Publisher's Synopsis
Baltasar Gracian's book of maxims, "The Manual Oracle", is a timeless classic which has been rediscovered after being lost for generations. Gracian was a prominent Jesuit priest in 17th-century Spain who learnt the art of surviving and prospering in the tough worlds of politics and religion. In the process he acquired an acute knowledge of the complexities and conflicts of life - still essential in the business, political and social worlds of our own time.;His bleak vision of the corridors of power and intrigue, which has the universal significance of Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Sun-Tzu's "The Art of War", is tempered by his spiritual training and his appreciation of the values of true friendship. Episodes from his heroic and moving life story intersperse this fascinating selection of his wit and wisdom, practical maxims that have a startling relevance to life today.
