy where he is now: reading a ton about the past and writing about it. Not all people want power and prestige.
 
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I like Greenes books, but my theory is that he's a guy that's really into history and realized popular audiences don't want to to read history books... So he sussed out all of the Game of Thrones worthy moments from history, arranged them thematically, then went to Home Depot and bought a wheel barrow to catch the money.
 
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Ayanle Farah

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My main issue with Robert Greene's books is it basically tries convince you that everyone is out to get you and it decreases trust and empathy in people who apply the principles.
Aslong as you don't lose the above(trust and empathy), there shouldn't be problems, imagine a world where everyone was at war with each other 24/7?

This is what the elite are doing to us right now, divide and conquer, the quest for power isolates you, not in a physical sense because he goes into blending with the crowd and all that, but it isolates you from your emotions, all warfare is based on deception and the greater the deception the greater the distance between you and others.

In the end you'll become a mini-version of the elite and super easy to control ironically.
 
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GoGetter24

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My main issue with Robert Greene's books is it basically tries convince you that everyone is out to get you and it decreases trust and empathy in people who apply the principles.
That's not how I interpreted it. When I read his books it felt more like a series of warnings than a manual of how to be manipulative. I didn't feel it was asking me to reduce trust in other people, but was simply explaining the mechanisms behind bad behaviour and relationship outcomes that I'd already witnessed in real life, more like a "self defense" manual.

One of my friends, on the other hand, did feel this, and he said it made worry that people were trying to "get him", just like you put it. It might be a case that it's one of those books best read but also discussed with other people.

But as I always say: it's better to know the truth than a pleasant lie.
 
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GMSI7D

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Robert Greene is a genius. the guy is a mastermind.

people say " this is manipulation " or whatever

but you should think twice about that

strategy books are available everywhere : art of war, 36 stratagems and so on

but who cares about them ? most people don't care about these tools


for example the " 36 stratagem " is a book more " dangerous " than Robert Greene's books

the elite are following the 36 stratagems word for word to control the masses and people don't care

this is a book that you can buy for 20 bucks at your local bookstore

so this is really funny . i am laughing out loud

people are too stupid


wtf.gif

 

Xeon

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What I don't understand is, from the books, one can tell that Greene is a genius at manipulation and all the inner workings of human behaviour. In short, he knows how to play the game of life. So, why is he still an author and not in a power of position (world/country leader, head of an international company, charismatic cult leader etc...)?
 

GMSI7D

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What I don't understand is, from the books, one can tell that Greene is a genius at manipulation and all the inner workings of human behaviour. In short, he knows how to play the game of life. So, why is he still an author and not in a power of position (world/country leader, head of an international company, charismatic cult leader etc...)?


we can say the same thing for philosophers : Nietzsche and others

so here is the answer:

these guys are on earth to be messangers, not to be doers


their job is to say: " hey guys, look here for a minute. here is a philosophy for you because you are smart to understand it and you deserve the best in life "

this is what Robert Greene does : he is the messanger for you so you can see things from another point of view


you may say : do we really need messangers ?


yes and here is an example



do you understand this picture ? you probably don't understand the meaning

look for a minute and i tell you the answer


wash.jpg


this is a freemason monument


here is the real meaning

water is a symbol for the masses who don't have goals . they follow the leaders who do have goals for society

they are the energy of society . this is yin


the monument stands above the water; like masterminds who stand above the masses

this is yang


so without a messanger like me , you would never have understood it

so you get the point about the authors and their work

wash2.jpg
 

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Way to downplay the influence of his books, his advice is applicable in real life. How about you tell me then, what it takes to get into a "power position"?
I didn't say the advice cannot be applied to real life. I said his books are entertainment.

I also definitely did not say I am an authority on how to get into a "power position", whatever that is.

For a forum focused on business, there is more to learn from the spell his books create on their target market than from the books themselves.

It's easy to "think like a producer" when talking about products for which you are nowhere near the target market.

This is what I see constantly on this forum.

Who buys pet rocks? Not us, we think like producers!
Who buys fidget spinners? Not us, we think like producers!

Low hanging fruit. Who is thinking like a producer when the product is playing to your fantasies?

I mean, it is in the book itself, isn't it? Law 27, play on people's need to create a cultlike following. Law 32, play on people's fantasies.

Yes, I read the thing thoroughly. I enjoyed it. I learned from it. And I also understand it for what it is.

I like Greene's work very much. I like his branding even more. And I think there are valuable lessons in it for the people in this forum. That was the way I intended my post.

If my defining it entertainment causes you to react with negative emotions - and I'm not saying it did, maybe it did not, but that's the feeling I had from your post - then you should ask yourself why, when you have no horse in the race.
 
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If you don't mind me asking, can you explain to me what makes "The 48 laws of power" an event compared to "The Prince" and "Book of 5 rings", i'd like to get your complete take on it.

You'll probably find the answer to your question here
https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/pages/about/#therules
Thank you, found it in the toolbox.


