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The Dictator's Handbook by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith — WisdomDeck honest review
Honest review · Leadership

The Dictator's Handbook

by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith

Selectorate theory for general readers: leaders survive by rewarding the coalition they need, nothing more. Cynical, predictive, applies to CEOs too.

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Read it if…

you want a cold model of power.

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Skip it if…

you want idealism.

Try instead: Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World →

Three things you will actually use

  1. Keep the coalition small and paid.
  2. Survival drives leaders.
  3. Applies to every organization.

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Read the five rules of politics.

Our verdict

Selectorate theory.

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