Power! How to Get It, How to Use It

by Michael Korda

Michael Korda, celebrated author, editor and expert on power politics, gives the bottom line on how to get a bigger raise, better job and total control over everyone around you. From the placement of furniture to the placement of your feet, Korda details the strategies and time-saving tips that will land you in the executive boardroom of power.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

is an English-born writer and novelist who was editor-in-Chief of Simon & Schuster in New York City.

Reviews

[Margot Note]

I love 70s era business books!

"The essence of power is the ability to cope with the demands of life, not to react like a paranoid at every real or imagined threat, or waste one's life and energy trying to submit everything to one's own control. The world is a disorderly and dangerous place, and always has been, and the man of power must learn to live in it comfortably" (66).

"The smaller the sum of money, the more personal it is going to appear, which explains why most executives are reluctant to undertake such tasks, and why the best way to get a big raise is to already be making a lot of money" (126).

"The more you try to prove how much you're needed, the more you are likely to attract the attention of people who wonder whether your job is necessary in the first place" (156).

"Unfortunately for Jane, playing the games is as important as doing the work. Men are trained to know this; they learn it in team sports, in the Amry, at school. It's part of their make-up, a sense of power is natural to them if they have any intelligence and ambition. Some of them make the mistake of assuming that power is enough, that you don't need to work at all, but most of them learn, somewhere along the way, to live with power. And since they think of power as a male prerogative, their fiercest games are fought with women" (261).

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Either this book is seriously dated (my copy says 1975 on the copyright date) or I just haven't risen to the importance necessary to employ the tactics described in this book. Some of it, like when he says 'people you know are more fun to control than people you don't', made me feel downright greasy. If crap like that is what it takes to get ahead at high levels of power, I'll consider myself blessed just to be a peon.

There are some bits of wisdom and humorous anecdotes on human behavior. If you choose to read this book, do it so you can recognize when some tool tries to play games and subconsciously exert their power on you.

[Geoff Canyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people criticize the book because they think it advocates the techniques it describes. Maybe it does, but the fact is that the techniques are used (some more, some less, obviously) and knowing them helps you understand what's going on and defend yourself.

As one example, I once had a conversation where I noticed that the other person was rotating into my space, exactly as described in the book. I stood my ground until we were shoulder to shoulder, and he kept rocking back and forth, unable to rotate further into my space but not understanding why he was uncomfortable. It was fun!

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very reluctant to read this, but soon realized it has some helpful tips. Although an older book, therefore outdated information, some things just never change. I disagree with quite a bit of things, they seem to be written in a male chauvinist point of view. What I did find helpful, a lot of the information he gives to gain power, I've experienced it being used on me. Now I can know ahead of time and avoid it.

[Unknown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was written 49 years ago so you may feel it is outdated but the principles aren't, this book opened my eyes on coaporation vs interpersonal competition within a workplace, you get to see how silly people act because of their ego, is this what we became in an oriented achievement society! Setting where the sun is behind you to make the other one uncomfortable... inviting people for a meeting only to make them bring their own chairs, the Hallmark of power is Constipation due to the daily empty stressful fights for more, I closed my eyes and visualize myself chasing power (by the author definition) through the means described in the book, I felt like shit, I have a vivid imagination. Anyway I have met some individual who were so obsessed about tiny silly tactics like the ones mentioned in the book but most of them are still struggling to make a dent, I don't like JOBS not because the acronym "just over broke" but because of my previous experiences, I think nowadays surely we will meet numerous covert aggression personalities with an extreme determination of winning within any given organization.

[Izzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I ended up with this book through a relative of a friend, and was working on an essay about power dynamics so I thought it might be worth perusing, knowing I probably wouldn't agree with it much. I did end up quitting after drudging through the chapter about how important it is to get a corner office because of its physical spot in the workplace. The best description that I can possibly give of this book is that it's exactly the type of book--maybe even the EXACT book--that American Psycho satirizes. In fact, save yourself and read that book instead.

[Niutf Jouyg · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much unnecessary and dry content . much fluff on why power is needed for you. we get it . That is why we are reading the book. Useful stuff begins the author talks about powerful behavior. If 48 laws is strategy for power ,this book is for day to day activities which helps /inhibits you getting power mainly in your workplace. for ex: where to sit, how to carry yourself and so on. Apart from dry stuff ,great book

[Michael David · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were quite a few obsolescent details in this book, but it's an insightful book as regards the nature of power. Although the book is more insensitive and chauvinistic (which was the zeitgeist then), it's still a good read.

[Kealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncannily accurate as regards to "office politics."

[Rashid Rasouli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerrrrr ??
That's a fascinating word ... . But !
We should be carful to not being wolf , if { When we take action with wolves }.
End ;-)

[Franklyn Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Different perspectives of power being used and angles but the content did capture my attention as much.

[Stephen- Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book came out it was a "game changer"! Michael Korda comes from a renound entertainment family and if you are interested in understanding the inner workings of "the hustle", you need to start with this book. It will prepare you both in thinking and positioning for what you will need to do next ! A Good Read !

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've just revisited this book after reading it back in the Seventies as a teenager. I would say it's a lot more relevant to me now than it was then, but I still don't think I'm going to be God or anything. But I liked it,and I will keep this book and revisit it again, in a year or so.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some good stuff in here that's still applicable and there's some really dated stuff that'll make you laugh, well, not all of it. The chapter on Women and Power is pretty appalling though it does serve as a good reminder of where women in the workforce have come since the mid-1970s.

[Alberto Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how things have changed. During the fast and furious 80's much was allowed that would make today's readers run to their 'safe-space'. Once again, the power guru wrote a book worthy of strong recommendation by my dad. He thought I needed to be much more aggressive in style. I now agree.

[Shafik Keshavjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives you ideas on how to be perceived as powerful and therefore someone whose advise etc is sought. Can attribute making $10 000 from advice directly learnt from one of the chapters!

[Dennis Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting approach to the sociology of power symbols and relationships in corporate settings of the late twentieth century.

[Whoisabishag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taha ... This book. Finding Power Spots, Information is the lifeblood of companies, ...

[Bojan Avramovic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Potpuni promasaj. Iskrivljena perspektiva pogleda na MOC