Tessa Young is an 18 year old college student with a simple life, excellent grades, and a sweet boyfriend. She always has things planned out ahead of time, until she meets a rude boy named Hardin, with too many tattoos and piercings who shatters her plans.

It presents 48 principles or "laws" drawn from historical examples and literature that outline strategies for gaining and maintaining power in various situations. The laws cover aspects such as leadership, manipulation, strategy, and understanding human nature. Each law is illustrated with examples from history, politics, and business to demonstrate its application and effectiveness. The book is controversial and has been both praised for its insights into power dynamics and criticized for its Machiavellian approach to relationships and influence.