Stone's Rules: How to Win at Politics, Business, and Style

by Roger Stone, Tucker Carlson (Foreword)

Rules to live by from the master of political dark arts, as seen in the award-winning documentary Get Me Roger StoneAt long last, America’s most notorious political operative has released his operating manual!A freedom fighter to his admirers, a dirty trickster to his detractors, the flamboyant, outrageous, articulate, and extraordinarily well-dressed Roger Stone lays out Stone’s Rules—the maxims that have governed his legendary career as a campaign operative for four American presidents, from Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump.As a raconteur, pundit, prognosticator, and battle-scarred veteran of America’s political wars, Roger Stone shares his lessons on punking liberals and playing the media, gives an inside look at his push to legalize marijuana, details how much "linen" to show at the cuff of an impeccably-cut suit, lays out how and why LBJ orchestrated the murder of JFK, and reveals how to make the truly great marinara sauce that is the foundation of Stone’s legendary Sunday Gravy.Along the way, Stone dishes on the "cloak and dagger" nitty-gritty that has guided his own successes and occasional defeats, culminating in the election of the candidate he first pushed for the presidency in 1988, Donald J. Trump.First revealed in the Weekly Standard by Matt Labash and commemorated by CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin, the blunt, pointed, and real-world practical Stone’s Rules were immortalized in the Netflix smash hit documentary Get Me Roger Stone—part Machiavelli's The Prince, part Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, all brought together with a highly-entertaining blend of culinary and sartorial advice from the Jedi Master of political dark arts.From "Attack, attack, attack!" inspired by Winston Churchill, to "Three can keep a secret, if two are dead,” taken from the wall of mob boss Carlos Marcello’s headquarters, to Stone’s own “It is better to be infamous than to never have been famous at all,” Roger Stone shares with the world all that he’s learned from his decades of political jujitsu and life as a maven of high-style. From Stone’s Rules for campaign management to the how-to’s of an internet mobilization campaign to advice on custom tailoring to the ingredients for the perfect martini from Dick Nixon's (no-longer) secret recipe, Stone has fashioned the truest operating manual for anyone navigating the rough-and-tumble of business, finance, politics, social engagement, family affairs, and life itself.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Business

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2018

About the author

Roger Stone is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ. He is a legendary political operative who served as a senior campaign aide to Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Senator Bob Dole. Stone would parlay being the youngest staff member of the Committee to Re-Elect the President in 1972 into being a conduit of secret memos from Ex-President Nixon to President Ronald Reagan throughout the 80s. A veteran of eight national presidential campaigns, Stone would spend hours talking politics with Nixon as confidant and adviser in his post-presidential years. Stone is known for his hardball tactics, deep opposition research, biting candor, and love of English custom tailoring. Stone serves as mens fashion correspondent for the Daily Caller.

Reviews

[Susan M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting analysis from a political powerhouse.

An easily read primer on some tried and true political truisms. Could have benefited from a little less repetition on how men should properly dress. After all, Stone should have realized that women may also read the book. I can translate the message into an equivalent dress code for women, but less verbiage on the topic would have enhanced the rules. My other comment is that someone should have more thoroughly caught the typos, which were annoying.

Otherwise an insightful recitation of the rules of the game.

[Duane Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book did cover some political ground, ranging from Nixonian policies and current day ideology, I was most impressed with the advice from Stone concerning fashion, food and money. He sets a level of style that isn't too big or too small, keeping a man from coming across as nonsensically flamboyant, or the typical underdressed, classless slob.

The quotes are what stood out to me the most. Stone provided quotes from Nixon, Johnson and others which I had never heard before. It was quite refreshing to hear some stories that were humanizing of former world leaders. The rules are numbered, easy to follow and there is a lot of very dry humor. An overall enjoyable, short read with great ideas, some of which, the reader will pass on, but many will be quite usable.

[Lewis Van Osdel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone's Rules is a quick read that covers diverse topics as politics, fashion, communication, marketing, and other random facts. Roger Stone organizes his rules list into over a 100+ topics, which organized into 7 different chapters. Some of his points are just a brief paragraph, while topics are just 2 pages long.

If you are interested in possibly entering in politics, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to read the book. Stone uses some stories about different politicians to illustrate his points.

My main criticism would be that Stone uses a little too much uncouth language, which would get him a FCC fine if he used that same language on a television broadcast. Plus his fact checker missed one of dates for a particular event in the book's introduction.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a great rule book for a man, as lots of good advice on tailoring & how to wear suits. This stuff is kind of irrelevant to me though, and the political yarns spun within of even less significance.

