As for The 48 Laws of Power, it was a big deal a few years back. It’s one of those guidebooks on how you can manipulate other people. The problem is the tricks are pretty obvious. Most people with any intelligence are going to spot what you’re trying to do. So the 49th Law of Power is “Don’t Aim Too High. Settle for the company of people who are easily impressed.”
Well, especially obvious if you’re doing the things because you had to read them in a book before you had the idea of doing the things.
The activities described in this list work best for people to whom they already come as natural instinct (that is, sociopaths).
The thing is that books like these are basically telling you how to fake it in situations. If the people who are reading these books had genuine superior abilities, they wouldn’t be trying to fake superior abilities. Now with the help of these books, you might learn some tricks that will fool people who don’t know any better. But you’re not going to fool people with those genuine abilities. They actually know how to do the things that you’re trying to fake knowing how to do.
My favorite law of power?
Power = Voltage*Current
(really appreciated when you are out of electricity for two months…)
My favorite is “Never cheat a Klingon unless you are really sure you can get away with it”.
Wait – that’s the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. Same difference really. 
But only slightly less well known is this: 'Never go in against a Sicilian when DEATH is on the line! HA! HAHAHA!! HAHAHA! ugh
They forgot “never hit your mother with a great big stick (it’ll make a bad impression on her mind).”
I like Law #6: Create an air of mystery.
I have only slightly more ability to create an air of mystery about myself than, say, one of the Three Stooges. You’ve got to recognize your limitations, and that’s damn sure one of mine. 
I tried creating an air of mystery about myself once, but I ended up just passing gas.
Anybody who lives by that is nobody I will associate with.
I like 15. I think it’s right.
Seriously though, here are my thoughts on at lest some of these laws:
LAW 1
NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER
Is it The Laws of Power or The Laws of Being a Sycophant? If you outshine the master, why aren’t you either a) the Master or b) looking for a new Master?
Or to paraphrase a quote I once heard, you don’t become a millionaire working for a boss who makes six figures.
LAW 2
NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN
HOW TO USE ENEMIES
Find better friends.
LAW 3
CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS
Or maybe don’t intend things you feel you need to conceal?
LAW 4
ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY
Shut the fuck up is always good advice.
LAW 5
SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION -
GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE
And hire a good PR firm.
LAW 6
CREATE AN AIR OF MYSTERY
Just like President David Blaine.
LAW 7
GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT
Which explains the vast power of every inept middle manager.
LAW 8
MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU - USE BAIT IF NECESSARY
Worked for Chris Hansen.
LAW 9
WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT
This is good. Except it requires “winning”.
LAW 10
INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY
I agree with this.
LAW 11
LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU
I think a better way of stating this is to make sure you actually add value without being taken advantage of.
LAW 12
USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR VICTIM
Nothing more honest and generous than that!
LAW 13
WHEN ASKING FOR HELP, APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S SELF-INTEREST, NEVER TO THEIR MERCY OR GRATITUDE
Not my circus. Not my monkey.
LAW 14
POSE AS A FRIEND, WORK AS A SPY
Look, even 007 has Felix Leiter. Jason Borne had Nicky Parsons (who I guess was his ex-girlfriend/intern?) Jack Bauer has Chloe. Ethan Hunt has Luther Stickell.
Maybe better advice is find a best friend who IS a spy?
LAW 15
CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY
Drive them before you. Hear the lamentations of the women.
LAW 16
USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR
Well…that would actually explain my seniority at work.
LAW 17
KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENSE: CULTIVATE AN AIR OF UNPREDICTABILITY
Wait for it…
LAW 18
DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF - ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS
Powerful people get others to build their fortresses for them.
LAW 19
KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH - DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON
Always wise.
LAW 20
DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE
Is this 48 Laws of Power or 48 Laws of Being a Single Guy Living In Manhattan?
LAW 21
PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER - SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK
I don’t understand.
LAW 22
USE THE SURRENDER TACTIC: TRANSFORM WEAKNESS INTO POWER
Easier to transform power into power.
LAW 23
CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES
If you have “forces” you don’t need a stupid list
LAW 24
PLAY THE PERFECT COURTIER
Nothing more powerful than being the guy who follows The Guy around like his bitch.
LAW 25
RE-CREATE YOURSELF
Yes…as someone more powerful than the dork you are.
LAW 26
KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN
You’re enemies will appreciate it while you are crushing them.
LAW 27
PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULTLIKE FOLLOWING
Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe.
LAW 28
ENTER ACTION WITH BOLDNESS
This is the sort of thing to do after you already have power.
LAW 29
PLAN ALL THE WAY TO THE END
Which, if you follow most of this advice, should be along shortly.
LAW 30
MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEEM EFFORTLESS
What do you mean “seem”?
LAW 31
CONTROL THE OPTIONS: GET OTHERS TO PLAY WITH THE CARDS YOU DEAL
Again…it requires power in the first place if you want to be dealer.
LAW 32
PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES
Someone did…48 times
LAW 33
DISCOVER EACH MAN’S THUMBSCREW
Just make sure you’re man enough to turn those screws.
LAW 34
BE ROYAL IN YOUR OWN FASHION: ACT LIKE A KING TO BE TREATED LIKE ONE
Because everyone loves that!
LAW 35
MASTER THE ART OF TIMING
LAW 36
DISDAIN THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE BEST REVENGE
That’s stupid.
Timing is everything!
LAW 37
CREATE COMPELLING SPECTACLES
LAW 38
THINK AS YOU LIKE BUT BEHAVE LIKE OTHERS
Power is the ability to behave as you like.
LAW 39
STIR UP WATERS TO CATCH FISH
Too hard to get the smell out.
LAW 40
DESPISE THE FREE LUNCH
I mean…I already had the fish.
LAW 41
AVOID STEPPING INTO A GREAT MAN’S SHOES
Those are the only shoes I own.
LAW 42
STRIKE THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER
True power is striking the sheep so hard the shepherd scatters.
LAW 43
WORK ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS
…especially with those rusty tools from the shed.
LAW 44
DISARM AND INFURIATE WITH THE MIRROR EFFECT
Like this?
DIƧ∀ʁW ∀ИD IИԷꓵʁI∀ꓕE MIꓕH ꓕHE WIʁʁOʁ EԷԷECꓕ
LAW 45
PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER REFORM TOO MUCH AT ONCE
Then what’s the point in having power?
LAW 46
NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT
This one is nearly impossible.
LAW 47
DO NOT GO PAST THE MARK YOU AIMED FOR;
IN VICTORY, LEARN WHEN TO STOP
At total victory!
LAW 48
ASSUME FORMLESSNESS
Bravo,** msmith537**, bravo.
mssmith537, I LOLed at your response to Law 35!
Hi DkTrdGuy! I see you’ve posted just once to this thread, so I fear you will never read my opinion. My opinion is that any book that results in the above decision is obviously flawed to say the least. Live it up a little. Don’t let that book’s lessons scare you. Maybe buy a round if you’re feeling timid or nervous.
I thought there was NOOOOOOOOO rule (er, I mean law) 6.
Actually I’m pretty sure it’s The 49 Laws of Power, the last one being:
ALWAYS CAPITULATE, GROVELLINGLY, WITH THE “LY” ADVERBS.
In San Marino however, this law is interchanged (only during Feast of Immaculate Conception) with:
NEVER WEDGIE YOUR BOSS.
I like yours a lot better.
msmith537,
I like your style. What field are you in? Maybe we could network!