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Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life
The man once named one of America’s ten “toughest” CEOs by Fortune magazine offers current and future leaders practical advice on how to make their companies and organizations more effective.
Throughout his distinguished career—as a naval aviator, a U.S. Congressman, a top aide to four American presidents, a high-level diplomat, a CEO of two Fortune 500 companies, and the only twice-serving Secretary of Defense in American history—Donald Rumsfeld has collected hundreds of pithy, compelling, and often humorous observations about leadership, business, and life. When President Gerald Ford ordered these aphorisms distributed to his White House staff in 1974, the collection became known as "Rumsfeld's Rules."
First gathered as three-by-five cards in a shoebox and then typed up and circulated informally over the years, these eminently nonpartisan rules have amused and enlightened presidents, business executives, chiefs of staff, foreign officials, diplomats, and members of Congress. They earned praise from the Wall Street Journal as "Required reading," and from the New York Times which "Rumsfeld's Rules can be profitably read in any organization…The best reading, though, are his sprightly tips on inoculating oneself against that dread White House disease, the inflated ego."
Distilled from a career of unusual breadth and accomplishment, and organized under practical topics like hiring people, running a meeting, and dealing with the press, Rumsfeld's Rules can benefit people at every stage in their careers and in every walk of life, from aspiring politicos and industrialists to recent college graduates, teachers, and business leaders.
Throughout his distinguished career—as a naval aviator, a U.S. Congressman, a top aide to four American presidents, a high-level diplomat, a CEO of two Fortune 500 companies, and the only twice-serving Secretary of Defense in American history—Donald Rumsfeld has collected hundreds of pithy, compelling, and often humorous observations about leadership, business, and life. When President Gerald Ford ordered these aphorisms distributed to his White House staff in 1974, the collection became known as "Rumsfeld's Rules."
First gathered as three-by-five cards in a shoebox and then typed up and circulated informally over the years, these eminently nonpartisan rules have amused and enlightened presidents, business executives, chiefs of staff, foreign officials, diplomats, and members of Congress. They earned praise from the Wall Street Journal as "Required reading," and from the New York Times which "Rumsfeld's Rules can be profitably read in any organization…The best reading, though, are his sprightly tips on inoculating oneself against that dread White House disease, the inflated ego."
Distilled from a career of unusual breadth and accomplishment, and organized under practical topics like hiring people, running a meeting, and dealing with the press, Rumsfeld's Rules can benefit people at every stage in their careers and in every walk of life, from aspiring politicos and industrialists to recent college graduates, teachers, and business leaders.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2013
173 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
About the author
Donald Rumsfeld
16 books51 followersDonald Henry Rumsfeld is a United States businessman, retired Navy Fighter Pilot, diplomat, and politician who served as the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977 and as the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. He is both the youngest (43 years old) and the oldest (74 years old) person to have served as Secretary of Defense as well as the only person to have served in the position for two non-consecutive terms. Overall, he was the second longest serving defense secretary behind Robert McNamara. Rumsfeld was White House Chief of Staff during part of the Ford Administration and also served in various positions in the Nixon Administration. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives, and served as the United States Permanent Representative to NATO. He was an aviator in the United States Navy between 1954 and 1957 before transferring to the Naval Reserve. In public life, he has served as an official in numerous federal commissions and councils.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 2, 2024
Rumsfeld was a controversial figure. Reading his book, I was struck with several of his rules, insights and stories regarding everything from how to run a meeting, thinking strategically, confronting crisis and criticism. Some of his rules are genuinly good ways to remember certain advice. I particularly like "Dogs don't bark at parked cars", "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity", the infamous "unknown unknowns" line, "the world is run by people who show up", and "When starting at the bottom, be willing to learn from those at the top". These rules (and several others) will stay with me after reading this book.
While the book is insightful, there are also several issues in my view. The main two issues I have is that, at times, the book feels a bit superficial and glib. Especially the chapter on "the case for capitalism", despite the fact that I agree with the premise, felt cliché. It's odd to me that Rumsfeld can, on one hand, so perfectly describe the importance of working together as cohesive unit to work towards a larger common goal, both in buinsess and in the military, but then on the other claim that we are all fundamentally only self-interested in the chapter on capitalism. These are, of course, not mutually exclusive but to not acknowledge and address these kinds of inconsistencies makes the book feel more superficial than it ultimately had to be.
Ultimately, the book was still enjoyable, accessible and worth it to read.
