A best selling self help book is Robert Greene’s, The 48 Laws of Power, published by Penguin (Business) in 2000. I found it a very complimentary addition to JP’s latest offering, 12 Rules for Life. The first paragraph in Greene’s book eerily describes something of JP himself. ‘The feeling of having no power over people and events is generally unbearable to us–when we feel helpless we feel miserable. No one wants less power; everyone wants more. In the world today, however, it is dangerous to seem too power hungry, to be overt with your power moves. We have to seem fair and decent. So we need to be subtle–congenial yet cunning, democratic yet devious.’ Greene goes on to describe how this game of constant duplicity found its origin in the dangerous world of the aristocratic court. Courtiers in order to be successful had to master the art of tactical thinking to gain their ends with the reigning monarch of the time. He quotes Niccolo Machiavelli, ‘Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.’ In other words in order to survive the good might adhere to Napoleons rule, ‘place your iron hand in a velvet glove’
JP read this book and took it to heart, and along with the good council of his publisher, a popular cultural juggernaut was born to a market demographic that needs unending stroking and is willing to pay for it. To illustrate I will juxtapose all of JP’s 12 rules with some of Greene’s 48 laws:
JP, Rule 1. Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
Greene, Law 48. Assume Formlessness. (by taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack)
JP, Rule 2. Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.
Greene, Law 38. Think As You Like But Behave Like Others (do not make others feel inferior or they will punish you)
JP, Rule 3. Make friends with people who want the best for you.
Greene, Law 14. Pose As A Friend, Work As A Spy. (manipulate people and use their trust for your own ends)
JP, Rule 4. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.
Greene, Law 20. Do not commit to anyone. (it is the fool who rushes to take sides)
JP, Rule 5. Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.
Greene, Law 40. Despise the free lunch. (beware free gifts and their obligations)
JP, Rule 6. Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.
Greene, Law 1. Never outshine the master. (has JP slipped here?)
JP, Rule 7. Pursue what is meaningful not what is expedient
Greene, Law 33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew. (everyone has an insecurity or need)
JP, Rule 8. Tell the truth–or, at lest, don’t lie
Greene, Law 21. Play A Sucker To Catch A Sucker–Seem Dumber Than Your Mark (part of the art of the ambush)
JP, Rule 9. Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t.
Greene, see Law 21 above.
JP, Rule 10. Be precise in your speech.
Greene, Law 43. Work On The Hearts And Minds Of Others. (a person who is seduced becomes your loyal pawn)
JP, Rule 11. Do not bother children when they are skateboarding.
Greene, Law 37. Create Compelling Spectacles. (dazzled by appearance the subject is blinded to your true intent)
JP, Rule 12. Pet the cat when you encounter one on the street.
Greene, Law 24. Play The Perfect Courtier. (learn and apply the laws of courteirship and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court)