If you’re wondering what to read after 48 Laws of Power, I’ve compiled a kick-ass list of books that will keep your journey strong. Whether you’re looking for a new perspective on persuasion or power or seeking to expand your knowledge on strategy, this list got you covered. So sit back, relax, and prepare for a new literary adventure.
List of What to Read After 48 Laws of Power
Books by Robert Greene
Mastery
In this book, Greene is about becoming a freaking master in your chosen field. He takes historical examples, like Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Darwin. He even throws in some contemporary masters like physicist Richard Feynman. Greene breaks down their steps to reach mind-blowing skill levels and deep understanding.
“Mastery” teaches you the importance of intense observation, dedicated practice, and the value of having mentors. It’s all about tapping into your natural talents, immersing yourself entirely in your chosen subject, and taking your skills to a new level.
While “The 48 Laws of Power” gives you the lowdown on how power is acquired, maintained, and defended, “Mastery” focuses on personal development and acquiring skills that lead to power and influence.
In “Mastery,” Greene shows how becoming a master in your field can lead to extraordinary achievements and personal power. It’s all about developing your skills and putting in the work. It’s like a roadmap to gaining power through personal excellence and greatness.
“The 48 Laws of Power” is like a masterclass in external power. At the same time, “Mastery” is your guide to mastering your internal power. It’s all about honing your skills, becoming a beast in your field, and creating value like nobody’s business.
When you read both books, you get the best of both worlds. You’ll have a complete understanding of how power works from different angles. “The 48 Laws of Power” gives you a strategic understanding and application of power. At the same time, “Mastery” shows you how personal skill and excellence can lead to power and influence.
The Art of Seduction
This fantastic book explores the fascinating art of seduction thoroughly. Greene takes a deep dive into seduction’s subtle and complex power dynamics, which can often be a tricky and elusive form of power.
The best part is that this book goes beyond just romantic relationships and shows how seduction can operate in many different aspects of life, such as politics, business, and even personal connections.
In this book, Greene provides detailed information about various types of seducers, their tactics, and how seduction has been utilized by historical figures to achieve their goals. It’s a crash course in mastering the art of charming people (metaphorically speaking).
The 33 Strategies of War
In this book, Greene takes the game of war and applies it to the game of life. It’s not just about tanks and explosions. “The 33 Strategies of War” is a guidebook to navigating our subtle daily battles. Greene introduces you to 33 killer strategies used in warfare throughout history.
But hold up, these strategies ain’t just for the battlefield. Greene shows you how to adapt and apply them to various situations. Whether dealing with office politics, social events, or personal challenges, these strategies will give you a tactical advantage and improve your critical thinking skills.
Now, here’s where the magic happens. Both books are about understanding power dynamics and maneuvering through them. These books are your secret weapons for mastering the art of manipulation, strategy, and persuasion.
The 33 Strategies of War taps into the wisdom of military leaders and strategists throughout history, giving you metaphors and strategies from the battlefield to handle all kinds of conflicts in your everyday life. It’s like having an army of knowledge in your back pocket.
Both books preach the gospel of understanding human behavior, power dynamics, and strategic thinking. “The 48 Laws of Power” gives you the general framework for understanding power. At the same time, “The 33 Strategies of War” serves up specific approaches to handle conflicts and tricky situations.
By delving into both books, you’ll arm yourself with a powerful arsenal of strategies. You’ll gain a deep understanding of power dynamics, learn how to obtain and wield power effectively and become a master of the game. These books work together to paint a complete picture of power dynamics, making them essential reads for anyone seeking to harness the strategies of power.
The Laws of Human Nature
In this book, Greene goes deep into the complex dynamics of human behavior. He takes you on a wild journey through history, philosophy, psychology, and various fields to uncover the hidden motives and patterns that drive us, crazy humans.
“The Laws of Human Nature” reveals that these laws influence every interaction, reaction, and relationship. Greene uses mind-blowing examples from the past and the present to show how these laws shape our behavior and how we can understand and apply them in our lives.
He breaks it down, showing you the importance of self-awareness, the art of reading people like a boss, and how to spot the strengths and weaknesses of others. Greene even shows you how to turn self-love into empathy, see through people’s masks, and resist conformity to find your unique purpose. It’s like a masterclass in understanding ourselves and others on a whole new level.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Both books focus on understanding the mechanisms that drive our behavior and interactions from different angles.
