The 17 Best Books On Power

Are you looking for the best books on power?

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At The Power Moves, we pioneered the power-centric approach to self-development.
We are the most visited website for mastering power, strategy, and practical empowerment.

This is the definitive reading list of the best books and resources to unlock power in all its forms, from boosting your “power intelligence” to commanding status and respect.

Note: This list only includes books on power that Lucio studied firsthand, so you get real expert insights, not rehashed lists.

17. The Prince

By N. Machiavelli
Summary

The Godfather of all power books.

It’s last in the order, but also commands the top position of this power-list.

Machiavelli was the first to write about realpolitik, and centuries later, it’s still an eye-opener for generations of (previously) naive folks.

Also read:

• The Dictator’s Handbook: for maintaining power as a despot, based on data and good analysis

Power Nugget: if you want to be good, learn how to be bad first

For many politicians and leaders, power is something to hold on to at any cost with a web of lies, manipulation, and if necessary, fear.

Quote: A good person is ruined among the great numbers who are not good

16. Corruptible

by Brian Klaas
Summary | Amazon

Is it true that power corrupts?

And that “absolutely power corrupts absolutely”?

In part, yes.

But it’s also that:

1. Power-hungry and dark triad personalities go after power
2. Naive and power-blind people don’t recognize bad leaders. Many are attracted to them and want them as leader (sheep be damned)
3. Systems matter to select applicants. And systems can either encourage or discourage poor applicants
4. Systems matter to encourage or discourage poor behaviors. So we can design better systems to serve the collective

Klaas digs deeper into each one of them in this fascinating book.
It’s an important read to understand power dynamics.

15. The Psychology of Social Status

by Joey T. Cheng and Jessica L. Tracy
Summary | Amazon

Ignore the fluff, and go for scientific evidence.

That’s often good advice, and the perfect intro for The Psychology of Power, which is an overview of the research literature on status.

Quote: human hierarchies are the product of our species’ evolved tendency to submit to those who wield force and intimidation, and to follow and learn from those who garner respect and admiration.

14. Social Dominance Theory

by Sidanius and Pratto
Summary | Amazon

Social Dominance bridges the gap between individual psychology and group-based power structures, with a particular focus on social class.

At the individual level, it introduces Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)—a person’s degree of support for group-based hierarchies and inequality.
At the societal level, it shows how dominant groups maintain control to monopolize resources and relegating other groups to subordinate positions.

If you want to better understand social power dynamics, including ethnic and gender-based competition,
this is one of the best starting points.

Power Nugget: Men coalesce with other men to keep women dependent and outgroup men subordinate.

Men’s sexual strategy is two-fold:

• Intersexual competition: keep women politically disempowered and economically dependent.
• Intrasexual competition: form male coalitions to monopolize access to high-value mates

These activities will result both in the oppression of women and in class stratification among men.

Quote: Social dominance theory presumes that, beneath major and sometimes profound differences between different human societies, there is also a grammar of social power shared by all societies.

13. No Logo

By N. Klein
Summary |Amazon

I still can’t fathom how underappreciated this pearl is.

Or, sometimes, how overhyped it’s been.

Actually, I know why: “No Logo” presented itself as the theoretical and intellectual foundation of the anti-globalization movement.

And of course, it’s been later usurped by the left and radical left as their own manifesto (I know that well as a protesting, “no global”, clueless teenager with a dyed faux-hawk who, of course, hadn’t even read the book).

However, let’s look at the ideas independently of politics.

And “No Logo” is the best book I have ever read to describe and explain the immense power and influence that brands and marketing exert on the psyches of easily impressionable minds.

Brands are the new myths.
And they become a conduit for self-actualization and to advertise one’s own personality to the world.
And who cares if they cost more?
People are very willing to shell out 10x the value of a product to express and defend “who they are” (see Family Guy brilliantly spoofing this phenomenon).

Later on, Simon Sinek writes something similar but more brand-friendly in his popular “Start With WHY“.