While the book is insightful, there are also several issues in my view. The main two issues I have is that, at times, the book feels a bit superficial and glib. Especially the chapter on "the case for capitalism", despite the fact that I agree with the premise, felt cliché. It's odd to me that Rumsfeld can, on one hand, so perfectly describe the importance of working together as cohesive unit to work towards a larger common goal, both in buinsess and in the military, but then on the other claim that we are all fundamentally only self-interested in the chapter on capitalism. These are, of course, not mutually exclusive but to not acknowledge and address these kinds of inconsistencies makes the book feel more superficial than it ultimately had to be.
Ultimately, the book was still enjoyable, accessible and worth it to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2020
Nothing new, nothing original.
The book purports to be a collection of life lessons or rules that helped Rumsfeld through his personal and professional life. While it starts out in that vein, it then veers off into a memoir and then he tries to bring it back to being just a collection of rules near the end.
If you’re looking for pearls of wisdom to make your life better/easier, “The Notebooks of Lazarus Long” by Robert Heinlein would be a better choice.
One of Rumsfeld’s rules is “Never apologize”. He doesn’t explain how that is supposed to help you in life, but it is one of the few rules he actually follows. From the memoir portion of the book, it would seem that if he had followed his rules, the George W. Bush administration would have been less tumultuous. In the areas where history shows that Mr. Rumsfeld may have made a mistake, it is surprising the number of memos or marginal notes that he cites that shows that he suggested a different course, but was over-ruled by others.
Not a book I would recommend. Is there any way to award negative stars?
The book purports to be a collection of life lessons or rules that helped Rumsfeld through his personal and professional life. While it starts out in that vein, it then veers off into a memoir and then he tries to bring it back to being just a collection of rules near the end.
If you’re looking for pearls of wisdom to make your life better/easier, “The Notebooks of Lazarus Long” by Robert Heinlein would be a better choice.
One of Rumsfeld’s rules is “Never apologize”. He doesn’t explain how that is supposed to help you in life, but it is one of the few rules he actually follows. From the memoir portion of the book, it would seem that if he had followed his rules, the George W. Bush administration would have been less tumultuous. In the areas where history shows that Mr. Rumsfeld may have made a mistake, it is surprising the number of memos or marginal notes that he cites that shows that he suggested a different course, but was over-ruled by others.
Not a book I would recommend. Is there any way to award negative stars?
October 5, 2017
The US has benefited for many decades the wisdom and knowledge of Don Rumsfeld. Two weeks ago we hosted the former SecDef at National War College where he regaled students and faculty alike with stories of his time in government. This book, as he admits early, is a collection of pithy expressions and quotes he put in a box and then eventually compiled them into a book. It is a wonderful book of valuable lessons for any aspiring leader, in government or business. I thoroughly enjoyed the reaffirmation of his perspective with an understanding that being a leader is a human endeavor and not always a popularity contest. I rarely give books a 5 here, but to me this one deserves it!
July 19, 2013
Chock full of common sense, it’s a nice refresher “course” for senior level management – resulting, hopefully, with those folks passing the book and its messages down the line for the benefit of their younger staff. More interesting, though, are Rumsfeld’s reminisces of his dealings with various world leaders and how some of those experiences could be related – whether positively or negatively – to basic leadership principles. A good read. If he’s not there yet, Rumsfeld is quickly falling into the category of “senior statesman.”
January 5, 2022
Some rules are really insightful quotes, add to that his remarkable lifestory and you have a very compelling read. Some things that stood out to me: public vs private life, capitalism as a force for good, not being overwhelmed by the importance of a position, etc
August 19, 2013
This is a collection of bits of advice that Mr. Rumsfeld has been collecting for 60+ years. They come from many sources and are presented with brief explanations and examples of their application. The best part are the anecdotes from his career and other government, military and business leaders that illustrate the wisdom they embody and the perils of ignoring them. In Rumsfeld’s lexicon they might be “known knowns”, or perhaps “unknown knowns”, things we know but don’t realize that we do.
It would be unfortunate should some bypass this book because they disagree with his politics, because, while I didn’t encounter any blinding revelations, it is filled with sensible advice for all who would be leaders. Chapter 13, “The Case For Capitalism” should be required reading for liberal arts students; their professors certainly haven’t got a clue. Since it’s not a narrative it’s an easy read that you can dip into over time and is well worth it.
It would be unfortunate should some bypass this book because they disagree with his politics, because, while I didn’t encounter any blinding revelations, it is filled with sensible advice for all who would be leaders. Chapter 13, “The Case For Capitalism” should be required reading for liberal arts students; their professors certainly haven’t got a clue. Since it’s not a narrative it’s an easy read that you can dip into over time and is well worth it.
August 17, 2013
I enjoyed this.
