How to Be a Tyrant: A Ruthless Guide to Absolute Power

How to Be a Tyrant: A Ruthless Guide to Absolute Power

Power. The most intoxicating force known to humankind.

Some people dream about it. Others fight for it. And a few—just a few—master the art of seizing and keeping it.

History is filled with leaders who rose from obscurity to absolute control. They followed a playbook—whether consciously or unconsciously—that turned them into unstoppable forces.

And you can learn from them. Not to become a tyrant yourself, of course. (Or can you?) But to understand the mechanics of power, influence, and control.

Inspired by Netflix’s How to Become a Tyrant, let’s break down the blueprint of the world’s most infamous rulers, step by step, with real-life examples of how they manipulated, dominated, and ruled with an iron fist.


Step 1: Seize Power—By Any Means Necessary

Nobody hands you power. You take it.

History’s most ruthless dictators didn’t wait for an invitation. They created crises, exploited fear, and presented themselves as the only solution.

Example: Adolf Hitler’s Rise to Power

In 1923, Hitler attempted a coup in Munich, known as the Beer Hall Putsch. It failed. He was arrested. But he used his trial to spread his ideology, portraying himself as a martyr. After being released, he didn’t make the same mistake. Instead of force, he used propaganda, deception, and democratic institutions to climb the ranks. By 1933, he legally became Chancellor of Germany, then dismantled democracy from within.

Lesson: People don’t follow just anyone. They follow someone who gives them hope—especially in times of crisis.

Read: The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

Machiavelli laid it out centuries ago: morality is a tool, not an obstacle. You don’t need to be loved. You need to be feared—or at least respected.


Hitler poses for the camera in September 1930

Step 2: Crush Your Enemies—Before They Crush You

A true tyrant knows that threats are like weeds: if you don’t pull them out at the root, they’ll grow back stronger.

Example: Joseph Stalin’s Great Purge

Stalin didn’t just defeat his enemies—he erased them from existence. In the 1930s, he launched the Great Purge, executing political rivals, military leaders, and even old comrades. Photographs were altered to remove those who had been executed. He created a culture of paranoia where no one knew who to trust.

Lesson: Fear is an incredibly powerful tool. If people are too scared to oppose you, they won’t.

Read: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Rule #15: Crush your enemy totally. Never let a rival survive, or they’ll return for revenge.


Stalin at the

Step 3: Control the Truth—Rewrite Reality

What people believe is more important than what is true.

Example: Kim Jong-il’s Propaganda Machine

In North Korea, history isn’t recorded—it’s rewritten. Kim Jong-il was presented as a near-divine figure. It was taught that he was born under a double rainbow and that he wrote 1,500 books in college. His regime controlled every aspect of media, ensuring that only the official narrative existed.

Lesson: If you control information, you control minds. It’s that simple.

Read: Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky

Dictators don’t rely on brute force alone. They make people believe in a version of reality that suits their needs.


Kim talking with Russian President

Step 4: Build a Cult—Make Them Worship You

Great leaders inspire loyalty. Tyrants demand it.

Example: Muammar Gaddafi’s Green Book

Gaddafi didn’t just rule Libya—he made himself its ideological center. His "Green Book" became required reading, and his face was plastered everywhere. He eliminated opposition by making the entire country revolve around him. He even declared that Libya was governed by “the people,” while he remained the unquestioned supreme leader.

Lesson: A dictator isn’t just a ruler. He’s a brand, a religion, a belief system.

Read: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

People don’t follow logic. They follow emotions. Give them a story to believe in, and they’ll follow you anywhere.


Gaddafi at the AU summit



Step 5: Never Let Go—Rule Forever

Once you have power, never give it up.

Example: Saddam Hussein’s Ruthless Rule

Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq for decades through fear, manipulation, and brutality. When he became president, he gathered hundreds of government officials and made them watch as he personally ordered the execution of suspected traitors. This sent a clear message: loyalty wasn’t optional.

Lesson: If people fear the consequences of betraying you more than they desire freedom, they won’t rebel.

Read: Dictator’s Handbook by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita

It’s all about the rules of the game. If you know how power works, you can either fight it—or use it to your advantage.


Saddam in duty uniform

Final Thought: The Power Playbook

This isn’t just about dictators. It’s about power itself.

Understanding these principles isn’t just for history buffs. It’s for anyone who wants to lead, influence, and make an impact—whether in politics, business, or life.

Power isn’t evil. It’s a tool. The question is: how will you use it?

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