Η τέχνη του να ακούς: Η ιστορική παρακαταθήκη του σπουδαιότερου αυτοκράτορα της Κίνας

by Chinghua Tang (Author & Editor), Tang Taizong (Author (Historical)), Χρήστος Μπαρουξής (Translator)

H απόλυτη νομιμοποίηση και εξουσία του ηγεμόνα πηγάζει από την αρετή και τη σοφία του. Στην Ασία πολλοί ιστορικοί συγκρίνουν τον σπουδαιότερο αυτοκράτορα της Κίνας, Τανγκ Τάϊζονγκ (Tang Taizong) (598-649 μ.Χ.), με μεγάλους ηγέτες της παγκόσμιας ιστορίας, όπως ο Αύγουστος, ο Τζένγκις Χαν και ο Ναπολέων. Τα γραπτά του θεωρούνται ένας ανεκτίμητος οδηγός ηγεσίας και διοίκησης.

Όταν ίδρυσε τη δυναστεία των Τανγκ, ο Τάϊζονγκ ήταν μόλις είκοσι οκτώ ετών και το κυριότερο επίτευγμά του ήταν η εξάπλωση της αυτοκρατορίας των Τάνγκ. Επικράτησε των απογόνων του Αττίλα, άνοιξε τον Δρόμο του Μεταξιού και δημιούργησε μια χρυσή εποχή ευημερίας. Έγινε ο απόλυτος ηγεμόνας μιας κοινωνίας στην οποία οι γυναίκες απέκτησαν μεγαλύτερο κύρος και επέτρεψε στον χριστιανισμό και τον ισλαμισμό να εισέλθουν για πρώτη φορά στην Κίνα.
Στο βιβλίο αυτό, ο συγγραφέας Τσίνγκχουα Τανγκ (Chinghua Tang) παρουσιάζει συζητήσεις μεταξύ του Τάϊζονγκ και των προικισμένων συμβούλων του, οι οποίες αποκαλύπτουν βασικές πτυχές της ηγεσίας του. Πώς να ακούει ένας ηγέτης άλλους συζητητές που έχουν διαφορετική άποψη. Πώς να αξιολογεί τον εαυτό του και τους υφισταμένους του. Πώς μπορεί ένας ηγέτης να ενισχύσει την οργανωτική αποτελεσματικότητα, ώστε να ανταγωνιστεί τους αντιπάλους του. Πώς να αυξήσει την ισχύ και την επιρροή του, χωρίς να χάσει τον σεβασμό των άλλων.
Ένα πολύτιμο βιβλίο που δεν αποκαλύπτει μόνο τις ενοράσεις που έχουν κρατήσει ζωντανή την κληρονομιά του Τάϊζονγκ, αλλά δείχνει επίσης ότι αυτή η σοφία παραμένει επίκαιρη στον σύγχρονο κόσμο.

Περισσότερα από 1.300 χρόνια μετά το θάνατο του σημαντικότερου αυτοκράτορα της Κίνας, Τάνγκ Τάϊζονγκ, η σοφία του εξακολουθεί να αποτελεί ανεκτίμητο οδηγό ηγεσίας και διοίκησης.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, China, Biography, Self Help, Management

208 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2017

About the author

Chinghua Tang was born in Shanghai, where he studied at East China Normal University. He subsequently graduated from the London School of Economics and was the first Harvard MBA from the People’s Republic of China. He has worked at several asset management firms, including Barclays, and today runs his own management consulting firm, Concorde Universal Inc. He lives in New York City.

唐庆华，出生于上海。读中学时因发生文化大革命而辍学。1977年高考以优异成绩为华东师范大学外语系录取。1980年获英国广播公司世界英语比赛第一名。伦敦经济学院经济学理学士。中华人民共和国第一位哈佛大学商学院工商管理硕士（MBA）。曾长期在华尔街工作，具有二十多年投资管理经验。现定居纽约，从事管理咨询。

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ruler's Guide: China’s Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success, by Chinghua Tang is a book that examines the discussions and discourse of the second Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang, and his court advisors and generals. The discussions are of the style of Confucian lectures, with small blurbs containing advice, guidance, principles and ethical statements all geared toward the modern business or political leader or those interested in management styles. The book is adequate at what it does, and is a short and quick read, all to its benefit. The lessons to be conveyed in the book are geared toward inner control and disciple, engaging and empowering subordinates, dealing with conflict, preparing for battle, and taking criticism - all common ideals found in many modern business books. This book is slightly innovative in its approach, and reminds me of similar books I have read modernizing Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. Both books contain the collective writings and wisdom from autocratic leaders in the past, and both seek to take this advice and present it to a modern business focused readership.