Lots of ideas and advice which really work in business and office life. It is also quite amusing and has interesting bits of history and insight to how government works, or doesn’t. He is a bit up himself, but had a remarkable career in government and large drugs companies.
Rumsfeld is the man who, during a press briefing in 2002 about the absence of evidence linking the government of Iraq with the supply of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups, famously said......
“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.”
Lots of ideas and advice which really work in business and office life. It is also quite amusing and has interesting bits of history and insight to how government works, or doesn’t. He is a bit up himself, but had a remarkable career in government and large drugs companies.
Rumsfeld is the man who, during a press briefing in 2002 about the absence of evidence linking the government of Iraq with the supply of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups, famously said......
“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.”
July 15, 2013
Over 8 decades of living Don Rumsfeld has accumulated leadership rules that are helpful to anyone in business, government or just in life. This is one of those books that just keeps giving wisdom to the reader. It is a book that I could refer to many, many times. I think I would have found this book helpful when I started my career many years ago. Most of his rules are common sense. When these rules are ideas from others he gives credit to the other person.
September 17, 2021
What a bizarre mix of business management, self help tips and ahistorical musings from a man who has no shame or ability to honestly assess his and America's faults. There are some gold nuggets in here that can be found in any Brian Tracy book but the only part really surprised me is Rumsfeld's ability to understand diversity is needed within government and business.
April 5, 2018
Donald Rumsfeld is one of the men that I kept watching in tv news for almost my whole life. Buying that book I was not especially interested in his achievements or career, but the idea of the book seduced me. This is an expanded version of so-called "Rumsfeld Rules" - the list of quotes, ideas, lessons that Mr. Rumsfeld was jotting down since he was a teenager and kept these notes in a shoe box. Later, when he served in White House he gave a collection of those quotes divided into a couple of sections to president Ford, and since then "Rumsfeld Rules" are handed in employees of the White House. I always shared the same mindset - it is better to learn from someone else's experience as this is the cheapest way of learning.
I did not disappoint myself. What is more, I discovered how interesting person Rumsfeld was, an aviator in Navy, Congressman, Ambassador, Secretary of the Defense (the role that was known to me) and a CEO of a couple of top US companies (total surprise!). In the book, you will find pieces of advice on almost all aspects of leadership from hiring, communication to even, how to drive a meeting in a dictator-like manner. Although some of the Rumsfeld Rules are still valid, you can feel that some of them are old-school and in the remote work environment that is spreading are losing their meaning. Nevertheless, the vast majority is universal and will be universal, so you can give that book to your kids and later to grandkids so they can benefit out of it. There is no school like the old school and Mr. Rumsfeld is a headmaster.
I did not disappoint myself. What is more, I discovered how interesting person Rumsfeld was, an aviator in Navy, Congressman, Ambassador, Secretary of the Defense (the role that was known to me) and a CEO of a couple of top US companies (total surprise!). In the book, you will find pieces of advice on almost all aspects of leadership from hiring, communication to even, how to drive a meeting in a dictator-like manner. Although some of the Rumsfeld Rules are still valid, you can feel that some of them are old-school and in the remote work environment that is spreading are losing their meaning. Nevertheless, the vast majority is universal and will be universal, so you can give that book to your kids and later to grandkids so they can benefit out of it. There is no school like the old school and Mr. Rumsfeld is a headmaster.
July 12, 2021
Regardless of your opinion on the person and of course his most recent stint in government which was links to the unpopular war in Iraq, this is somebody who has achieved quite a lot in their life and has learned a lot of lessons along the way. And reading this book proves to me yet again that regardless of who the person is you can almost always learn something from them based on their life experiences. Again, you don't have to be a republican a conservative a supporter of Bush Administration in order to appreciate a lifetime of experience and lessons learned from somebody who was in charge of two very large corporations and operate at the highest levels of the United States government. A lot of these lessons are just Timeless and that is why this book is highly recommended.
May 20, 2018
Superb!
The best book on leadership I have ever read.
Forget what you think of Donald Rumsfeld’s politcs or his role in the Iraq war. He is an outstanding public man whose experience has a lot to teach about courage, conviction, loyalty and determination in the face of adversity. His “rules” are bite-sized nuggets of advice related in a folksy manner.
A great read for those in or aspiring to positions of leadership.
The best book on leadership I have ever read.
Forget what you think of Donald Rumsfeld’s politcs or his role in the Iraq war. He is an outstanding public man whose experience has a lot to teach about courage, conviction, loyalty and determination in the face of adversity. His “rules” are bite-sized nuggets of advice related in a folksy manner.
A great read for those in or aspiring to positions of leadership.
