Cover of the book The Dictator's Handbook

Critically acclaimed

Already read? Rate it!

The Dictator's Handbook

byBruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith

Genres: Politics War Political Corruption

Who is this book for? Readers interested in political science, leadership, and the dynamics of power.

Topics Political survivalAutocracyRegime stabilityDespotic governmentsCoalitionsGovernance tacticsAuthoritarianismPolitical manipulationPolitical strategyAuthoritarian rulePowerCorruptionPolitical Leadership

MoodReflective

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.

Language

Published on

05/12/2022

Pages

400

Format

Paperback

ISBN

9781541701366

Price Comparison

17.99 £

22.49 €

Books similar to “The Dictator's Handbook”

If you enjoyed reading “The Dictator's Handbook” by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith, you may also like some of the following books.

Marcel DirsusHow Tyrants Fall

How Tyrants Fall

Marcel Dirsus

Grace BlakeleyVulture Capitalism

Vulture Capitalism

Grace Blakeley

Ben AnsellWhy Politics Fails

Why Politics Fails

Ben Ansell

AristotleAristotle's Politics

Aristotle's Politics

Aristotle

Xiran Jay ZhaoHeavenly Tyrant (Iron Widow, Book 2)

Heavenly Tyrant (Iron Widow, Book 2)

Xiran Jay Zhao

Noam ChomskyHegemony or Survival

Hegemony or Survival

Noam Chomsky

Maria RessaHow to Stand Up to a Dictator

How to Stand Up to a Dictator

Maria Ressa

Robert HarrisDictator

Dictator

Robert Harris

Political Corruption

Uncover the dark underbelly of political systems with books on political corruption. These works delve into the mechanisms of power abuse and the impact of corruption on governance and society.

Ilan PappéLobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic

Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic

by Ilan Pappé

Margaret AtwoodThe Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

Andrea Yaryura ClarkOn a Night of a Thousand Stars

On a Night of a Thousand Stars

by Andrea Yaryura Clark

George OrwellAnimal Fairm [Animal Farm in Scots]

Animal Fairm [Animal Farm in Scots]

by George Orwell

Sam GreenleeThe Spook Who Sat By The Door

The Spook Who Sat By The Door

by Sam Greenlee

Jocelyn Nicole JohnsonMy Monticello

My Monticello

by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

Imbolo MbueHow Beautiful We Were

How Beautiful We Were

by Imbolo Mbue

Megha MajumdarA Burning

A Burning

by Megha Majumdar

Wole SoyinkaChronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth

Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth

by Wole Soyinka

Angela Y. Davis, Coleen Marlo, Cornel West, Frank BaratFreedom Is A Constant Struggle

Freedom Is A Constant Struggle

by Angela Y. Davis, Coleen Marlo et al.

E. M. ForsterA Passage to India

A Passage to India

by E. M. Forster

Carol LeonnigZero Fail

Zero Fail

by Carol Leonnig

Samantha PowerA Problem from Hell

A Problem from Hell

by Samantha Power

Bradley Hope, Justin ScheckBlood and Oil

Blood and Oil

by Bradley Hope, Justin Scheck

Elena Ordeig Vila, Harsha Walia, Julien BESSE, Nick Estes, Nick ESTES, Robin D.G. KelleyBorder and Rule

Border and Rule

by Elena Ordeig Vila, Harsha Walia et al.

Kiera CassThe Betrayed

The Betrayed

by Kiera Cass

Vincent BevinsThe Jakarta Method

The Jakarta Method

by Vincent Bevins

Andreas MalmHow to Blow up a Pipeline

How to Blow up a Pipeline

by Andreas Malm

Matt TaibbiHate, Inc.

Hate, Inc.

by Matt Taibbi

Randy ShiltsAnd the Band Played On

And the Band Played On

by Randy Shilts

Rachel MaddowBlowout

Blowout

by Rachel Maddow

Francisco Ramos, Rashid KhalidiThe Hundred Years' War on Palestine

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

by Francisco Ramos, Rashid Khalidi

Show all

Award Winning Literature

Step into the world of **Award Winning Literature books**, where every page resonates with excellence and acclaim. These books have not only captured the hearts of readers but have also been recognized by prestigious literary awards.

J. K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: MinaLima Edition

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: MinaLima Edition

by J. K. Rowling

Veronica RothDivergent

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

Delia OwensWhere the Crawdads Sing - Collector's Edition

Where the Crawdads Sing - Collector's Edition

by Delia Owens

Anthony DoerrAll the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr

Frank HerbertDune

Dune

by Frank Herbert

William GoldingLord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre

Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Brontë

V. E. Schwab, V.E. Schwab, Victoria SchwabThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

by V. E. Schwab, V.E. Schwab et al.

