recently I was contacted by a young
candidate who plans to run for office in
Romania.
Bright. Articulate. Feet on the ground. A
man who already knows what he wants to
accomplish if he wins.
During our first conversation he asked
me a
very good question... what book should he
read to better understand the art of
political combat...
books that inform, inspire, motivate-
ones that will keep him in the company
of
the better angels? I'll share with you
what I shared with him.
Nobody should run for public office
without first reading 'The Art of War'
by Sun Tzu. It's the Bible of warfare,
any kind, be it politics, real war,
athletics,
or competition in the marketplace. I
once did a series of lectures at the New
York military academy
and noticed that many of the cadets
carried the book to class.
'The Prince' by Machiavelli, is also
imperative.
The book contains useful and very
practical advice on determining your
route to power,
how to conquer and hold new conquests, how to deal with internal insurrection,
create new alliances and maintain power.
Then there are a series of books about
figures that have profoundly affected
the United States
whose stories are worth reading and
remembering.
Three books by Robert Caro on Lyndon
Johnson.
The 'Path to Power', 'Master of the Senate', and 'The Passage of Power'.
The books are full of lessons
about acquiring power, keeping it,
inventing it,
pretending you have it when you don't
and summoning
the grit to win when losing is not an
option.
There is Craig Shirley's book about
Ronald Reagan's multi-year effort to bend
the Republican Party to his will,
and his one electoral defeat en route to
the White House
provides a compelling story of
determination, grit and iron will-
all essential commodities in political
combat.
Two books about one of my favorite
American Politicians-
Robert Kennedy. Few senators have so
profoundly influenced so many
generations
of people, a man still regarded as a hero
by those who knew him. 'Robert Kennedy
and His Times' by Arthur Schlesinger, and
'Robert Kennedy' by  
Evan Thomas are both entertaining and
worthy reads
about an iconic figure. 
Finally, a book by Dick Morris, Power Plays'.  Dick is a prolific writer and
an authority on convincing voters to
give you the power to govern the way
they live
and keeping it once you have it. There are
other books I could recommend.
Feel free to email me at JayTownsend.com if you'd like other recommendations.
And stay tuned for more on the art to
being a good candidate for public office
Visit my website, subscribe to my
YouTube page,
share this video with your friends and
be sure to get a copy of my free book:
The 10 Worst Mistakes that Candidates
Make. I'm Jay Townsend
