– Lately, I’ve been deep into the pages of “The 48 Laws of Power” and “The Art of Seduction,” drawn into their captivating narratives.
-They offer such intriguing insights into the dynamics of influence and persuasion.
– However, the other day, I overheard a conversation where someone mentioned these books in a somewhat negative way.
-They hinted that these reads might be a bit on the “shady” side, implying that they are the kind you might want to keep under wraps away from eyes in public.
– Is there a stigma attached to exploring these themes, or is it all just a matter of personal interpretation?
– I like these books, I like the way they’re structured and I like the stories.
– Maybe because I’m young I just don’t see the need for the hate but I find myself drawn to controversial books anyway – without even wanting to
by LuminousZenith
28 Comments
No.
The mere act of reading a book is not evil.
No, the mere act of picking up and reading nothing more than a book does not bizarrely transmogrify your morals or alignment.
Being afraid of books is asinine. It’s like hiding from people by covering your own eyes. If you actually tried to apply 48 Laws of Power in your office work place you’d probably get fired for “totally crushing” a coworker and I think most people understand that.
I can understand banning the book in prisons because people in prisons generally aren’t known for their ability to think out long term consequences and advice like “keep people dependent on you” might mean something different to someone who used to sell meth. But reading the book? No, there’s nothing inherently wrong with NOT burying your head in the sand. You should only be afraid of books if you ARE asinine.
I’ve read/listened to both of these books, and they are fascinating, and full of historical anecdotes. I’ve heard the same, that they are “bad”, but I cannot understand how reading them is “bad.” If you use what you learn in these books to do harm in some way, then that would be immoral. If you use what you learn to understand the human condition or to help protect yourself from people who may intend harm to you or yours, that seems to me to be objectively a good thing. As with almost everything in life, it comes down to intentions and motivations. Just my thoughts.
Do not let people make you feel immoral or evil for something you enjoy. As long as you aren’t committing a crime or harming someone you are doing nothing wrong.
A better question would be, why are people making you feel guilty about reading books? What do they want from you and why are they pushing their beliefs on you?
I think people use Mein Kampf as an example. If you read it because you think Hitler, the Final Solution, and all of the atrocities Nazis committed are cool, then you were already evil and reading the book is likely to make you more evil.
But if you are reading it for general education, for background on how twisted Hitler was, or because you are specializing in a field that makes it important to read Mein Kampf, then it is unlikely to cause you to become or start worshiping a fascist leader.
There is a stigma attached to these books, especially 48 laws of power. It is one of the most popular books to read in prison, and is often banned, as it is seen as a guide to manipulation tactics.
Imagine you were reading a book “How to get away with stealing” or something. They might wonder, ‘why are you reading that?’
Similar with a book whose basic purpose is a guide to manipulation and social climbing. Also think psychologically: why would other people in the same hierarchy as you want you to gain skills and knowledge that leads to your social advancement?
Remember, conceal your intentions and protect your reputation. Don’t reveal more to others than is necessary.
lol they are for losers. Read a book on bonsai and you will learn more
There is a stigma attached to the books but it’s more about what people choose to do with the information in the book. In general it’s not immoral or evil to read any book. It’s more about your motives and what you choose to do with the information.
How to Win Friends and Influence People won’t get you the same strong negative reaction. Never Split the Difference by FBI negotiator Chris Vos is another good one for people who want to learn how to persuade.
Reading a book is not evil, but someone who spots you reading the two you are reading might assume you are a sociopath.
Read whatever you want to. Read all the controversial and banned books. But do so with intelligence and skepticism. Question what you read and don’t take it as the truth.
I’d recommend reading it especially if you are like me and a lot of social skills don’t seem to come naturally… you’ll learn to spot people who are potentially being manipulative
I have not read those particular books although I’ve read some in a similar genre (self help books for dating that I found to be somewhat misogynistic and that I thought had advice that could result in mistreatment of prospective dates if followed).
But as a generalization, I don’t think merely reading any book can be immoral on its own. If you act on ideas contained within a book in a way that harms or manipulates or mistreats someone, that might be evil.