I'd give it two stars, but for the excellent martini & Italian gravy recipes, which drag it up to a 3

[Panda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished "Stone's Rules," a breezy commentary on politics, business &, especially, style by American political consultant & conservative strategist Roger Stone. Most of the 140 rules are sartorial, with enough political nuggets thrown in (with examples!) to make it interesting 😎

[Michael Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read regardless of your politics

Stone provides a fun manual that focuses on political tips but also applies for general information. A short but entertaining read. Wait until the price goes down as it's a fast read for the price.

[Kevin Kimbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a lot of meticulous information in there. This guy is the Acme of the smear campaign.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in only a few hours. Roger is definitely a cult of personality who is always five steps ahead of his competition.

[Brady Westdyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Matthew Gault · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tame. Few skeletons. Much of the fashion advice is repeated throughout.

There's a picture with his ass as Trump.

Very odd little book.

[voidform · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want 240 pages on what kind of ties Kennedy and Nixon wore, this is the book for you!

[Attila Somfalvi · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst waste of money ever

[Xenophon · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of America's best-known political consultants offers 140 insights that entertain, educate, and disgust.

His strategic insights are dead-on and remind me a bit of Don Cherry's Hockey Night In Canada coaching tips, replete with humor and memorable, even shareable, anecdotes. The sheer applicability makes it more helpful than most "Campaign 101" or "Rules for Radicals" knockoffs on the market.

The less-applicable rules are a reminder of how campaigning is an art, requiring an interpretive hand to thread the subject and object together.

It also contains the recipe for Nixon's favorite mixed drink, which is honestly worth the price of the whole book.

Final note: Kindle readers should consider the print edition. This book contains pictures and cartoons throughout. You will want to see them on paper.

[John Doe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Machiavellian book which also works as a style guide. Some of the times it felt that the author was blowing his contributions out of proportion, but once you Google the things he claims, you will realise that he indeed has done a lot.

One theme that is running coherently throughout the book is how the author has indeed followed his own advises. Like the part where he asks you to deny all and every allegations; he actually does it in this book itself by denying his ties with Russians. Then in all of his other books and speeches, he denies them completely. But now it is a known fact that indeed he colluded with the Russians and was convicted of the same.

This book is also a reflection of the underbelly of right wing string pullers. Roger Stone, Roy Cohn, Steven Bannon the list goes on.

[Lisa Malmquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glimpse into a world that most of us will not see. A behind the scenes look at the tough world of political campaigns and how to manage them. Roger Stone explains his rules for politics, ads, political exposure on the internet, how to dress to impress and all the rules involved in the real world of practical political strategy.
Stone's Rules is an entertaining and enlightening book about all aspects of dressing well, business, finance, family and how to make the perfect martini!
Funny, pragmatic and insightful. I applaud him for his hard won experience included in all the "rules". All while being handsomely dressed while doing it!

[Bob · Rating 1 out of 5]

More than half this book is fashion advice - from a guy who dresses like the Penguin from Batman.



And that is the strong part of the book.

Repetitive (as in I think he literally has identical sections multiple times throughout the book), obvious (you can't win if you don't play), and boring.

He does repeatedly dabble in his pet theory that LBJ killed Kennedy, if thats your thing.

[La-Shanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A "Good Reads," if you seek advice on how to dress to impress as well as examine decades of political wins and follies, this book is for you. Roger Stone has maintained relevancy under several Presidents and made intentions to continue permitting the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. The book will surprise you! Advice about taking "political risks" to Louis Armstrong airport encounter with Richard Nixon, the book is entertaining as well as guiding to those who seek public office.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like him 70% of the time when he's not lying
I don't like it when 30% of the time he doesn't tell the truth

he's got a pretty lurid and mega creepy personal life
as a weirdo-swinger

and he dresses like Barton Fink
in one of the most elegantly creepy way

like he's being understated in a sea of neon pink
and green and purple stripes

he's such a weirdo
and I'm sure this book will go nicely with someone's P.J. O'Rourke collection
with a few George Will books

[Jodi Berkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inside look on how the world realistically works. Appearance does matter, everything is a game of chess and who you know can get you anything. Was a great read and I loved how honest and straight forward he was with his opinions and backstories. Whether you see him as a villian or a genius, you still have to have some respect for the man.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a character! Perfect bridge between politics and satire, although that might upset some. It was fun watching the film and reading the book just to see manafort go to prison, then stone. It all ends well though, he gets pardoned! That means his hands are clean, his soul redeemed.. right?

