LEGASI.tv: Robert Greene

Showing posts with label Robert Greene. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2020

The 48 Laws of Power (1998) by Robert Greene, Book Review

The 48 Laws of Power (1998) by Robert Greene

Robert Greene is a genius. He wrote books on strategy, seduction, human nature, and power. I have read The 50^Th Law (co-author with Curtin Jackson a.k.a. 50 Cent), halfway through The Laws of Human Nature, listened to a dozen of his interviews, and just finished this book. What can I say? If you want to observe power, to gain power, and to arm yourself against power, this book is a great resource. Unfortunately, too, if you’re crazy for power as a dictator, you will get it if you apply (most of) these laws. These laws are amoral, meaning, they don’t concern either you will use it for good or evil. Greene said in an interview with The Guardian, “I believe I described a reality that no other book tried to describe. I went to an extreme for literary purposes because I felt all the self-help books out there were so gooey and Pollyanna-ish and nauseating. It was making me angry." Some people like Will Smith and Jay-Z love this book and some consider it as a 'psychopath's bible.’ In Utah State Prison, two of Greene’s books The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction are banned. The reason? The authority says, “They’re all about manipulation.” Also, cunning and ruthless.

I say, this book is DANGEROUS – and dangerous doesn’t mean it's all bad. First, the laws are generally true (I think instead of calling these ‘laws’, ‘rules’ are better). For example, Law #1 Never Outshine the Master, Law #3 Conceal Your Intentions, and Law #20 Do Not Commit to Anyone. To some extent, in the beginning, these laws are true but unsustainable in the long run. Secondly, the laws are thought to be ‘realistic.’ “I’m not evil – I’m a realist,” explained Greene. My problem with this is that it is very subjective. For example, Law #2 Never Put Too Much Truth In Friends. Use Your Enemies, it not realistic at all. In the war, perhaps; in the movies, maybe; in my workplace, nonsense. Thirdly, most of the laws are opposite of my Christian values. This is a matter of faith, so if you’re not a Christian, ignore this one. Law #14 Pose As A Friend Work As A Spy, Law #15 Crush Your Enemy Totally, and Law #32 Play to People’s Fantasies, for example, are very intentionally divisive, deceiving and manipulative. Fourthly, (this is the good part) I use the laws to identify how people might use the laws against me, as protection. In a sense, if I use it as identifiers, then, I also acknowledge that some of these laws are realistic, right? So, you see, it is a DANGEROUS book. Partly true, partly realistic, partly evil 💪👌👐 #ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeader #RobertGreene #TheLawsOfPower

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Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Who Are Your Role Models?

Role models are important. They help us become the person we want to be and inspire us to make a difference. Either by choice or by default, we all have role models - and we WILL imitate or emulate whom we admire

One of my girl friends admires BTS (K-pop group) because she said they are talented and hardworking guys. Obviously, she chooses Team B and nothing is wrong with that. We all have the right to choose

What I'm trying to say is to CHOOSE WISELY. It means that you choose role model(s) that will be positively influenced and encouraged you to be the best person possible

#ServeToLead #ChooseRoleModelsWisely #GrowingLeader #YouBeWhoYouAdmire

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Saturday, May 16, 2020

#1Book1Week Lists March 2020

Someone said (I bet he or she is a reader), "So little time, so many books." I'm familiar with this frustration. There are two main reasons if I go to the mall: the cinema & bookstores. Whenever I'm surrounded by books, I instantly feel happy like I'm home with family and at the same time sad because I will never know all of them when I'm gone. This month (March 2020) is a rough and tough month so far but it gives us the opportunity to spend time with family and - self. Here is my list of reading this month:

1) The Power of Positive Thinking (first published in 1952) by Norman Vincent Peale. This is a classic self-help book on why positive thinking is important with practical instructions on how to have an optimistic attitude. This is my second time reading it. My favorite quote is: "What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you can achieve" [P.s: I aim to be an optimistic-realist rather than just positive thinker].

2) Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (2015) by Yuval Noah Harari. If you haven't read the first book, Sapiens (2011), read that one first, then read this. Here Harari looks to the future and explores how global power might shift, as the principal force of evolution – natural selection – is replaced by intelligent design and our quest to upgrade ourselves into gods (Homo-Deus = human-god). This book is both scary and hopeful. What makes it a good read is because it makes me think rather than only inform since I don't necessarily agree with his worldviews. Harari is a gifted thinker.

3) The 50th Law (2009) by Robert Greene & Curtis Jackson a.k.a. rapper 50 Cent. This is a very powerful book - partly 50's memoirs, partly Robert's Laws of Power - on success in life and inspired living by one simple principle: fear nothing or fearlessness. Someone said that this is 'The Art of War' for 'The Hip Hop Generation' but I said this is 'The Gangster Book' on personal development straight from the hood! I will read this book again, for sure.

4) Fakebook: A True Story. Based on Actual Lies (2013) by Dave Cicirelli. What can I say? I really enjoy this book so much that I texted Dave through Messenger to let him know that (he texted me back). His curiosity leads him to do a social experiment where he announced on FB that he was quitting his job (lie) and heading west (lie) for an adventure. But the truth is, he wasn't going anywhere (true) and most people believed him! (true). The big question in this book is: Who is the real 'you' and what is the story you tell others?

5) The Bible: The Book of Numbers & The Book of Deuteronomy. This is part of my discipline to read the entire Bible chronologically in 1 year. You must know the past to live in the present. Soli Deo Gloria.

What book(s) have you read this month? Share with me in the comment section