The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian

Title Information
The Art of Worldly Wisdom is a Western classic.  One of the original "self-help" books, it tempers the Machivellian streak with a sense of temperence and balance.  Although it can be read with a cynical perspective on human nature, it geenrally urges "the high road" as the way to advancement in the world.  It's concluding advice is "In one word, be a saint".  Its previous 299 aphorisms are not always in agreement with that noble goal!

The aphoristic nature of the work -- a compilation of 300 paragraphs of advice -- with titles ranging from "Do Good a little at a time, but often" to "Do not be the slave of First Impressions" to "If you cannot clothe Yourself in Lion skin, use Fox pelt" and more -- make it easy to dip in and out of; indeed his advice is sometimes so caustic that it would be difficult to absorb it all in a single sitting.  Whether one accepts them all or not, one will definitely profit from the reading, and enjoy it.

Baltasar Gracian was a Spanish Jesuit born in 1601.  He wrote without church approval and was repeatedly disciplined for this.

Format: Sony Reader