All Robert Greene Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)

Robert Greene Books Cover

Most people think of Robert Greene as some sort of modern-day Machiavelli, an evil prince sitting in his castle, laughing maniacally as he sells more and more books to people telling them how they can take advantage of others. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Greene is a zen practitioner. Watch one interview with him, and you’ll see he’s actually a calm, reserved, all-around nice guy who just happens to love history and research. If you’re looking for the results of that work, a full list of Robert Greene books, this is the right place!

Greene was born in LA in 1959 and, after attaining a BA in classical studies, held over 60 different jobs (!) before becoming an author, including being a translator, editor, construction worker, and Hollywood screenwriter. In 1995, he pitched a book packager an idea about power while working at an art school in Italy, and that idea eventually became The 48 Laws of Power, his breakout success.

Greene’s books deal with topics like power, strategy, psychology, business, seduction, and relationships. Generally, they’re all about how to understand and work with the human mind, whether it’s our own or that of others. They have sold millions of copies and are often quoted by celebrities, especially musicians and rappers, like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, or even Michael Jackson. 

So far, we’ve summarized 4 of Greene’s 7 books as part of our 1,000+ summary catalog here on Four Minute Books, and today, we’ll compile them all for you in order of both publication and popularity. We’ve even included a section recommending in which order you should read Robert Greene’s books.

You can easily navigate this list by clicking on whichever section interests you the most in the below table of contents. For each book, we’ll share an image of the cover, a 1-sentence-summary, and our favorite quote. We’ll also highlight the most important takeaways and why you might want to read the book yourself.

If you want to dive deeper into any book, click the “Learn More” or “Read on Four Minute Books” button or use one of our Amazon affiliate links to buy a copy. Alright, let’s get into the full catalog of Robert Greene books!


All Robert Greene Books (in Chronological Order)

1. The 48 Laws of Power (1998)

Robert Greene Books #1 : The 48 Laws of Power (1998)

Favorite Quote

“Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The 48 Laws of Power draws on many of history’s most famous power quarrels to show you what power looks like, how you can get it, what to do to defend yourself against the power of others, and, most importantly, how to use it well and keep it.

Why should you read it?

Co-authored with book packager Joost Elffers, this is Greene’s seminal work. Each law comes with a chapter and a story, many including famous people from history, thus really making the laws come to life. If you struggle with navigating society, if you get rejected a lot and feel like doors keep closing in your face, read this book. It will help you better understand humans. It will also show you how to get things done by getting others to cooperate with you. Literally an empowering book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Always make superiors look smarter than you.
  2. Confuse competitors by acting unpredictably.
  3. Don’t force others to do what you want, seduce them instead.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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2. The Art of Seduction (2001)

Robert Greene Books #2: The Art of Seduction(2001)

Favorite Quote

“When our emotions are engaged, we often have trouble seeing things as they are.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The Art of Seduction is a template for persuading anyone, whether it’s a business contact, a political adversary, or a romantic partner, to act in your best interest.

Why should you read it?

This isn’t just a book for bros looking for dating advice. It’s a compelling manual on getting others to see eye-to-eye with you. If you’re fighting for a good cause, why wouldn’t you try to convince as many other people as you can to join in? Thanks to the nine patterns and character types Greene outlines, this book will also make it easier for you to identify how you best convince others. If you’ve recently failed to get what you want in a big way, try reading this book as a first step to learning from that failure.

Key Takeaways

  1. The most important trait all seducers share is that they constantly surprise us.
  2. Seductive characters fall into nine categories, depending on which seduction technique they primarily use.
  3. There are nine anti-seductive behaviors you should become aware of and try to avoid.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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3. The 33 Strategies of War (2006)

Robert Greene Books #3: The 33 Strategies of War (2006)

Favorite Quote

“Grand strategy is the art of looking beyond the present battle and calculating ahead. Focus on your ultimate goal and plot to reach it.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The 33 Strategies of War outlines principles and tactics one can use in life, business, and, yes, actual war, to overcome their enemies and achieve their goals.

