The 48 laws of power

Published April 4, 1998 by Penguin.

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4 stars (1 review)

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.

8 editions

Deep, rich, historical.

4 stars

Reportedly banned in some schools and prisons, so it goes.

This book has a chapter for each of the rules. Most of the rules you've likely heard before. Each presents with historical references to ancient Asian or European stories about then famous or important people and how they used or abused each rule. The author adds his interpretations and thoughts on each.

It's a pretty deep read, and has a ton of historical references to second/third level of people then.