Power Nugget: turn your product into a personal statement, & people will overpay you to signal their virtue

The capitalistic ethos of “freedom of choice” masks the true and almost boundless manipulative power of the best brands.

No Logo not only helps you understand the power of marketing and brands but also frees you from their yoke.

12. Secrets of Power Negotiating

by R. Dawson
Summary | Kindle

The power dynamics at the negotiation table can make you rich.

Or poor.

And that’s why you better learn the power moves of the best negotiators.
Lest you are going to pay them to teach you in real time: with the money you leave on the table during the negotiation.

This is by far the best book on power negotiation techniques.
Also read:

• 20 Manipulative Negotiation Techniques

Power Nugget: beware of any negotiator who appeals to ethics. He’s most likely trying to manipulate you

Don’t negotiate anything worthwhile before learning the tricks of the trade (and the power dynamics of negotiations).

Quote: “If we can do that for you, what can you do for us”

11. 48 Laws of Power

by R. Greene
Summary | Amazon

Here’s a book that doesn’t need any intro.

This list of power principles requires some power-awareness.

Readers must be able to contextualize the laws within a deeper understanding of social dynamics and power dynamics.

Without a foundational understanding of social and power dynamics The 48 Laws of Power may even turn confusing and counterproductive.
I’ve seen that often with early coaching and forum users.

Here is an example of a question that I got asked more than once:

And here is an example of someone without basic social skills who’s probably behaving like an awkward weirdo (mis)applying the “laws” out of context:

That being said, for those who have sufficiently developed social and emotional intelligence, “The 48 Laws of Power” is great.

Power Nugget: Appeal to self-interest

Self-interest is the currency that makes the world go around

Appeal to self-interest is one of the most significant -and easily forgotten- laws (see freeloaders-approaches).

Quote: Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.

10. The Art of Worldly Wisdom

By Baltasar Gracian
Summary

300 maxims to maximize status, perceptions, and reputation.

One spot before The 48 Laws of Power because Greene took heavy inspiration from this classic on power and social strategies.

9. The Psychology of Leadership 

By A. Haslam
Summary | Amazon

Leadership is power.

And true power requires leadership and influence over others.

And “The Psychology of Leadership” is the best book on leadership, bar none.
All other leadership books look like children’s books in comparison.

However, similar to “I’m OK – You’re OK“, this is a heavy read.
So to apply this information, see:

• How to be a leader: distilling the best lessons for practical use cases

Power Nugget: Great Leaders Know Psychology -& Manipulation-

Persuasive leaders are not different or special like most people think.
But they are more power-aware and power-skilled than most.

Quote: Just as politics is too important to leave only to politicians, so too leadership is far too important a matter to be left only to leaders.

8. The APA Handbook Vol. 3

By Various Authors
Summary | Amazon

Crazy, I know, but:

There are no handbooks yet specifically on power.

The APA Handbook and Social Psychology Vol 3 – Interpersonal Relationships is the closest it gets.

Albeit technically about relationships, there are two whole chapters on power.
And they contain more research-based wisdom than any other book on this list :).

Quote: Handbooks don’t sell for two main reasons: they don’t pander to the fat middle of the IQ bell curve with watered-down pop psychology—and they don’t hand out catchy quotes..

7. The Handbook of Great Power Competition

by Brian C. H. Fong and Ja Ian Chong
Summary | Amazon

Power is the core currency of international relations—and The Routledge Handbook of Great Power Competition offers both a scholarly overview and a timely, accessible account of today’s geopolitical rivalries.

Drawing from leading experts in the field, it helps readers understand how the logic of power operates at an inter-state level.

Quote: Power inequalities are always already stacking the game. That is also why liberals are naive in expecting rational interests to prevail, unless they are the interests of the powerful

6. Seduction University

by L. Buffalmano
Overview

Seduction University combines seduction with effective dating to both ‘get’ women, and make them fall in love.

Whether you want to sleep around, get a girlfriend, or make women devoted to you, Seduction University explains it all with clear, real-life examples.
And it’s both science-backed and real-life proven.

