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How to Win an Election  By  cover art

How to Win an Election

By: Quintus Tullius Cicero, Philip Freeman - translator
Narrated by: Doug Kaye
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Publisher's summary

How to Win an Election is an ancient Roman guide for campaigning that is as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines. In 64 BC when idealist Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest orator, ran for consul (the highest office in the Republic), his practical brother Quintus decided he needed some no-nonsense advice on running a successful campaign. What follows in his short letter are timeless bits of political wisdom, from the importance of promising everything to everybody and reminding voters about the sexual scandals of your opponents to being a chameleon, putting on a good show for the masses, and constantly surrounding yourself with rabid supporters. Presented here in a lively and colorful new translation, this unashamedly pragmatic primer on the humble art of personal politicking is dead-on (Cicero won) - and as relevant today as when it was written.

A little-known classic in the spirit of Machiavelli's Prince, How to Win an Election is required reading for politicians and everyone who enjoys watching them try to manipulate their way into office.

©2012 Princeton University Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

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How to be a politician ...

Cicero gives an incredibly concise outline to his brother who is running for office in ancient Rome. The same outline entirely explainsToday's politicians on both sides of the aisle. Clearly people are the same today as then, and must be addressed in the same predictable ways to obtain their vote, help and money.

Perhaps you and I are the exceptions??

I now know how to run for office simply by following Cicero's concise plan. After reading the plan, it all in the execution.

I did not know much about Cicero, but please view his Curriculum Vitae on Wikipedia!

I had no idea. Almost stunning.

Ben

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  • 12-11-14

Not Marcus Tullius Cicero

Any additional comments?

Just to be clear these are the words of Quintus Tullius Cicero, the younger brother of the famous Marcus Tullius Cicero. So if you're looking for the well known historical figure's words of wisdom, these are not them, but they are close.

Close, because they are a list of political insights that mostly hold true to this day and are worthy of a listen for anyone interested in bringing history to life and discovering how little things have changed.

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Some Things Never Change

This was one of the daily deals from Audible around Election Day, and it was well worth the 99 cents! I laughed at parts, particularly at how little things have changed. All this time I thought that Americans were responsible for the sad state of political affairs, but come to find out, these attitudes existed in ancient Rome. He is telling his brother to surround himself with those of nobility who can help him in his political life; promise the voters what they want to hear, and then renege on it later; court those who can help you.......sound familiar?

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Pragmatic politics. Shameless (and funny).

If you have a secret contempt for those seeking public office (as many do), reading this will in no means warm you to politicians. Shamelessly pragmatic. Unintentionally funny (laugh out loud funny sometimes).

I imagine it's as useful today as it was in 64 BC. In fact I suspect most high ranking politicians have read this?

Can political history be interesting and fun? You betcha.

Perfect dry narration by Doug Kaye.

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Quite Amusing

A shockingly honest, an amusing, look into what it takes to be an effective politician.

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not "The Prince" by any means

Any additional comments?

I have seen this book compared to "The Prince." I suppose that is a fair comparison in some ways. But, this is basically a short "letter," and without the depth of "The Prince." But, I enjoyed the opportunity of a glimpse into the daily lives of the ancient Roman.

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Timeless advice

My goodness how things have not changed over the centuries! As I listened, I could see this advice being followed by many of the successful politicians in modern times.

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Advice about politics that really is true…

…showing human behavior in elections stays much the same despite the gap of 2085 years—I can safely say as a practitioner in the field.

The clear-mindedness is the author is remarkable.

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Great title

This is a great book that is paramount to the understanding of today’s political atmospheres!

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Human nature does not change

See the present in the mirror of the past. Politics doesn't change, as is shown by this book.

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