The 48 Laws Of Power

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

How prevalent are power dynamics in social interaction? How does the interplay of power dynamics manifest across different social contexts? What ethical considerations may arise when utilizing power dynamics in these social contexts?

Teaching Suggestion: In The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene addresses power dynamics and how they can be used to aid in obtaining and maintaining power. Green has received criticism for his controversial approach to power dynamics; in their review, for example, Kirkus indicated “the book is simply nonsense”—unless designed as a satire. Students may find it helpful to speculate on the degree to which power dynamics impact different kinds of relationships (business, family, personal) before answering the questions in a reading journal or a small group. Information from these or similar resources can help students develop additional context on the topic.

• This 4-minute video describes the prevalence of power dynamics in social interaction with examples from daily life and media.
• This article explores power dynamics in the workplace, specifically citing the five “bases of power” used to influence individuals.

Short Activity

Create a T-chart to document your current beliefs regarding leadership and power dynamics. Label the left column “My Thoughts” and the right column “Greene’s Thoughts.” Use these guiding questions to analyze your current understanding of power. Draft your responses and ideas in the left column. Leave the right column blank to complete as you analyze Greene’s perspective on power.  

• How might individuals leverage power dynamics for their own benefit?
• In what way(s) does an understanding of power dynamics help individuals navigate complex social scenarios?
• What qualities are associated with leadership and power?
• In what scenarios might individuals be powerful in some instances and less powerful in others?
• What are the potential pitfalls of leadership and power?
• How might someone garner favor with authority figures?
• What is the role of deceit and manipulation in power structures?
• What ethical considerations should be taken into account when implementing power dynamics?
• How might positive qualities be weaponized to influence others?
• What is the responsible and irresponsible use of power?

Teaching Suggestion: The 48 Laws of Power is controversial in that the author promotes deception, manipulation, and other such tactics to explain power dynamics. With this short activity, students analyze and document their current understanding of power dynamics in order to later compare Greene’s depiction of these dynamics. Utilizing a comparison between personal beliefs and Greene’s beliefs may help students comprehend Greene’s points while deepening their own understanding of power.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Consider a time when you experienced a difficult power dynamic within a workplace setting or other social context. How did you respond to the difficult dynamic? What strategies did you use to cope with or confront the problem? What elements made the dynamic difficult to navigate?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it helpful to reflect on their own personal experiences with difficult leadership, coworkers, clients, customers, or others to prepare for reading Greene’s assessment of power dynamics within the book. Consider discussing (or for greater privacy, writing) about such experiences to draw a personal connection with the text.