Greene’s “The Laws of Human Nature” shows us that understanding these hidden behavioral patterns gives us the power to influence and empathize with others. It’s all about building meaningful relationships and navigating social dynamics like a true champ.
“The Laws of Human Nature” is invaluable to Greene’s exploration of power, strategy, and human behavior. It goes beyond understanding why people behave as they do and gives you practical strategies to predict, influence, and understand human behavior. It’s a game-changer for personal growth, better social interactions, and overall success.
Books from Other Authors
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
This book explores the mechanics of persuasion and the triggers that prompt people to say “Yes!” It is a practical resource for anyone interested in the psychological tactics of influence and manipulation.
In this book, Cialdini breaks it down into universal principles of persuasion. We’re talkin’ about Reciprocity, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Liking, and Scarcity. Each principle gets a thorough exploration, with real-life examples that bring these concepts to life.
Cialdini presents these principles of persuasion as tools that can be used ethically to influence others. Still, he also warns how others might try to manipulate us using these tactics. He gives us strategies to recognize and resist these sneaky moves when used against us.
Understanding these psychological principles, we understand the mechanisms that drive behavior and influence decision-making. So when you combine the knowledge from both books, you’ll have a killer combo that gives you a comprehensive view of power dynamics and the art of influence.
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
This book was written way back in the 16th century, but let me tell you, it still packs a punch today. Machiavelli gives us a ruthless and pragmatic approach to power, leadership, and governance. Get ready for some real talk in political science and philosophy!
In “The Prince,” Machiavelli spills the beans on political leadership like no other. He draws wisdom from historical events and his own experience as a diplomat. Machiavelli’s goal? To advise new princes on how to hold onto power.
Now, Machiavelli ain’t playing nice. He suggests that a successful prince (or any leader) should be ready to act immorally and ruthlessly when necessary. The writer discusses controversial topics like how morals affect politics, the importance of being clever and tricky, and how fear is sometimes more effective in maintaining power than love.
Machiavelli drops a bomb with the idea that “the end justifies the means.” He believes that a ruler should prioritize the stability and power of the state above all else, even if it means doing things that are typically considered immoral or unethical.
Both books give you insights into the tactics, strategies, and skills you need to acquire, maintain, and defend power. They share a somewhat cynical view of human nature and emphasize the effectiveness of manipulation, strategy, and, sometimes, a little deceit in the pursuit of power.
But here’s the difference. “The 48 Laws of Power” is a power guidebook for various situations. It covers many laws that can be applied in different contexts. On the other hand, “The Prince” is more focused on power in political leadership.
Reading both books gives you a complete understanding of power dynamics from two unique perspectives. “The Prince” gives you lessons from political history. At the same time, “The 48 Laws of Power” serves up a modern take on power in different arenas.
Art of War by Sun Tzu
“The Art of War” is a guide for military strategy consisting of 13 chapters, each addressing a distinct facet of warfare. Sun Tzu regards war as a last resort that must be undertaken swiftly and efficiently to minimize casualties.
Now, let’s talk about some key themes in this book. Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of intelligence and information. He talks about strategically timed aggression, being flexible in response to changing circumstances, and using deception and surprise to gain an advantage over your adversaries.
“The Art of War” isn’t just about war. It’s packed with wisdom that can be applied to various scenarios in life. Business executives, sports coaches, and leaders in different fields have adopted its principles because they see the parallels between military conflict and their challenges.
Greene drew heavily from historical texts, including “The Art of War,” and applied their wisdom to modern contexts. Sun Tzu’s wisdom on deception, flexibility, and strategic aggression directly influenced some of Greene’s laws.
For example, we have Law 3 (Conceal Your Intentions) and Law 15 (Crush Your Enemy Totally), which echo Sun Tzu’s advice on deception and overwhelming force.
Both books teach us the importance of understanding the context, observing our opponents keenly, and using strategic thinking to navigate power dynamics and conflicts.
But while “The 48 Laws of Power” gives us a general framework for understanding and manipulating power, “The Art of War” offers strategic wisdom primarily from a military perspective, which can still be applied in other fields.