Why should you read it?

If your job, hobby, or some other aspect of your life feels like a struggle, this book might help. In 33 strategies across five sections, from self-directed to organizational, defensive, offensive, and unconventional warfare, you’ll learn from countless historic examples what to do in which situation. The book deals both with inner and outer enemies, so it is valuable both as a self-help manual as well as a tool to better navigate society and its many demands.

Key Takeaways

  1. Clearly identify your opponent, even if it’s just an inner one, so you can declare war on them.
  2. Never lose your presence of mind, no matter how tumultuous events become.
  3. Pick your battles so you can manage your resources well.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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4. The 50th Law (2009)

Robert Greene Books #4: The 50th Law (2009)

Favorite Quote

“Your fears are a kind of prison that confines you within a limited range of action. The less you fear, the more power you will have and the more fully you will live.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The 50th Law is a semi-autobiographical book tracing 50 Cent’s early days as a hustler and musician through ten factors of fearlessness, supplementing each of 50 Cent’s guidelines with lessons, anecdotes, and examples from historical figures like Sun Tzu, Abraham Lincoln, James Baldwin, and many others.

Why should you read it?

Co-authored with Curtis Jackson aka rapper 50 Cent, this book will inspire you to break the mold and chart your own path in life by recounting 50 Cent’s story. In addition, it’ll teach you how to be fearless via ten factors 50 considered particularly important to his meteoric ascent to hip-hop fame. If you’re trying to do something big, especially in the arts, this book is for you.

Key Takeaways

  1. Always strive to maintain a sense of realism and see things for what they are.
  2. Stay connected to your environment and aim to know it well at all times.
  3. Honor the process — mastery takes time.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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5. Mastery (2012)

Robert Greene Books #5: Mastery (2012)

Favorite Quote

“Become who you are by learning who you are.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

Mastery debunks the myth of talent and shows you there are proven steps you can take to achieve mastery in a discipline of your own choosing, by analyzing the paths of some of history’s most famous masters, such as Einstein, Darwin, and Da Vinci.

Why should you read it?

This might be Greene’s best book. It uses the same kind of writing and research but takes a less power-focused approach. It’s not about people vs. people, it’s about becoming your best self. This book will help you find your calling, be brutally honest about what it’ll take to become a master, find the right mentors, and then embrace your originality until you succeed.

Key Takeaways

  1. Trust your gut to find the right discipline to master.
  2. Take an apprenticeship and get paid to learn.
  3. Once you complete your apprenticeship, challenge everything you have learned.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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6. The Laws of Human Nature (2018)

Robert Greene Books #6: The Laws of Human Nature (2018)

Favorite Quote

“Rationality is the ability to counteract emotional effects, to think instead of react. It does not come naturally; it is a power we must cultivate, but in doing so we realize our greatest potential.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The Laws of Human Nature helps you understand why people do what they do and how you can use both your own psychological flaws and those of others to your advantage at work, in relationships, and in life.

Why should you read it?

Rather than trying to achieve a particular outcome, like seducing others or accumulating power, this book is a culmination and curation of everything Greene has learned over more than 20 years of research into human behavior. In 18 laws, you’ll learn how to see behind the masks people wear, why opinions are so hard to let go of, what it takes to not sabotage your own efforts, and a lot more. A great, broad read and some of Greene’s finest work.

Key Takeaways

  1. It’s usually not other people that stop us from succeeding, but ourselves. To combat this, we must stay positive.
  2. Each of us has both a feminine and a masculine side, and we must accept both to be our best self.
  3. A cycle of four trends shapes human generations, and there’s a high chance yours is influenced by one as well.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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7. The Daily Laws (2021)

Robert Greene Books #7: The Daily Laws (2021)

Favorite Quote

“Embrace your strangeness. Identify what makes you different. Fuse those things together and become an anomaly.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The Daily Laws is a collection of 365 short laws grouped into 12 themes, serving as daily reminders for you to reconnect to reality, reverse bad behaviors, and seize your destiny.