Simple processes explain how to go from approch, to texting, to dates, to intimacy.
But it also includes seduction, where it overlaps with power and power dynamics, including some dark psychology techniques.

Power Nugget: Dating Is A Balance Of Competition & Collaboration, Dominance & Sweetness

1. Each gender has been evolutionarily programmed to swindle the opposite sex based on what the opposite sex wants the most.

That’s why women spend more time wearing makeup: because men value beauty. And that’s why men spend more money on cars and watches and are more likely to lie about their jobs: because women want successful men.

That’s why women are so good at controlling relationships: to secure their resources. 
And that’s why it’s mostly men who hide their mates: from a genetic point of view, faithfulness is more important to men.

Quote: By learning the darker side of human nature, we can all create more light.
For ourselves, for our partners, and for the world.

5. The Wisdom of Psychopaths

by K. Dutton
Summary | Amazon

Consider this entry as the “psychopaths’ pack” in our list.

But first, let’s address the obvious controversy.
How can you say we should learn from psychopaths? 

So just follow me for a second:

• Question: Who should you learn power from?
• Answer: Doesn’t it make sense to learn power, dominance, and manipulation from those who live for power and see everyone as pawns to be manipulated for pleasure and selfish ends?

It does make sense, right? 
And as Dutton explains, psychopaths aren’t all serial killers like some (ignorant) folks imagine. 
Some psychopaths are functioning members of society, and some of them are very good at reaching the top of society.
Enter, the literature on sociopathy and psychopathy.

There is a lot to learn here.
Especially when it comes to power, Machiavellianism, and games people play.

But we don’t want you to become an antisocial deviant who takes value away from others, so also from Dutton check out:

• The Good Psychopath Guide

Power Nugget: Learn To Spot & Deal With Dark Triad Men, Or Lose At Their Hands

Mild levels of psychopathy can be helpful in life.
And you can learn how to use and leverage certain psychopathic traits to more easily achieve success in life

Quote: There are two things that rises at the top: the cream, and the scum.

4. The Selfish Gene

by R. Dawkins
Summary | Amazon

Unexpected entry, right?

Power permeates all facets of life, both on the outside and within us.
And runs much deeper than our conscious mind, too.

“The Selfish Gene“, here as a representative of evolutionary psychology, explains how our genes can have us on a rail system.

But here is the potential issue with it: it’s their rails.
Your genes have shaped our drives and urges not for us, but for themselves.

And until we learn what that programming is, the selfish genes have ultimate power over us.

Power Nugget: Your Genes Are Your #1 Master

You may or may not agree with the programming.

But you’re following it anyway.

And guess what, it wasn’t designed to make you happy or fulfilled. Heck, it wasn’t even designed with your best interest in mind.

The only way to upset that program and gain a foothold of power over yourself (and the world around you) is to understand what that program is all about.

Quote: Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to, because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs, something that no other species has ever aspired to do.

3. Underboss

By Peter Maas
Summary

Another unexpected book on this list.

Why here, why so high?

Because it’s one thing it’s to read about theories and strategies, and it’s a very different thing to read how power strategies are applied in real-life, and what their results are.

And this book is all about power and strategies.

As Sammy Gravano said in his interview with Diane Sawyer:

We played chess. And he lost.

Salvatore Gravano

That “chess game” was a game for money, fame, power… And one’s own life.

About the main protagonist, well… Some people say Gravano is a stone-cold killer and a psychopath.
I can’t make a diagnosis, and he’s not a guy to role model for.

But he’s definitely a guy to learn from.
He’s obviously power-driven, ruthless, and also smart and Machiavellian.

Now put a guy like that in an organization, the mafia, that is all about power and Machiavellianism, and you get a gem of a book to learn about power dynamics and strategies, -as well as fatal mistakes you better avoid-.

This is all rather extreme, of course.
Most people reading this aren’t going to be joining the mafia. But what works and doesn’t work in extreme environments is often the same as what works and doesn’t work in more everyday situations, just more obvious, and with graver consequences.
Thus, extreme environments can provide great learning opportunities.