[Ryan Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone's Rules is an easy-to-read blueprint for the avid political animal to succeed and thrive. With an introduction penned by Tucker Carlson, this Nixon era maverick continues to make a lasting impact on the world with his tried true and tested axioms.

[Daniel Quigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a funny read. It honestly could have been 100 pages and gotten the same point and humor across. Many of the rules repeat themselves. The endless rules on fashion started to drive me crazy and they all had to do with what suits to wear.

[Aseem Juneja · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is pushing Roger Stone's agenda in the garb of advising how to dress up..This is not the 1920's and those styles don't work.

[Tulip · Rating 2 out of 5]

nothing special here. Very disappointed.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever watched the show Billions, this reads exactly like a book written by Chuck’s father. A grab bag of assorted “life rules.” Some practical, mostly humorous.

[Nicky Billou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger Stone is the smartest and toughest man in US politics. His wisdom is worth learning from. I want him on my podcast!

[Anastasia Gordeeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Если вы не "шарите" в политике и в истории США (ну то есть как и я), читайте с Google. Книга написана одним из самых известных политтехнологов США, экс-советником Дональда Трампа. У него много и других титулов: "Верховный жрец политического нахальства", "специалист по черной политической магии", "мастер-джедай черного пиара" и т.д.
.
Посмотрела часы политических дебатов и интервью, прочитала десятки сайтов с информацией о различных политических деятелях. С учётом этого предисловия пишу плюсы и минусы на мой субъективный взгляд":
.
✔️
-очень познавательно,если параллельно гуглить дополнительную информацию;
-мало воды,круто структурировано;
-есть много дельных советов относительно мужского гардероба,моментами ,можно сказать,must have;
-жестко,но максимально четко и с юмором отмечен ряд моментов (тот случай, когда пошлость уместна).
.
❌
-Трамп - гений последней инстанции и рождён быть президентом (без комментариев);
-некоторые мысли слишком натянуты и субъективны (бедная Хиллари Клинтон);
-видно,что книга написана лоббистом (резкие, однозначные,эмоционально окрашенные высказывания;все советы нацелены на продвижение,грамотную продажу своего "я"; позиционирование авторского "крутовства" просто сочится во всех 140 советах).

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I watched Roger Stone be arrested by the FBI I realized I knew very little about him, aside that he was a snake in the grass as far as political operatives for the right. Alas, I wanted to read this book to get some insight into his personality, and there's some of that in this book. It's easy to just hate someone because you disagree with them, but there is no way to learn from that. Surely somewhere in this toxic character there may be things to glean. I was not disappointed in this.

Stone's Rules is exactly what it sounds like; a list of rules that Stone presumes to live by. Mostly his rules revolve around presentation (what to wear, what not to wear). There's tidbits of politics in there, but mostly it's about what sort of shirt should be worn with your suit, and how best to match your appearance with how the world sees you. He speaks intently on how important it is to look and feel good in order for you to be most capable, which is something that can be used in any of life's battlefront.

Ultimately, there's not much meat here, but a quick and light read to try to get into this character's head.

[Joe Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a two star book, but it's definitely amusing, so three. 140 rules, with about a rule per page, there's quite a bit of blank space. Half of the book, oddly, is devoted to advice towards high end men's fashion. Not what I was hoping for but still enjoyed reading it. The other half is a mixture of political tactics, right wing propaganda (anecdotes where stone's favorite politicians looked cool and his least favorite looked uncool), macho themed self help, and some miscellaneous bits (there's a drink recipe in here. Some talk about his sex life, weird views, etc.)

The political commentary parts seem to describe Trump pretty accurately. Even though it's scant, and most of it I've heard before, it is definitely a thought experiment as to whether or not his advice is enough to run an election on.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched the movie “Get me Roger Stone” awhile back, and then again the other night and both times, surprisingly, found myself really liking the guy.

This book is just a list of stones rules , a lot about fashion, but I did like his political insights, and agreed with him about a few things.

The best takeaway from this book was his “Sunday Gravy” recipe.

Sunday Gravy

One medium yellow onion, diced
Cook on medium low heat for 10 minutes.
Add 3 cloves of garlic
2 cans san Marzano tomatoes break them apart
Two tablespoons oregano
One tbps mixed Italian spices basil thyme marjoram rosemary sage
Black pepper salt
One can tomato paste one equal can of water

Cook on low for 1 hour .