That said, if people have already signaled to you that there is something shady about those books, I’d be extra careful to think critically about what you are reading. You don’t want the books’ background assumptions about the world to be assimilated into your own worldview without critically examining them first.
It’s never immoral to read things. You should especially read things you disagree with. Many people fall into the trap of only exposing themselves that don’t make them uncomfortable, that was they never have to question their own beliefs.
Reading the Bible doesn’t make you a Christian.
Most Christians don’t even read the Bible.
I’ve read both of those books. Not because I want to apply those tactics but to be aware of them if someone tries to use them against me. Especially “The 48 laws of power”.
Reading is not immoral or evil and the fact this question has even been asked is kind of sad.
Reading books is not evil or immoral.
It’s especially important to read works contrarian to societal norms. Knowledge is power. You can’t just read what’s easy and trendy and expect to actually have a comprehensive and intelligent education.
Certain groups (on both sides of the politics spectrum) in modern western society try to censor everything that isn’t perfectly aligned with their views. And they judge classics through the lense of the present.
Ignore the ignorant.
Books are not immoral/evil.
People are.
Read them to protect yourself against the people who would use them on you.
Read the criticism of the books, then read the books. Doing it in that order keeps you alert to potentially off elements that you might otherwise overlook/ignore.
If you’ve already read the books, read the criticism.
In all cases, think about who is saying what, think about what their motivations might be, and think of what you know about their worldviews.
If you find yourself thinking things like, “Sure, that Hitler guy was bad, but I sure do like his tips for categorizing people,” then take a step back.
There are some extremely ignorant people out there who judge a person based on the books they have read or own. Mr. Greene’s books are incredibly good reads; they are not “gospels”(figuratively speaking) on psychology or political science, but well-written books worthy of a shelf and a through study. People who think by not reading a book they protect themselves from knowledge are the types who would ban books or burn them. Sadly, such attitudes go back for centuries.
Reading these books are only going to make you a better player in the game of life so there’s nothing shady about them. You can’t escape the game of power no matter what you do so it’s much better to educate yourself in the game, rather than becoming a naive victim.
I’ve studied the 48 Laws of Power since 2013 and it has only helped me to achieve my goals in life and deal with people. Once you’ve read the book, there’s no turning back. That knowledge sticks with you forever when you finally realize the truth about the world and every day life.
I’ll say one thing though. I’m sick and tired of games and only care about playing my own game at the end of the day. It’s a hopeless mess that never ends and you’re screwed no matter what you do.
Much better to play your own game and protect your independence, self-reliance, freedom and power by any means necessary than to be involved in other people’s stupid games. Especially when you’re an introvert and Sigma male who see through all the BS anyway.
No it isn’t. Knowledge is never evil, even if it is knowledge of evil or the falsehoods of evil. Thought is never evil, only actions.
Yes. If you’re faking/manipulating, you can never fully be in the present moment. Reading these is evil in that it inspires doubt and manipulative behavior. One cannot be free if one is plotting and scheming (and therefore ever apart, ever secondary/reactive).
The issue is that these books and others like them tend to treat personal interactions as transactions.
They aren’t about “how to connect with people on a personal level and get to know each other as full humans each with our own inner lives and dreams” but more like “how to act so you can get what you want from the support characters that surround you never forget that everyone is out for themselves so make sure you get yours before you get got.”
I’m not going to get into which one is a “better” way to go but if I see you reading these and then you ask me how my day is going, I’m going to assume you don’t actually care but you just want something from me.
Nothing wrong with reading books, but might be an ethical issue if you are financially supporting a terrible person with your purchases.
I’ve only read “48”, and did it as part of my schooling for psychology.
I view it a lot like I view “The Four Agreements”. While they can both help people, they can also light a fire under some undesirable traits like narcissism and manipulative behavior.
I thought the way 48 is written feels more predisposed to be used as a guide for manipulating people than recognizing manipulative behavior, because it celebrates people who abuse power more than those who recognize ways to address those in power.
I didn’t feel an urge to read his seduction book, even as a joke, because it felt like an offshoot of 48 that wouldn’t add much other than putting the same thoughts in context to pulling wool to get laid.