Listen free for 30 days
-
The Dictator's Handbook
- Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $32.31
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
You may also enjoy...
-
Why Nations Fail
- The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
- Written by: Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine?
-
-
Interesting take with incomplete conclusions
- By John on 2018-08-29
Written by: Daron Acemoglu, and others
-
The Invention of Power
- Popes, Kings, and the Birth of the West
- Written by: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
- Narrated by: Michael Beck
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Western exceptionalism - the idea that European civilizations are freer, wealthier, and less violent - is a widespread and powerful political idea. It has been a source of peace and prosperity in some societies, and of ethnic cleansing and havoc in others. Yet in The Invention of Power, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita draws on his expertise in political maneuvering, deal-making, and game theory to present a revolutionary new theory of Western exceptionalism: that a single, rarely discussed event in the 12th century changed the course of European and world history.
Written by: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
-
The Narrow Corridor
- States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
- Written by: Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson
- Narrated by: Stephen Graybill
- Length: 23 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Liberty is hardly the "natural" order of things. In most places and at most times, the strong have dominated the weak and human freedom has been quashed by force or by customs and norms. Either states have been too weak to protect individuals from these threats or states have been too strong for people to protect themselves from despotism. Liberty emerges only when a delicate and precarious balance is struck between state and society.
-
-
Questionable information
- By Rob Stocki on 2022-01-02
Written by: Daron Acemoglu, and others
-
Power
- Why Some People Have It—and Others Don't
- Written by: Jeffrey Pfeffer
- Narrated by: Rick Adamson
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some people have it, and others don’t. Jeffrey Pfeffer explores why in Power. One of the greatest minds in management theory and author or co-author of thirteen books, including the seminal business-school text Managing With Power, Jeffrey Pfeffer shows listeners how to succeed and wield power in the real world.
-
-
I was a little unprepared for this book
- By Andrew on 2022-11-12
Written by: Jeffrey Pfeffer
-
The Strategy of Conflict
- Written by: Thomas C. Schelling
- Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A series of closely interrelated essays on game theory, this book deals with an area in which progress has been least satisfactory - the situations where there is a common interest as well as conflict between adversaries: negotiations, war and threats of war, criminal deterrence, extortion, tacit bargaining. It proposes enlightening similarities between, for instance, maneuvering in limited war and in a traffic jam; deterring the Russians and one's own children; the modern strategy of terror and the ancient institution of hostages.
Written by: Thomas C. Schelling
-
On War
- Written by: Carl Von Clausewitz
- Narrated by: Fardeen MacKenzie
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Carl von Clausewitz was a Prussian general and military theorist. On War (also widely known by its German name Vom Kriege) is considered to be Clausewitz’s magnum opus, despite the fact it remained unfinished at the time of his death. Published posthumously between 1832 and 1835 by Clausewitz’s wife, On War delivers a deep insight into various concepts and schools of thought connected to war. Using a vast amount of historical examples, Clausewitz explores the political, philosophical, and ethical implications of war.
Written by: Carl Von Clausewitz
-
Why Nations Fail
- The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
- Written by: Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine?
-
-
Interesting take with incomplete conclusions
- By John on 2018-08-29
Written by: Daron Acemoglu, and others
-
The Invention of Power
- Popes, Kings, and the Birth of the West
- Written by: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
- Narrated by: Michael Beck
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Western exceptionalism - the idea that European civilizations are freer, wealthier, and less violent - is a widespread and powerful political idea. It has been a source of peace and prosperity in some societies, and of ethnic cleansing and havoc in others. Yet in The Invention of Power, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita draws on his expertise in political maneuvering, deal-making, and game theory to present a revolutionary new theory of Western exceptionalism: that a single, rarely discussed event in the 12th century changed the course of European and world history.
Written by: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
-
The Narrow Corridor
- States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
- Written by: Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson
- Narrated by: Stephen Graybill
- Length: 23 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Liberty is hardly the "natural" order of things. In most places and at most times, the strong have dominated the weak and human freedom has been quashed by force or by customs and norms. Either states have been too weak to protect individuals from these threats or states have been too strong for people to protect themselves from despotism. Liberty emerges only when a delicate and precarious balance is struck between state and society.