August 12, 2023
The most useful advice is to write down everything useful in a central place .
Planning is essential even when you do not follow the plan because it allows you to come up with solutions for the myriad scenarios which otherwise one would not be able to deal with
Reflect on the importance of positivity
Solve as much as possible before approaching the boss with problems , don’t waste the boss’s time .
Always be succinct and always try to go with multiple solutions to every problem
Planning is essential even when you do not follow the plan because it allows you to come up with solutions for the myriad scenarios which otherwise one would not be able to deal with
Reflect on the importance of positivity
Solve as much as possible before approaching the boss with problems , don’t waste the boss’s time .
Always be succinct and always try to go with multiple solutions to every problem
July 19, 2018
Loved it! It's part managerial training, part self-help, part historical. Rumsfeld is a smart guy, and has really put his intellect to its full uses in government and business.
I should really get a copy of the original business rules and put them up on the wall at work! Or, just keep them tucked away in my not-so-secret drawer of treats and toys.
I should really get a copy of the original business rules and put them up on the wall at work! Or, just keep them tucked away in my not-so-secret drawer of treats and toys.
February 29, 2020
An entertainingly string together string of rules, quotes, and vignettes from Rumfeld’s life. I only gave it three stars as I had a hard time restraining my cynicism as he articulated his leadership lessons with barely a nod towards his many failures. I would have better enjoyed his perspective if he had taken a more critical eye towards those events.
March 27, 2022
Ugh. Attempting to seek different perspectives on leadership to see how progress can be made across ideologies or political beliefs. Some basics were agreeable but examples of implementation left little to be desired.
Example: Diversity is not a a bunch of white men who grew up in different places and had different majors in the ivy league schools they went to.
Example: Diversity is not a a bunch of white men who grew up in different places and had different majors in the ivy league schools they went to.
July 4, 2022
This book was recommended by my previous boss (O-6) to prepare me (O-3) for a tour at the Pentagon. While much of the book resonated as common sense, it was wrapped together neatly and easy to comprehend. At a macro-level, the book is geared towards senior-level management and leadership.
Hello, Pentagon -- let's see if I can rock the boat a bit over the next few years...
Hello, Pentagon -- let's see if I can rock the boat a bit over the next few years...
July 13, 2025
A wonderful book that I’m disappointed to have finished (because I loved reading it)! I had no idea who Donald Rumsfeld was and I’m impressed with his wisdom and wit and experience in our military. He was involved with the great nation that I have come to know today (the great U.S.A) and his principles and rules come across as genuine and as the product of the lifetime of service and leadership.
August 21, 2017
This interesting book introduces the author's collection of quotes gathered over his lengthy career, and gives his personal historical context for each of them. I found myself sharing his content in several conversations. Good food for thought.
March 24, 2019
Though not a fan of the administrations under which Rumsfeld served, I both enjoyed reading his anecdotes and perspective on management, leadership and collaboration. The rules are strong directives for efficient and effective use of time, talent, and resources.
March 7, 2020
Thought provoking and informative
Anyone interested in reflections on leadership in both public and private sectors accompanied by an insider’s account of several administrations would enjoy this book.
Anyone interested in reflections on leadership in both public and private sectors accompanied by an insider’s account of several administrations would enjoy this book.
May 27, 2021
2.5 stars. It’s a pretty good book with nuggets of wisdom interspersed with biographical details about Rumsfeld. It’s well written and interesting. However, I was hoping for more biography, so I will have to look elsewhere.
February 12, 2018
A bit of history, a bit of politics and a few good thoughts.
November 8, 2018
Perhaps one of the best books I have read this year. Very interesting, very instructive full of crisp and clear advice by a man who has served in the white house multiple times
January 4, 2019
Keshilla qe iu vlejne kryesisht atyre qe duan te merren me "gjera te medha" ne jete. karriere politike dhe biznes. megjithese mungon thjeshtesia ne keshillim prandaj e vleresoj me 3 yje
March 1, 2019
An inside look into the only person to serve as Secretary of Defense twice. Learn more about the man and see how it measures up to the persona reported by the press.
April 4, 2019
Okay read
Reads as short summary and defining Rumsfeldism. There are pockets of deep thoughts that readers / aspiring leaders can glean.
Reads as short summary and defining Rumsfeldism. There are pockets of deep thoughts that readers / aspiring leaders can glean.
June 6, 2019
Get the audio book!
December 17, 2019
A nice little book packed with a lifetime of wisdoms. Good practical tool.
March 20, 2020
Love the book and advices. Even though I don't agree with Many of his policies, his advices were very helpful. Love it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews