Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distils three thousand years of the history of power into forty-eight well-explicated laws. As attention-grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers.

Some laws require prudence , some stealth, and some the total absence of mercy, but all have applications in real-life situations.

Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissenger, P T Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded - or been victimised by - power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing or defending against ultimate control.

ROBERT GREENE

The #1 international bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The Art of Seduction, Mastery, The 50th Law (with 50 Cent), The Laws of Human Nature and The Daily Laws. A globally renowned expert on human behaviour, his titles have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and have been cited as influences on industry moguls and artists from Jay-Z to Busta Rhymes. He has a degree in Classical Studies and lives in Los Angeles.