The Politics of Life: 25 Rules for Survival in a Brutal and Manipulative World

Washington journalist and author Crawford (Attack the Messenger) gives Machiavelli a user-friendly 21st century update with this guide to life's struggles for the unwary, the good-natured and the ""never met a man I didn't like"" gang. Though his perception of the world and his cautionary stance can be glum, Crawford's wisdom, for the most part, is unarguable. A veteran of the barracuda business world, he regales readers with Art of War-like rules from the get-go: ""Life is a Filthy Battle,"" ""A True Enemy Should Be Eliminated, Never Tolerated"" and ""Never Postpone the Inevitable Conflict"" among them. The author maintains that people often follow Machiavelli's militant advice without considering the philosopher's admonitions for balance: ""People get their way simply by asserting something...with believable-sounding support,"" whether or not it's true, ""manipulating people...not unlike training dogs."" To buck up for the fight, Crawford encourages ""a positive outlook on pain will help you ease the harm that you must occasionally do to another...cast the experience on character-building."" Though his advice isn't groundbreaking, Crawford is adept in his use of anecdotes to illustrate tough truths in a logical framework, providing excellent advice for launching endeavors, moving in a positive direction, surviving the scoundrels and embracing life. Crawford's tone can be harsh, but the slight flinching reaction one might begin with segues to enjoyment and identification as Crawford presents recognizable real-life scenarios, prompting plenty ah-ha moments of practical discovery.