E. B. White, Guillermo Solana AlonsoCharlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

by E. B. White, Guillermo Solana Alonso

Madeline MillerCirce

Circe

by Madeline Miller

John SteinbeckOf Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

Bram StokerDracula

Dracula

by Bram Stoker

Christopher PaoliniEragon

Eragon

by Christopher Paolini

Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Christina Lamb, Malala YousafzaiI Am Malala

I Am Malala

by Christina Lamb, Malala Yousafzai

Taylor Jenkins ReidDaisy Jones and The Six

Daisy Jones and The Six

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Jennifer L. ArmentroutFrom Blood and Ash

From Blood and Ash

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Erin MorgensternThe Night Circus

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

Kurt VonnegutSlaughterhouse 5

Slaughterhouse 5

by Kurt Vonnegut

Holly JacksonA Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Collectors Edition

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Collectors Edition

by Holly Jackson

Madeleine L'EngleA Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

by Madeleine L'Engle

André AcimanCall Me By Your Name

Call Me By Your Name

by André Aciman

Charles Dixon, J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit

The Hobbit

by Charles Dixon, J.R.R. Tolkien

Lucy Maud Montgomery, Lucy M. . MontgomeryAnne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables

by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Lucy M. . Montgomery

Karen M. McManusOne of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying

by Karen M. McManus

Patrick RothfussThe Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind

by Patrick Rothfuss

Alice OsemanHeartstopper Volume 1

Heartstopper Volume 1

by Alice Oseman

Sarah J. MaasCrown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight

by Sarah J. Maas

William ShakespeareHamlet

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Roald DahlCharlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

Show all

Politics

Delve into the world of politics books that illuminate the intricate workings of power and governance. Whether you're a seasoned political analyst or a curious newcomer, these works offer insights into past and present political landscapes.

Chris Van Wyk, Nelson Mandela, Paddy BoumaLong Walk To Freedom

Long Walk To Freedom

by Chris Van Wyk, Nelson Mandela et al.

Isabel WilkersonCaste

Caste

by Isabel Wilkerson

Cristina Lizarbe, Ibram X. KendiHow To Be an Antiracist

How To Be an Antiracist

by Cristina Lizarbe, Ibram X. Kendi

George OrwellHomage to Catalonia

Homage to Catalonia

by George Orwell

Jon RonsonSo You've Been Publicly Shamed

So You've Been Publicly Shamed

by Jon Ronson

James O'BrienHow They Broke Britain

How They Broke Britain

by James O'Brien

Hannah RitchieNot the End of the World

Not the End of the World

by Hannah Ritchie

Richard OveryBlood and Ruins

Blood and Ruins

by Richard Overy

Zeinab BadawiAn African History of Africa

An African History of Africa

by Zeinab Badawi

Matthew DesmondPoverty, by America

Poverty, by America

by Matthew Desmond

Jeffrey ArcherMightier than the Sword

Mightier than the Sword

by Jeffrey Archer

Annie JacobsenNuclear War

Nuclear War

by Annie Jacobsen

Rory StewartPolitics On the Edge

Politics On the Edge

by Rory Stewart

James Carse, James P. CarseFinite and Infinite Games

Finite and Infinite Games

by James Carse, James P. Carse

Friedrich Engels, Karl MarxThe Communist Manifesto

The Communist Manifesto

by Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx

Rebecca TraisterGood and Mad

Good and Mad

by Rebecca Traister

Bolton, JohnThe Room Where It Happened

The Room Where It Happened

by Bolton, John

Evelyn WaughScoop

Scoop

by Evelyn Waugh

Christopher ClarkRevolutionary Spring

Revolutionary Spring

by Christopher Clark

Andrea WulfMagnificent Rebels

Magnificent Rebels

by Andrea Wulf

Bret BaierTo Rescue the Republic

To Rescue the Republic

by Bret Baier

Katja HoyerBeyond the Wall

Beyond the Wall

by Katja Hoyer

Vaclav SmilHow the World Really Works

How the World Really Works

by Vaclav Smil

Anne ApplebaumAutocracy, Inc

Autocracy, Inc

by Anne Applebaum

Nikole Hannah-JonesThe 1619 Project

The 1619 Project

by Nikole Hannah-Jones

David GrannThe Wager

The Wager

by David Grann

Mark FisherCapitalist Realism (New Edition)

Capitalist Realism (New Edition)

by Mark Fisher

Masha GessenThe Man Without a Face

The Man Without a Face

by Masha Gessen

Angela Y. Davis, Esther Donato, Juanita DevisAn Autobiography

An Autobiography

by Angela Y. Davis, Esther Donato et al.

Serhii PlokhyNuclear Folly

Nuclear Folly

by Serhii Plokhy

Show all

War

Embark on a journey through gripping war books that capture the essence of human conflict and bravery. Whether you're fascinated by the strategic maneuvers of World War II or the intricate espionage of the Cold War, our curated selection offers a deep dive into the heart of warfare.