Perhaps i haven't put it in the best terms, what i was trying to say is that 'The 48 laws' provides you with techniques for acting or reacting to other people. It is not so much about ''giving'' you a way of thinking which then springs actions (in accordance with that thinking) on its own. It's not so much a ''tactics'' book as it is a guide on what to do.

The other 2 books on the other hand, provide only basics of thinking and leave you to choose your own actions. They give pointers, but not a definite guide.

As i see it (read that as IMHO) 'The 48 laws' don't allow for enough duality and uncertainty in life. They seem to have a straightforward, immediately applicative 'do this' answer to every problem.


I have a feeling you are preparing to take me apart. Feel free to do so, after all we’re here to debate.
 
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xuyigang

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Thanks for the post! I have purchased the 48 laws two weeks ago. My wife has been a national level government employee back in China for 6 or 7 years til we came to US in our early 20's.

I have not finished reading the book yet, but one thing is for sure, many of the laws are widely being used in China, in the lofty political realm and in the lowly daily life.
 

LifeTransformer

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I haven't read the 48 laws yet, the 50th law was pretty good though I thought, helped me overcome a niggling anxiety I was having trouble shaking off.

Speaking of the book of five rings, since reading that I've been trying to live by the one major quote I pulled from it; "Do nothing that is of no use".
 
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Ubermensch

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He started World War 2.

hopefully white text works, I'm just joking of course.

Lol... tell me this isn't the classic Nazi-myth...?

Then again, Dr. HAHA Lung tells us that before Nietzsche, philosophy was only philosophy.

After Nietzsche, philosophy became dangerous.

Kind of like @Ubermensch and deleteduser396.
 

Delmania

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He started World War 2.

I'm impressed. One man is directly responsible for starting one of the bloodiest conflicts in history? That's some influence he had. Seriously, WWII had many causes, chiefly among them the unresolved issues from WWI, which in turn had roots in previous conflicts. If Hitler hadn't read Nietzche, he would have found some other way to justify his actions.
 
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Ubermensch

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The teachings of Jewish carpenter and an Arab merchant sparked a war that has lasted for centuries.

The work of an English naturalist and geologist were used justify genocide and forced breedings.

The teachings of a Nepalese prince have been used to justify genocide.

Humans can and will use anything to justify killing each other.

Lol... no comment.
 

Digamma

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What I don't understand is, from the books, one can tell that Greene is a genius at manipulation and all the inner workings of human behaviour. In short, he knows how to play the game of life. So, why is he still an author and not in a power of position (world/country leader, head of an international company, charismatic cult leader etc...)?
Because he is an entertainer who sells books for normies who want to feel powerful, not a genius at manipulation. Greene's books are 50 Shades of Gray for wannabes.
 
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Ayanle Farah

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Because he is an entertainer who sells books for normies who want to feel powerful, not a genius at manipulation. Greene's books are 50 Shades of Gray for wannabes.
Way to downplay the influence of his books, his advice is applicable in real life. How about you tell me then, what it takes to get into a "power position"?
 

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Hm… i did like the Greens books, but i must say i found Prince to be much better and more useful.


And if there is so much attention on his books, are they really useful to us (i'm referring to the 'the mainstream is not rich'), except to know the ways in order not to fall prey to them?
 

Sovereign

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Ultimately I find Robert Greenes books incredible for expanding my world view, relating with others and improving myself as person
Quite some time ago there was another quite popular business book, which wasn't initially intended as such (it was written in 17th century), called the 'Book of five rings'.

It depicts strategy (sword fighting), but it relates to far broader aspects of one’s life. I would say that 'The 48 laws of power' are mainly intended as ''deception'' or temporary methods, rather than as a way of life – which 'The Prince' and the 'Book of 5 rings' are.
Thus 'The 48 laws of power' is more event like (quick patch in the moment you need it), while the other 2 are more process oriented (a holistic suggestion of a ‘’way’’ to live by). Although the letter 2 are slightly outdated, they still apply and very worth reading.


p.s.: is it allowed to post affiliate marketing links in posts like this?
Wouldn’t it add to the forums Google ranking?
 

The Wall

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Thank you, found it in the toolbox.


Perhaps i haven't put it in the best terms, what i was trying to say is that 'The 48 laws' provides you with techniques for acting or reacting to other people. It is not so much about ''giving'' you a way of thinking which then springs actions (in accordance with that thinking) on its own. It's not so much a ''tactics'' book as it is a guide on what to do.

The other 2 books on the other hand, provide only basics of thinking and leave you to choose your own actions. They give pointers, but not a definite guide.

As i see it (read that as IMHO) 'The 48 laws' don't allow for enough duality and uncertainty in life. They seem to have a straightforward, immediately applicative 'do this' answer to every problem.


I have a feeling you are preparing to take me apart. Feel free to do so, after all we’re here to debate.

I see, so do you feel that specifically "The 48 Laws" is heavily instructional and clear cut not providing room for personal interpretation like "The Prince" or "Book Of 5 Rings"?
Is it not a "tactics" book per se as it does not apply to far broader aspects in life?

If that's the case then we may have interpreted the book in different ways and for that I have a final question for you.

What was your intention / motivation behind reading "The 48 Laws"?
 

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