The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Many people see power as a subject that refers to political tactics, which has nothing to do with them. As long as we are honest with others and stay away from political games, then surely we can avoid power struggles. But in fact, this is just a naïve and fanciful way of thinking.

Niccolò Machiavelli, the Italian political thinker and author of The Prince, once said: “Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.” In human society the game of power is always being played, from grand political schemes to various struggles in our personal lives. Everybody lives in a game of power, playing either an active role or a passive role, and none of us can avoid it.