Power

Power by Douglas E. Schoen is an insightful memoir by a political consultant who has been the power behind Presidents, Prime Ministers, and even a politician-priest. Schoen played a pivotal role in Bill Clinton's re-election campaign, steered him through the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and conducted the first-ever presidential poll for Donald Trump in 1987. He was also instrumental in guiding Michael Bloomberg through three terms as Mayor of New York. Notably, three of Schoen’s clients—Israeli leaders Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Menachem Begin—were Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Tragically, Rabin and Yugoslav politician Zoran Djindjic were assassinated during his career. In this work, Schoen distills the 50 truths of power learned in his illustrious career as a “Political Insider,” the title of his long-running Fox-TV show.

This book is a substantive reflection on the gravitas of political power. Schoen reveals that both good and bad decisions have the potential to reshape the world, making Power a serious read for adults.

The long-awaited life's work from one of the world's top political advisors is organised into four parts: "Know Yourself", "Evaluate Your Circumstances", "Judge Your Timing", and "Reward Your Friends". The 50 truths about power include lessons learned from notable political figures and key decision-makers around the globe.

PART ONE: KNOW YOURSELF

• FIRST, DO NO SELF-HARM - Bill Clinton, President of the United States 1993–2001, Governor of Arkansas 1983–1992
• YOUR WEAKNESSES ARE YOUR STRENGTHS . . . - Donald Trump, President of the United States 2017–2021
• . . . AND YOUR STRENGTHS ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES - Ehud Barak, Prime Minister of Israel 1999–2001
• YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED - Carter Burden, New York City Councilman 1970–1977
• FOLLOW YOUR MUSE - Shimon Peres, President of Israel 2007-2014, Prime Minister of Israel 1995–1996, 1984–1986
• PURSUE A PURPOSE GREATER THAN YOURSELF - Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City 2002–2013
• USE YOUR ANGER - Charles Evers, Mayor of Fayette, Mississippi 1985–1989, 1969–1981
• DEFINE YOURSELF, YOURSELF - Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State 2009–2013, US Senator 2001–2009, First Lady 1993–2001
• BE HAPPY, BE POPULAR - Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy 2008–2011, 2001–2006, 1994–1995

PART TWO: EVALUATE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

• SUCK IT UP - Joe Biden, President of the United States 2021–, Vice-President of the United States 2009–2017, US Senator 1973–2009
• THE WORLD IS EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID AND DONE . . . - The Likely Voter
• . . . AND THE WORLD IS EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT SAID AND NOT DONE - The “Shy Trumper”
• PEOPLE ARE NOT NORMAL - Anthony Weiner, US Representative 1999–2011
• THINK WITHOUT HOPE - Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan 2014–2021, and Joe Biden
• PIGGYBACK THE STORY - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US Representative 2019–
• DISTRACT AND MISLEAD - Ed Koch, Mayor of New York City 1978–1989
• APPROACH THE THRONE - Richard Holbrooke, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations 1999–2001, Balkans envoy 1996–1999
• PREPARE FOR LUCK - Joe Biden

PART THREE: JUDGE YOUR TIMING

• TIME IS THE ONLY THING IN LIMITED SUPPLY - Barack Obama, President of the United States 2009–2017, US Senator 2005–2008
• INERTIA RULES - The Institutional Revolutionary Party of Mexico
• THE WORLD CHANGES QUICKLY - Michael Bloomberg
• "WHEN AVAILABLE, TAKE CERTAINTY" - Shimon Peres
• . . . OR STRATEGICALLY DELAY - Bill Clinton
• OUTWORK - Michael Bloomberg
• TAKE THE RISK - Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel 1977–1983

PART FOUR: REWARD YOUR FRIENDS

• YOU ARE YOUR FRIENDS - "The West Side Kids"
• YOU CAN EARN YOURSELF A LOT OF GOODWILL VERY CHEAPLY . . . - Lobbying
• . . . . AND YOU CAN EARN YOURSELF A LOT OF BAD WILL EVEN CHEAPER - Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel 2009–2021, 1996–1999
• EVERYONE CAN HELP YOU AND EVERYONE CAN HURT YOU - Linda Tripp, Pentagon staffer 1995–2001, White House staffer, 1991–1994
• YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO GET - Ted Cruz, US Senator 2013–
• FIND YOUR FOLLOWERS - Donald Trump