This book did have some glaring flaws. The sourcing was atrocious - this would have been an excellent book to give the reader a comprehensive source list of Chinese documents and literature to read and discover. Instead the book contains no sourcing at all. I also took issue on a few of the topics offered. For example, Tang has added a section that is anti-"big government" - an oddity in this book for sure. For one, Emperor Taizong was an autocratic leader in a nation that is famed for its expansive and historically professional bureaucracy. Putting a Republican and wholly American viewpoint such as that in The Ruler's Guide felt inappropriate and out of place - it certainly offers no clear advice besides a bit of back patting for Republican business leaders. Other examples of inexplicable and useless topics are present in the book, and felt like a waste of time and space in my opinion.

Even so, this is an enjoyable book. It is slightly innovative in that it covers a famous historical figure largely unknown to the average Western reader. It is also an interesting way to examine history to gain insight and personal guidance through the writings of those who have succeeded in history. Problems with sourcing and scope creep are present, but other than that, this quick and easy read is certainly enjoyable for those who enjoy business/leadership style books, and those with a passing interest in Chinese history.

[Vanias Apergis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the books that you keep notes on, from, and read again and again. Excellent source for leading and managing material as well as life stance. Amazing!

[Rick Lindeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

China is dezer dagen in trek. Niet alleen door de geweldige serie van Ruben Terlou, maar ook omdat de economische draak is ontwaakt. Ook de (technocratisch) ‘geleide volksrepubliek’ als bestuursprincipe wordt in deze roerige tijden door sommigen gewaardeerd.

En dus is het interessant om te kijken hoe de tips van de oude Chinezen ons kunnen helpen in deze tijd. In de jaren ’90 verschenen al diverse boeken rond de lessen van meester strateeg Sun Tzu voor managers. Ook de voortdurende populariteit van de Tao-te-Tsjing van Lao Tse past in dat rijtje.


En nu is er dus Tang Taizong, in een boek gebaseerd op gesprekken met zijn ministers , de Zhenguan Zhengyao. Dit ‘Handboek voor de heerser’ wordt ons in het westen bezorgd door zijn huidige naamgenoot Chinghua Tang. Tang Taizong was keizer in zevende eeuw na Christus. Uit de gesprekken komt hij naar voren als een wijze vorst, die vooral niet bang is voor tegenspraak en ook snapt wat voor effecten zijn besluiten hebben op langere termijn. Hij doet mij het meest denken aan de Filosoof-Koning die Plato voor ogen had.

In typische oosterse stijl worden de wijze lessen verpakt on korte anekdotes van twee alinea’s. Deze worden vaak verlevendigd met voorbeelden van eerdere Chinese heersers of een parabel met dieren. Een voorbeeld is bijvoorbeeld Corruptie. ‘Zelfs als de dader niet wordt gepakt leeft hij wel in angst. Vogels en vissen laten zich door het aas lokken. Mensen die zich laten leiden door hebzucht zijn eigenlijk niet anders dan vogels en vissen’

Sterk in het boek is dat het niet in een isolement leeft. Het verwijst naar de boeken van het confucianisme en citeert uit de vijf klassieken. Ook worden de strategische lessen van Sun Tsu in de praktijk behandeld en geflecteerd op de Lao Tse. Dit geeft ook mooi weer hoe we de lessen uit dit boek kunnen gebruiken in onze dagelijkse praktijk.

明太宗

(Afbeelding Wikipedia)

Minder is dat in zijn bezorging, Chingua Tang ons telkens er weer op wijst hoe groot Taizong wel niet was. Hij lijkt steeds te willen bewijzen dat zijn naamgenoot echt de meest succesvolle Chinese keizer was. Andere bronnen zijn kritischer, en wijzen bijvoorbeeld op zijn nederlaag in Korea.

Soms is het ook wel grappig, zoals bijvoorbeeld wanneer Chingua Tang dit handboek voor de heerser vergelijkt met Machiavelli’s ‘Il Principe’. Hoewel hij van weinig kennis van dat boek getuigd, geeft hij wel een mooie sneer uit de pan: de heersers die de raad van Machiavelli opvolgden, heerden maar een paar jaar, terwijl de Tang dynastie eeuwen stand hield.
Het boek is klein en compact, en daarmee ook een prima cadeau voor de manager met een oog voor de klassieke wijsheid.. Het is zeker geen ‘handboek’ voor een manager, daarvoor is de collectie wijsheden te weinig gestructureerd. Maar als een manager om een nieuwe zet verlegen is, of een moeilijk besluit afweegt, kan het natuurlijk geen kwaad om te kijken hoe Tang Taizong het doen. Jouw dynastie houdt het dan misschien ook nog wel even vol.

[Richard Angelus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to choose between reading Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Chinghua Tang's The Ruler's Guide because if I read one and then I don't like what I read, I won't read the other one. I'm glad I've chosen (if you believe in human's freewill) The Ruler's Guide. Probably I will read The Art of War soon. In this 160+ pages book, Chinghua Tang, Shanghai-born who runs his management consulting firm, Concorde Universal Inc. in New York, presents conversations between Taizong and his wise and talented advisors that reveal core aspects of leadership, management, government and personal legacy.

I don't like the fact that he killed his brother to gain the throne but after he became China's emperor, he was a change – not perfect – man. When he founded the Tang dynasty (his dynasty lasted about 300 years, the longest), Taizong was only 28 years old. He was a fierce warrior who killed about 1,000 enemies on the battlefield but more than that, he is a great leader on par with Augustus, Genghis Khan and Napoleon.

To read my review of Chinghua Tang's The Ruler's Guide: China's Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success (2017), CLICK HERE: https://www.richardangelus.me/2019/07...

[Searchingthemeaningoflife Greece · Rating 5 out of 5]

[...]«Ακόμη και ο αχρείος έχει μικρές αρετές, όπως και ο ενάρετος έχει τα μικρά του ελαττώματα. Οι μικρές αδυναμίες ενός ευγενούς ανθρώπου είναι σαν τα ψεγάδια σε ένα κομμάτι νεφρίτη. Ένας καλός έμπορος δεν θα το πετάξει, γιατί τα μικρά ψεγάδια δεν επηρεάζουν τη συνολική ομορφιά. Οι μικρές αρετές του κακού είναι σαν τη λεπίδα ενός στομωμένου μαχαιριού. Κόβει, αλλά δεν κόβει καλά. Έναν καλό τεχνίτη δεν θα τον ενδιαφέρει γιατί ουσιαστικά είναι ελαττωματικό».[... ]

[...]Ένα παλιό ρητό λέει: “Τα χρήματα κάνουν έναν έξυπνο άνθρωπο να χάσει τη βούλησή του και έναν ανόητο άνθρωπο να μπλέξει σε προβλήματα".[...]

[Mark Holencik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good guide on servant leadership. The ideas are given to you through conversations Tang has with his underlings and mentor. Tang cultivated a atmosphere where everyone was heard with out retribution, thus allowing Tang to see his weaknesses and change for the good of his country.

[Shhhhh Ahhhhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance, this seems to be a remarkably bland and commonplace book on things that everybody knows that everybody knows. It occurs to me though that, as with music, film, and literature, anytime you encounter the originator of an innovation after encountering its copies, it seems unoriginal, unremarkable and very much common sense. I try to keep that in mind, especially when I know I'm reviewing things that are very likely the first of their kind.

This book is guidance on how to build processes into rulership, into leadership, into system-building, that ensure success not only in your time but after your time. There are a few points that make this valuable even to people who are not the founders of dynastic empires in medieval China. The first is that rulers are everywhere. The book reframes the idea of rulership such that things as mundane as parenting, management, and even self-discipline are acts of ruling. Second is the importance of keeping in mind the impacts of your choices today on what will happen long after you're gone (for example, by setting practices in place that will be caried out by people after your death, to their benefit).

The quick points here are as followers: Allocate people to roles based on their strengths and avoid burdening their weaknesses. Don't throw away valuable human resources if you can help it. Self-leadership is an important part of the ability to lead others. Accepting criticism is not only valuable but necessary for a leader. Lanes of communication must stay open if effective leadership is to occur. Punishing people for telling you the truth is the easiest way to get people to stop telling you the truth. People who are afraid of what you will do will rarely tell you what you need to hear. Having a pool of advisers who are wiser and more knowledgeable than you to call on is inordinately useful. Having rich shared sources of wisdom to use in these exchanges is also useful (in the book, this was Sun Tze's work and Confucius' teachings). Setting up something that will fail once you are no longer in charge of it is itself failure, so put systems in place that will ensure success (such as putting the right people into the right positions and maintaining resource flows and usage rates). Reward people when you ask them for something (such as remunerating or gifting people for their critique, even if you don't like it personally). Keep the failures and successes of others in mind as you plan your own strategies. Meritocracy is a way of avoiding traps caused by the wrong people in the wrong jobs, not just a way of behaving morally. Moral behavior can often coincide with orderly and fair behavior and positively influence long term outcomes by avoiding easily identifiable sources of failure.

Not a bad book. I would enjoy seeing it on the bookshelf of someone leading me.

[Sam Short · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably one of my luckier impulse buys. Having found it in the gift shop at the end of a Terracotta Army exhibit, I didn’t expect too much, but I got so much more.

The Ruler’s Guide is a pleasure to read through, and covers a range of topics one might find themselves concerned with in a managerial role. Things such as appraising yourself and others, checking yourself, and having trustworthy others to help you do so.

These are just a fee of the ideas covered throughout the book, but there’s plenty more to discover through the conversation between Emperor Tang Taizong and his ministers. I particularly enjoyed his counsel with Wei Zheng, who passed on late in Taizong’s reign, but whose lasting effect on the Dynasty rippled beyond Taizong’s life, by sheer virtue of his sound advice.

I recommend this book to anyone looking to better themselves. This book is also very brief and compartmentalised, making it excellent for readers on-the-go, as I expect this book is directed towards.

My one criticism is that some of the sections assert certain information without sourcing to back them up, or gloss over the context of a piece of information, only to really describe it much later in the book. The book makes up for these shortcomings by providing a deep yet accessible wisdom, and I feel I am at least somewhat wiser for having read it.

[Dorum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be a translation of the Zhenguan Zhengyao. However, it is only a compilation of translated fragments (Together with fragments of other books about the rule of Tang Taizong).

I am somewhat disappointed because I was expecting a somewhat more scholarly treatment of the topic. Instead, it is more like "Sun Tzu for business CEOs" or some other similar crap. There are translations of selected passages followed by the authors musings on those passages. Should these passages been entirely strange or hard to understand, I would have had nothing against it. However, they are generally very easy to understand. The prose and purpose of the ideas is clear. As such, no need for the intervention of the translator (Chinghua Tang) is needed.

On the plus side, it is good to know that good leadership, and common sense was good leadership and common sense even more than 1400 years ago. And it is also crazy to think that some people STILL don't understand these really basic principles. So I would give this selection about 2 stars, and the original collection 1 star. As such 3 stars

[Kepo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il libro è diviso in 2 parti. La prima è composta da 12 capitoli che trattano diverse tematiche in cui vengono citate alcune conversazioni tra l'imperatore Tang Taizong e i suoi ministri. Al termine di ogni capitolo troviamo una breve descrizione dell'autore che cerca di interpretare gli insegnamenti per i giorni nostri. La seconda parte, circa 25 pagine, mette in luce gli eventi principali che hanno caratterizzato la vita di Taizong. Il libro, che inizialmente sembra apparire come una lettura superficiale, tocca molte tematiche e non si permette di approfondirle; ma cerca di far riflettere il lettore sui principi che hanno contraddistinto il regno di Taizong. Questa superficialità permette al libro di risultare accessibile a qualsiasi tipo di pubblico. Concludendo, la lettura risulta scorrevole e leggera, permette di gettare le basi per approfondire in autonomia concetti complessi, che necessitano di molte più pagine e tempo.

[Knowledge seeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'est un livre plein de sagesse. J'avais une petite idée sur la profondeur de la pensée chinoise à travers l'art de la guerre, écrit par Sun Tzu, et ce livre n'a fait qu'affirmer cette idée.
Une brève comparaison été faite par le traducteur entre la philosophie confucéenne et la philosophie machiavélique, la première est intègre tandis que la deuxième est basée sur la manipulation et les mensonges visant à endurer la gouvernance du peuple. La première menait à la bonne tenue de la dynastie Tang, tandis que la deuxième n'a menait qu'à l'autodestruction du Prince.
Les idées d'intégrité, de vertu, de l'honneur et de magnanimité vibrent bien avec les idées pures et profondes de l'islam, ça m'a attiré l'attention que l'esprit humain, s'il est bien entretenu, peut arriver aux mêmes principes universels du bon sens.

[Arzikia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read and my first of it's kind.

Although I have some exposure to the 48 Laws of Power and the Sun Tzo's The Art of War, this book provides an inside look into the strategies of being a leader and someone of high positioning. Similar to the adage, it takes a village to raise a child, it clearly takes a good circle of advisers to maintain a position of high rank.

The humility and hunger for knowledge and righteousness demonstrated by Taizong Tang is invigorating. There are so many nuggets of wisdom provided, including the nine virtues and the 10 vices, not to mention the five reasons Tang felt he conquered the Barbarians. Being a leader or someone who is a trail blazer requires a great amount of discipline, self awareness and most importantly a competent inner circle.

Reading this book or one of similar delivery will be a goal at least every quarter of the year as time goes on. Continually fine tuning oneself and staying connected to your greatest source of power is so essential. Thank you Mr. Tang for sharing your wisdom. I cannot wait to read this one again!

[Cullen Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In similar tradition to Sun Tsu's 'The Art of War', comes a recount of the life, anecdotes and wisdom of arguably the greatest Emperor of China; Tang Taizong (6th Century).
Light years before his time and only 28 when he founded his dynasty, Tang Taizong is a testament to what true servant leadership is all about. Like the immortal Tao Te Ching, Tang's 1300 old teachings still serve as an invaluable guide to managing and leading.

[Panayiotis Zois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ καλό ανάγνωσμα για έναν από τους μεγαλύτερους αυτοκράτορες της Κίνας. Σε δώδεκα τμήματα περιγράφει διάφορες συνομιλίες και καταστάσεις από την περίοδο που βασίλεψε ο Tang Taizong. Η ηγεσία είναι τέχνη που δεν διδάσκεται, αλλά ακόμη κι ένας μέτριος χαρισματικά ηγέτης μπορεί να γίνει καλύτερος με την επιλογή κατάλληλων συμβούλων, με την προϋπόθεση πως θα ακούει τις συμβουλές τους, φιλτράροντας αυτά που δεν είναι κατάλληλα κατά την κρίση του. Πολύ χρήσιμες επίσης οι σημειώσεις του συγγραφέα.

[Teo · Rating 4 out of 5]

2017.07.13–2017.07.13

I can’t comment on the historical accuracy but I enjoyed this little book anyway for its musings on being a good emperor / building a lasting dynasty. Much of it involves good practices outside those affairs as well: frugality, accepting criticism, reading books, etc. :)

Contents

Tang C (2017) (03:35) Ruler's Guide, The - China’s Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success

Introduction

Part I: Conversations between Tang Taizong and His Ministers

01. On Being Emperor
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • the ruler’s heart
• • bow and wood
• • standing upright
• • self-awareness
• • head and body
• • before you speak
• • appropriate modesty
• • humility
• • basic requirements for a good ruler
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

02. On Human Resources
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • a skilled carpenter
• • scouting talents
• • acquaintances
• • self-recommendation
• • true fair-mindedness
• • elegant writing and real talent
• • six types of good officials
• • six types of bad officials
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

03. On Moral Character and Talent
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • setting examples
• • examination results
• • what to observe in a man
• • wartime vs. peacetime
• • a gentleman’s weaknesses
• • setting high standards
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

04. On Management
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • quality vs. quantity
• • saving face
• • looking after a patient
• • sense of proportion
• • the importance of delegating
• • direct impact on the people
• • a perverse tendency
• • looking for good points in those you don’t like
• • the norm of governance
• • mutual trust
• • fatuous king and conscientious ministers
• • dereliction of duty
• • locusts
• • managing stakeholders
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

05. On Remonstrance
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • self-reflection
• • a fatuous ruler
• • no winner
• • imperial hunt
• • being gentle
• • provocative language
• • sycophants
• • no trickery of subordinates
• • respecting the private life of subordinates
• • the dilemma of a loyal official
• • a good official vs. a loyal official
• • a hopeless situation
• • real eloquence
• • mirror to the emperor
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

06. On Virtues
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • power vs. virtues
• • weaponry
• • fish and water
• • heart as the scales
• • a favor to yourself
• • concubine
• • nine virtues and ten vices
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

07. On the Art of War
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • mingle tactics
• • manipulate the enemy
• • induce the enemy to make mistakes
• • seize the opportunity
• • deceive the enemy
• • know yourself
• • know your enemy
• • how to avoid fighting
• • be effective in combat
• • strive to be host rather than guest
• • form an emotional bond
• • control yourself
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

08. On Crime and Punishment
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • the root cause of crime
• • harsh judges
• • no amnesty
• • shaming
• • avoiding suspicion
• • not ensnaring subordinates
• • merits vs. demerits
• • personal feelings
• • decency
• • • a ribbon-ripping banquet
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

09. On Frugality
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • keep sufficient reserves
• • let wealth stay with the people
• • food is the first priority
• • war is the last resort
• • prudence prevails
• • live frugally
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

10. On the Rise and Fall of an Empire
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • keeping victory
• • caution in times of peace and prosperity
• • self-restraint
• • mutual responsibility
• • awareness of danger
• • precautions against slipping
• • not alienating followers
• • paying attention to warning signs
• • avoiding complacency
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

11. On Parenting and Educating the Next Generation
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • choosing tutors
• • practicing virtue
• • taking warning from history
• • limiting terms
• • the downside of favoritism
• • tough love
• • later generations
• • boat and water
• • the real world
• • role model
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

12. On Being Well Remembered
• Tang Taizong and his advisers’ words
• • a good ending
• • full disclosure
• • preview
• • the emperor’s own writings
• • self-analysis
• what Tang Taizong and his advisers teach us today

Part II: The Amazing Life of Tang Taizong

• end of the Sui dynasty
• road to power
• Taizong and his advisers
• listening to remonstrance
• Chief Remonstrant Wei Zheng
• prosperity at home
• recruiting talents
• promotion of education
• legal reform
• tackling corruption
• conquest of the Turks
• Silk Road
• wedlock diplomacy and Tibetan ties
• religious tolerance
• hobbies
• Empress Zhangsun
• an enlightened ruler

Author’s Note
Dynasties in Chinese History
Acknowledgments
About Chinghua Tang

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good common sense book on leadership that discusses the value of character and morality as well as ancient technical advice which can easily translate to a modern leadership context. As a former minister and eternal truth seeker, I am intrigued by the biblical parallels; indicating that truth is universal and timeless.

[Σταύρος Παυλίδης · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ καλό βιβλίο.Περιγράφει τη ζωή ενός σπουδαίου Κινέζου αυτοκράτορα ο οποίος,αν και ήταν πανίσχυρος,άκουγε τις συμβουλές αλλά ακόμη και τις κατηγορίες των συμβούλων του και έτσι βελτίωνε τη συμπεριφορά του.Μάλιστα,κάποιες φορές,έδινε και ανταμοιβές στους επικριτές του γιατί με τις παρατηρήσεις τους γίνονταν καλύτερος άνθρωπος.Μοιάζει κάπως με το πασίγνωστο ''Η τέχνη του πολέμου''.

[Benas Aukstikalnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I don't know if I was taught at school about tang empire, I might forgotten about it, but it was really interesting.

It's ironic how a monarch who lived 1400 years ago had more knowledge about ruling a country than majority of today's presidents.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newly translated into English; this is a companion book to Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and Machiavelli's "The Prince." It is great to see more of these ancient Chinese texts get translated into English so that we may learn more about the Chinese.

[Rafaela Dias · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um dos piores livros que já li.
Todo o livro é cheio de repetições e clichês.
Como se não chegasse ainda tem um toque de machismo com o assédio e a violação a serem ignorados para não manchar o bom nome dos homens.

[Tadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every business owner. I am sure, that I will read it more than once again.

[Tawbicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into how to be the ruler you want to be in life, business, and politics.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative; Tang Taizong and his councilors had a lot of wisdom to offer to our modern age. The author seemed a little too patriotic, which got in the way a little bit. Still a good book.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best management book I have ever read!

[Miebara Jato]

This book is a must-read for anyone in a leadership position. Tang Taizong was such an exemplary and moderate leader that was far ahead of his time. His leadership style is timeless.

[Jeevan Koneti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives a good overview on Tang dynasty and the emperor's thinking.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of good advice in here. Not all is applicable to people nowadays, but it's hard to go 3 pages without finding something.

[Tatty Kee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and simple yet insightful presentation of Tang Taizong philosophies that made for a honest, virtuous and prosperous kingdom.

[Lily ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

reads like a self-help book

[Eglė Baltrušaitienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rekomenduota išmintingų žmonių. Apie vadovavimą, paremtą refleksija, sąžiningumu, atviru protu ir imlumu kritikai. Tiesos apie lyderystę gyvos nuo Tangų dinastijos laikų.