Greene responds to this sentiment by stating, 'These laws… people might say, 'Oh they're wicked', but they're practiced day in and day out by businesspeople. The Sunday Times noted that The 48 Laws of Power has become the 'Hollywood back-stabber's bible' and that although the book is reportedly used by some business executives, it is difficult to find people who publicly acknowledge its influence because of the book's controversial nature. Several American prisons have banned The 48 Laws of Power and The 33 Strategies of War. The 48 Laws of Power is one of the most requested books in American prison libraries.

The Libyan politician Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, read his books as part of his reading routine. Greene has claimed former Cuban President Fidel Castro had also read the book. The 48 Laws of Power has been mentioned in songs by Jay Z, Kanye West, and Drake and in videos by The Kid LAROI and Central Cee. The 48 Laws of Power has sold more than 1.2 million copies and has been referenced by 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Quincy “QD3' Jones III, Chris Lighty, Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Michael Jackson, Courtney Love, and Will Smith, Busta Rhymes used The 48 Laws of Power to deal with problematic movie producers. Each law has its own chapter, complete with a 'transgression of the law,' 'observance of the law,' and/or a 'reversal.' The laws are a derived from the lives of strategists and historical figures like Niccolò Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Haile Selassie I, Carl von Clausewitz, Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, and P.T. Greene's first book, The 48 Laws of Power, first published in 1998, is a practical guide for anyone who wants power, observes power, or wants to arm themselves against power.

48 laws of power audiobook narrator