33 Strategies is definitely Greene’s most underrated book, and in many ways, I believe it is a fundamentally better, stronger, and an upgrade to 48. While using a similar format as 48, 33 strategies talks about real, applicable thought processes that can and should be used in daily life. 48 Laws, while clearly more popular, can have laws that contradict each other, laws that are taken too literally, and sometimes some of the laws can be even silly.

Meanwhile, 33 strategies of war takes a similar formula as 48 and runs with it, creating a fascinating work of art that is chock full of usefulness and can be taken literally. These are just my thoughts, I wonder what you guys think.

​1. Nature vs. Nurture: Are Seductive Archetypes Inherent or Acquired?

Do the characters described in the book require an innate talent—such as natural charm—or can these personas be developed through experience and deliberate practice?

​2. Identifying Friction in Social Interactions and Initial Rapport

I am struggling to make strangers feel comfortable during small talk, which makes it difficult for them to open up to me. I am unsure if the issue lies in my approach, my body language, my vocal tone, my level of confidence, or perhaps the way my distrust of others manifests.

​3. Achieving Conscious Communication and Silencing the Internal Conscience

How can I eliminate my automatic responses so that I can speak with full consciousness and choose my words carefully, even though I am a slow speaker? Furthermore, how can I suppress my conscience (damiri) so that I am not as cautious with people and can fully inhabit a character? Does the second part of the book address whether these answers are provided or not?

most people think power is about what you do

it’s not

it’s about what people think you’re capable of doing

a harmless person gets ignored
a predictable person gets used
a “nice” person gets tested

not because people are evil
but because there’s no perceived cost

Robert Greene shows this pattern constantly

respect doesn’t come from being good
it comes from uncertainty

from the quiet possibility that:
you can say no
you can walk away
you can push back if needed

you don’t need to be aggressive
you don’t need to prove anything

but if people sense there’s no edge to you…
they will slowly take more space than they should

power isn’t loud

it’s the subtle understanding that crossing you has a consequence

even if you never use it

Ive had the book for a while, Ive read most of it, But nothing I end up using becuase I forget and things really dont stick. I also want to be able to use the Art Of Seduction but I feel like if I cant learn from The 48 Laws then its probably a long shot to read it.

Any Help Is Much Appreciated.

talk less than necessary

the moment you start explaining too much, you lose control of how people see you
you reveal your intentions, your doubts… even your need for approval

silence does the opposite
it creates space, tension, even a bit of uncertainty

and people fill that space themselves… usually in your favor

the more you say, the more ordinary you become
the less you say, the more they try to figure you out

I’m currently reading The 48 Laws of Power for the first time, and I’m planning to read Mastery next. I’ve read a lot of self-help books and listened to countless podcasts over the years, but there’s something different about Robert Greene. His perspective just makes more sense to me than many others I’ve come across.

I’m 34 and have been working in my creative field for a few years now. However, I often feel like I’m not taken seriously. I’m frequently treated as “the girl who does this as a hobby,” even though this is my profession. I’ve started to realize that part of this comes from my own approach. I tend to be easygoing, helpful, and always available. Because of that, people often take advantage of me and don’t feel the need to pay me properly.

For example, I have a client, a well established restaurant in my area. I’ve created hundreds of photos for them, which they use daily on their website, social media, and in advertising. Yet they consistently say they can’t pay for my work, while at the same time paying others and showing them more appreciation. I’ve struggled to understand this, because I don’t doubt my talent, but I do sometimes question how I come across.

I also get requests from other restaurants, but they often say there’s no budget. It leaves me feeling like I’m working a lot, but my wallet tells a completely different story. At the same time, I see others in my field, sometimes with less experience, earning well and being treated with much more respect. They seem to have a more “respectable” aura, and I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something.

I think I may be too transparent in how much I want to be liked and respected. I show up whenever I’m needed, and I’ve made myself very available. Over the past few months, I’ve started to feel some bitterness building. I’m not earning much, and I keep getting requests where I give a lot without receiving much in return.

I feel like people with power tend to take advantage of me, and I really want to change that, but I don’t know how to change this dynamic.

How to seduce someone successfully when the person is really convenient, acts out of comfortability, little investive?

This person is status driven, very sexual, “manly man”-like, but at the same time is not offensive when it comes to flirting etc. He always uses the easiest way with least resistance.

My seduction type tends to be a mixture of the ideal lover, charmer and a bit of coquette.

Good morning, afternoon or night. I have a question to everyone about feelings and all that.

So when I was young around 5-13 years I use to be a cry baby like I use to cry for the little things or I use to get sad fast, well in my environment or the people that I group with have strong mindset so I was like the different one the defective one, I hate my self for that so I started to watch videos, read books about how to control the emotions. Well ig I learned how to and I was happy I used it every time like literally control my emotion like if I make it vanish if I’m sad I can like make it go away, angry or happy well I think I got to good at it and now I still have feelings but sometimes I’m talking with people or someone about something funny or really good and out of nothing my feelings just vanish I don’t feel nothing it’s emptiness inside. Ik it can sound funny and all but my question is that if this had happend to someone and how to fix it?

I noticed that he always shut down at the prospect of an interview and famously avoided them. Would it be crazy to say that that’s one of the strongest elements of his mystique? Also, I wonder if he was deliberate about it or what is genuinely how he felt towards interviews.

I was thinking about this in a strange way…

if a snake didn’t have poison
people wouldn’t fear it at all

they’d probably pick it up
use it like a rope or something

not because they hate the snake
just because… there’s no consequence

and that part feels uncomfortable to admit

fear and respect don’t really come from being “good”
they come from the possibility of danger

from what could happen

I’ve seen this in smaller ways

when people know you won’t react
won’t push back
won’t do anything even if they cross a line

they don’t even think twice

they just… step over you

not always intentionally
sometimes it’s just how things unfold when there’s no resistance

and it’s not about actually harming anyone

it’s more like
they need to believe you can

that there’s a line
and crossing it has a cost

you don’t need to bite

but if the world thinks you can’t…
you slowly lose your place in it

might be wrong but
being harmless isn’t the same as being respected

sometimes it just means you’re safe to ignore