Why should you read it?

If you want an easy entry into Greene’s work or simply struggle to read a lot on the regular, this is the perfect book for you. Each daily entry is short and takes no more than a minute or so to read. You’ll get to know yourself better while simultaneously improving how you relate to and work with others. If you like The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday, you’ll love this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Take time to study human nature to understand yourself and people fully.
  2. Know your task and purpose in life.
  3. The most dangerous thing in the modern world is people, not animals or some other natural phenomenon.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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Robert Greene Books by Popularity

Want to know which Robert Greene books are the most popular? Here’s a short reorder of the list based on the total number of Amazon ratings, ranked from most to least.

  1. The 48 Laws of Power (⭐️ 55,000+ Ratings ⭐️)
  2. The Laws of Human Nature (⭐️ 10,600+ Ratings ⭐️)
  3. The Art of Seduction (⭐️ 8,700+ Ratings ⭐️)
  4. Mastery (⭐️ 5,000+ Ratings ⭐️)
  5. The 50th Law (⭐️ 4,100+ Ratings ⭐️)
  6. The 33 Strategies of War (⭐️ 3,800+ Ratings ⭐️)
  7. The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy, and Human Nature (⭐️ 2,400+ Ratings ⭐️)

As you might expect, Greene’s first, smash-hit book, The 48 Laws of Power, remains his most popular. With over two million copies sold of that one alone, many others of his titles have also become New York Times and other bestsellers. Fun-fact: The book is also popular with prison inmates, so much so that some prisons in the US have actually banned it.


In What Order Should You Read Robert Greene’s Books?

Which of Robert Greene’s books should you read first? If you ask us, here’s the order in which reading his books makes the most logical sense based on their topics:

  1. The 48 Laws of Power: This book is a broad enough collection of life lessons to provide value in almost any context. It is also Greene’s seminal and most famous work, so if you only read one book of his, make it this one.
  2. The Laws of Human Nature: Published 20 years after his first, this book is an excellent compendium on everything Greene has learned in between the two. It is also generally applicable to human behavior on all levels, and with just 18 laws, it’s easy to keep an overview of. A great follow-up!
  3. Mastery: Going from Greene’s more externally focused laws of power, relationships, and society, this book will teach you how to consistently apply his lessons in your own life as you chart your own, unique path to mastery. It’s his best outside of the 48 laws, we think.
  4. The 50th Law: Once you have discipline, you’ll still need courage and confidence. That’s what this book will provide, along with an account of 50 Cent’s underdog-to-big-shot story. 
  5. The Art of Seduction: This and the next book are more like add-ons, diving deeper into certain aspects already covered in The 48 Laws of Power. This one will help you communicate your ideas and mission efficiently and get others to support you.
  6. The 33 Strategies of War: This one might help you knock out the competition, but it is also one of Greene’s most criticized works in terms of quality. Browse it, pick a few helpful tips, and then see if you want to read it in full.
  7. The Daily Laws: Depending on your approach, you might want to read this book either last or first. If you’ve read everything else from Greene and loved it, this book will be a great way to recap everything with short, daily reminders. If you haven’t read anything from Greene yet and find The 48 Laws of Power too unapproachable, this book might provide a better entry into his world, as it’s the most lightweight format he offers on his body of laws.

If you’re only interested in a specific topic or idea, you can start with whichever one of Greene’s books appeals to you the most. Whatever you choose, we’re confident you’ll learn something new and, when in doubt, start with his most popular work first!


Conclusion

Robert Greene is one of the most celebrated business and self-help authors in pop culture today. Full of examples from both history and the recent past, there’s always a new story to find in his work, and he’s a master of understanding power dynamics. We hope this list will help you pick a book and start decoding human behavior!


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Last Updated on December 14, 2022