-
-
Questionable information
- By Rob Stocki on 2022-01-02
Written by: Daron Acemoglu, and others
-
Power
- Why Some People Have It—and Others Don't
- Written by: Jeffrey Pfeffer
- Narrated by: Rick Adamson
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some people have it, and others don’t. Jeffrey Pfeffer explores why in Power. One of the greatest minds in management theory and author or co-author of thirteen books, including the seminal business-school text Managing With Power, Jeffrey Pfeffer shows listeners how to succeed and wield power in the real world.
-
-
I was a little unprepared for this book
- By Andrew on 2022-11-12
Written by: Jeffrey Pfeffer
-
The Strategy of Conflict
- Written by: Thomas C. Schelling
- Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A series of closely interrelated essays on game theory, this book deals with an area in which progress has been least satisfactory - the situations where there is a common interest as well as conflict between adversaries: negotiations, war and threats of war, criminal deterrence, extortion, tacit bargaining. It proposes enlightening similarities between, for instance, maneuvering in limited war and in a traffic jam; deterring the Russians and one's own children; the modern strategy of terror and the ancient institution of hostages.
Written by: Thomas C. Schelling
-
On War
- Written by: Carl Von Clausewitz
- Narrated by: Fardeen MacKenzie
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Carl von Clausewitz was a Prussian general and military theorist. On War (also widely known by its German name Vom Kriege) is considered to be Clausewitz’s magnum opus, despite the fact it remained unfinished at the time of his death. Published posthumously between 1832 and 1835 by Clausewitz’s wife, On War delivers a deep insight into various concepts and schools of thought connected to war. Using a vast amount of historical examples, Clausewitz explores the political, philosophical, and ethical implications of war.
Written by: Carl Von Clausewitz
Publisher's Summary
Now featuring a new chapter on the rise of illiberalism worldwide.
The essential book that lays out the real rules of politics: leaders do whatever keeps them in power, regardless of the national interest.
As featured in the viral video “Rules for Rulers,” which has been viewed over fifteen million times.
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith’s canonical book on political science turned conventional wisdom on its head. They started from a single assertion: leaders do whatever keeps them in power. They don’t care about the “national interest”—or even their subjects—unless they must.
Newly updated to reflect the global rise of authoritarianism, this clever and accessible book illustrates how leaders amass and retain power. As Bueno de Mesquita and Smith show, democracy is essentially just a convenient fiction. Governments do not differ in kind, but only in the number of essential supporters or backs that need scratching. The size of this group determines almost everything about politics: what leaders can get away with, and the quality of life or misery under them. And it is also the key to returning power to the people.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
What the critics say
"Simply the best book on politics written.... Every citizen should read this book." (CGP Grey)
"A lucidly written, shrewdly argued meditation on how democrats and dictators preserve political authority.... Bueno de Mesquita and Smith are polymathic, drawing on economics, history, and political science to make their points.... The reader will be hard-pressed to find a single government that doesn't largely operate according to Messrs. Bueno de Mesquita and Smith's model. So the next time a hand-wringing politician, Democrat or Republican, claims to be taking a position for the 'good of his country,' remember to replace the word 'country' with 'career.'" (Wall Street Journal)
"Machiavelli's The Prince has a new rival. It's The Dictator's Handbook by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith.... This is a fantastically thought-provoking read. I found myself not wanting to agree but actually, for the most part, being convinced that the cynical analysis is the true one." (Enlightenment Economics)
More from the same
What listeners say about The Dictator's Handbook
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2023-06-13
Educational and Entertaining
Important lessons for decent human beings and great tips for the rest of us.
In all seriousness, this is full of enlightening data and historical examples for how dictators gain power and keep it. it also includes modern evidence and is definitely a must read for any politico, any activist, and any leader.
If you want productivity and prosperity for your people, don't be a dic tator.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Coup d'etat
- 2022-06-30
Better Than Ever!
The updated 2022 The Dictator's Handbook (15hrs & 38mins) is better than the original 2011 version (11hrs & 45mins).
While the 2022 version does go over some of the same stories as the 2011 version, there is a lot of new things added and to me, feels competently like a new book.
My only disappoint comes from the fact that the audiobook was delayed at least twice, and when the Philippines was brought up, I was thinking one of the reasons for the delay, was to talk about Bongbong Marcos becoming president, a position his dictator father once held.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Craig
- 2023-05-13
Eye-opening
I went in resisting the message but in the end the reasoning is sound. It is most certainly an endorsement of democracy despite the dark underpinnings.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!