Jumia Books THE DICTATOR'S HANDBOOK by BRUCE BUENO DE MESQUITA AND ALASTAIR SMITH 365 DAYS WITH SELF-DISCIPLINE by MARTIN MEADOWS

The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith is a political science book that explores how leaders—whether in dictatorships or democracies—gain and maintain power. The authors argue that political leaders are primarily motivated by staying in power and satisfying a small coalition of essential supporters, rather than promoting the national interest.

Key points include:

Leaders must secure the loyalty of their "winning coalition"—a relatively small group of supporters essential to maintaining power.

The size of the coalition influences governance quality; smaller coalitions (typical of autocracies) allow leaders to act with more selfishness and less accountability.

Democracies operate with larger coalitions and thus leaders must appeal to broader constituencies, leading to better outcomes for citizens.

Leaders prioritize actions that keep their supporters happy, often at the expense of the general public.

Foreign aid and rebellion are often tools manipulated by leaders for power maintenance rather than genuine welfare.

The book presents a realpolitik view, exposing the self-interested nature of politics across regimes.

365 Days with Self-Discipline by Martin Meadows is a practical daily journal designed to help individuals build and maintain self-discipline through consistent, incremental actions. It provides daily prompts, motivational quotes, and exercises focused on goal-setting, habit formation, and mindset development to cultivate lasting personal growth and productivity.