To learn from “Underboss,” you sometimes need to read between the lines to understand the dynamics, strategies, and mistakes. So it’s more for advanced folks. But the review on this website can help you in that direction.

Similar biographies of powerful men and organized groups include:

• The Power Broker, the history of Robert Moses, as power-hungry a man as it gets, successful and effective. The book itself is long, so stick to our review
• Five Families
• Mafia Prince

Quote: “I’ll talk to Zuvito”, said my father.
“Zuvito?” I think. “Old man Zuvito? What good’s he? He’s a frail little old guy.
I’m a kid, I’m with a gang, my thing is to fight with fists. I don’t know Cosa Nostra. But that really opened my appetite to know more about Zuvito, what made him so feared. Boy, I thought, wasn’t it something to be that physically unimposing and still have that kind of power?

2. Power

by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Summary | Amazon

Power is a fantastic overview of power and power dynamics.

Pfeffer mostly deals with power in business and organizations and the strategies tailored to career advancement.
But because there are so few great resources on power, and because Pfeffer did such a good job, Power also happens to be one of the best books on power, period.

Power Nugget: You Can’t Stay Out Of It. Play The Game, Or Lose By Default

Power dynamics and politics are everywhere because they’re inherent in any social animal.

People interacting with each other naturally form hierarchies, and since the people who want to climb those outnumber the positions on top, we’re bound to compete.

Albeit you may decide not to compete, you cannot call yourself out of politics, competition, and power dynamics without paying a price.
The price of lingering to the bottom—or of losing your position to a more aggressive or smarter competitor, comes out of ignorance.

Quote: seek power as if your life depends on it. Because it does

1. Power University

by Lucio Buffalmano
Course Intro

Power University is this website’s flagship course.

Power University distills all the best practical information from all the books in this list, and many more (plus research, video analyses, examples, and the author’s insights).

However, it’s not for you if you’re looking for more theoretical work.
Power University’s goal is to practically empower good men to win at life. And for that goal, it delivers.

It also includes a meta-summary of all the best self-development books to curate the mindsets and mental aspects of self-empowerment (Ultimate Power).

Quote: Does power corrupt? Yes, it’s really nasty on those who don’t have it

Change Log

Removed:

• “Don’t Think of An Elephant” (12.03.2025), too tangential to power
• “In Sheep’s Clothing” to make space for “Power” by Jeffrey Pfeffer
• Influence by Cialdini. Influence is a form of power and Influence was a trailblazer at his time, but there are now better resources for influence and persuasion
• I’m OK, You’re OK, that helped us develop the concept of emotional power dynamics. But too theoretical
• Workplace Power by Lucio Buffalmano as it got integrated in Power University. This list still needs a top resource on workplace power dynamics. For the time being, you can check Workplace Poker, career strategies, The Gervais Principle, and our articles Business manipulation and Conflicts of interest at work
• The Art of Seduction (06.07.2025), since Seduction University provides a broader coverage of similar topics, while also being more practical
• How to Lie With Statistics (06.07.2025), a great book, but slightly too niche at the edges of communication and manipulation

Added:

• The Art of Worldly Wisdom (12.03.2025)
• Social Dominance Theory (30.05.2025)
• The Routledge Handbook of Great Power Competition (06.07.2025)

Note on notable books missing:

You might notice that some popular classics are missing.

We left out titles such as “How to Win Friends” -basic social skills, not power-, “Propaganda” -great, but there are more scientifically sound resources today, and “Games People Play” -tactical level and mostly concerning turkeys and low-power people-.

Money is also power, but besides biographical accounts of rich men -or scammers-, we haven’t found any systemic overview on how money can be used to influence and achieve goals.

We also didn’t include self-help entries such as “Meditations“, and “Mindset” not because mental empowerment doesn’t matter, but because we went for a stricter definition of “power” here.
Also, all the best self-development information is summarized in “Ultimate Power”, which is part of the bonus material of “Power University”. So it’s also included in the #1 entry on this list.