Unethical, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this penetrating work distills three thousand years of history of power into forty-eight well-explained laws. Striking in its design as well as its contents, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unique essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never exceed the master”), the virtue of evasion (“Law 3: Conceal your intentions”), and many demand the complete absence of pity (” Law 15: Crush Your Enemy”), but like it or not, all have real-life applications through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, PT Barnum, and other famous figures. Featuring those who have exercised – or suffered from – power, these laws will appeal to any reader interested in observing, observing or defending how to gain ultimate control.