[ALAMGIR]

What do you think of the author Robert Greene and his books, 48 Laws of Power, 33 Strategies of War, Art of Seduction and 50th Law? If you have read anyone them, do you think the content is of any practicality? I've been thinking this guy is an INTJ for a while. And after seeing a video interview of him even more so.

[Dover]

I LOVE his books!
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They are very structured with a lot of historical basis, almost like a textbook but not as boring, which I enjoy. However, his writing isn't for the faint of heart; he is very blunt and makes no qualms about taking advantage of people and their weaknesses. I think the content is very practical, but you have to make the effort to tailor the material to your life, situation, and moral beliefs.

My personal favorites are The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction. More than giving you the ability to manipulate other people, his books give you tremendous understanding of your own tendencies and shortcomings. I really think he is an amazing writer and definitely one of my favorites.
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[freeeekyyy]

I prefer Dale Carnegie.

[Zsych]

They're not for you.
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I skimmed through 'The 48 Laws of Power' some of them were interesting. Mostly you use these things as food for thought.

[Seriously]

I enjoyed "The Art of Seduction". Gives some interesting insights.

[Anima Mundi]

Greene's books are awesome, especially The 48 Laws of Power. I'm reading The Art of Seduction right now, and I'm waiting for the local library to get a copy of The 50th Law.

Dale Carnegie can suck it.

[Rationality]

I've only read The 48 Laws of Power, but I thought it was interesting. I know someone who abides by the 48 laws and it seems to work for him. When I'm dealing with people I keep the gist of the laws in mind.

[Autumnleaf]

They were interesting reads with lots of historical background. There were a few things that bothered me about them where I noticed his ideas didn't seem to always hold true in similar situations. I was probably just being picky.

[freeeekyyy]

Did some reading of his 48 laws and the art of seduction. The guy's a sociopath. He has absolutely no integrity, and doesn't care one bit who he runs over to get what he wants. I have no desire to be that kind of person.

[Il Prodigio]

	Originally Posted by freeeekyyy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Did some reading of his 48 laws and the art of seduction. The guy's a sociopath. He has absolutely no integrity, and doesn't care one bit who he runs over to get what he wants. I have no desire to be that kind of person.

I absolutely concur. None of this will help me be a better person. I actually think it will contribute to perpetual cycle of suffering.

If you can't get laid, maybe it's because you seek to manipulate people instead of actually giving out love. Also, this whole seduction thing is stupid....I'd rather spend my time ACTUALLY fornicating, not playing games.

[Megalomania]

	Originally Posted by freeeekyyy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Did some reading of his 48 laws and the art of seduction. The guy's a sociopath. He has absolutely no integrity, and doesn't care one bit who he runs over to get what he wants. I have no desire to be that kind of person.

What has he done that is sociopathic besides write some books?

[Exodus]

I've read the 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction. I enjoyed reading them at the time, but in retrospect his books are more of a novelty than a torrent of Machiavellian insights. The applicable assertions that are provided in his books are mostly just common sense ideas re-packaged in an amoral context, which I admit is at least entertaining.

His books have done nothing not change my core values or views as an individual. But then, I'm also INTJ to begin with, so perhaps his books didn't come as much as a revelation to me as they would to others.

[freeeekyyy]

	Originally Posted by Megalomania To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	What has he done that is sociopathic besides write some books?

	Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.

Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.

Those are just a couple examples. It doesn't just tell how to get power. It tells how to get power by being ruthless and utterly destroying everyone and everything around you.

[ALAMGIR]

	Originally Posted by freeeekyyy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Did some reading of his 48 laws and the art of seduction. The guy's a sociopath. He has absolutely no integrity, and doesn't care one bit who he runs over to get what he wants. I have no desire to be that kind of person.

I think you might be taking his amoral stance as immoral. (And I'm certainly not saying you don't know the difference) I think his approach to power is pretty well laid out( I've only read some of the seduction book so I can't speak as much on it) and its up to you how you choose to apply it and from what I see it can nonetheless be applied without surrendering any of your values.

One of the best rules I like is Act like a king to be treated like one. I probably was trying to employ that strategy anyway before reading this book but I think it really made it more clear in black & white.

Another book that is less "ruthless in tactics" (ruthless is rather subjective) is Art of Worldy Wisdom by Balthasar Gracian. I read this little red book everywhere I go. Its my secular bible.
Have any of you read it?

[Firebrand]

I own all Robert Greene's books and "The Art of Worldy Wisdom". I've only skimmed Greene's books, but I think the people supporting the "More flies..." theory are missing the point a bit with Greene's works. They're not exclusionary absolutes, boxes to fit yourself into, or cults to join at the expense of dynamicism or logic. They're simply tools and sometimes they fit, and sometimes they don't. Not terribly complicated or sophisticated. It's equally useful to know them, if for nothing more, to identify when these tactics are being used on you. "Know your enemy" - Sun Tzu -.

[zibber]

For this whole strategic idiom even to make sense requires such a distrusting, competitive environment, I can't believe we are still in this place.

[Megalomania]

	Originally Posted by freeeekyyy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Those are just a couple examples. It doesn't just tell how to get power. It tells how to get power by being ruthless and utterly destroying everyone and everything around you.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." -
-- Aristotle


I haven't seen any evidence that he has sociopathic tendencies. You can write a book on Machiavellian morals without actually living by them.

[Firebrand]

	Originally Posted by zibber To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	For this whole strategic idiom even to make sense requires such a distrusting, competitive environment, I can't believe we are still in this place.

Welcome to life. <shakes hand>
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[heaven]

This post cut my eye, I was thinking to made a thread about his books

I love 48 Laws of Power and Art of Seduction, I don't think his a sociopath, I just talk about history and those who make history...

Read his books makes me a sociopath? I don't think so, I learn about history and take some advice

I like to play
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[MrDoom]

'The 48 Laws of Power' and 'The 33 Strategies of War' are two books (along with 'The Prince', 'The Art of War', and 'The Ego and Its Own') which collectively form my 'Bible'. I have not yet read 'Seduction', however I personally own copies of his other two books.

I think some people are commenting on the social philosophy he writes about without even having read his books. Virtually every chapter contains a reversal, exemption, or degenerate example of the given law being taken too far or applied too heavy-handed. Being a ruthless cut-throat sociopath has little utility and contradicts the very laws expounded.


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[True Rune]

I don't have a need to fuck and dominate women so it's all irrelevant to me. Maybe it'd be good to look at from a theory level.

as far as amorality goes.. it means "no morality" which is essentially immoral.

[MrDoom]

	Originally Posted by True Rune To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I don't have a need to fuck and dominate women so it's all irrelevant to me. Maybe it'd be good to look at from a theory level. as far as amorality goes.. it means "no morality" which is essentially immoral.

Incorrect. An amoral person's actions simply are not driven by moral distinctions (typically out of pragmatism, or they may possibly have never been introduced to the concept of morality or have any context for it to have meaning, like someone living alone in the wild). They may just as easily act in a manner consistent with what others call "virtue" as they would act in "vice". But the distinction does not hold in their own view.

A committed amoralist being called "immoral" for their apathetic treatment of metaethics is similar to the case of an atheist who acts without regard to any supposed deities -- those who cling to those deities will condemn the atheist as a heretic and sinner -- however this condemnation has no sway on the atheist due to the nature of his non-belief.

[ALAMGIR]

Well put. Perhaps the best concise interpretation of what amorality I've seen.