by Christos Zabounis

While his opponents argue that much of what Trump says and does can be explained by narcissistic personality disorder – or even by a distorted perception of reality—his supporters recommend reading his bestselling book The Art of the Deal. There, among other things, he lays out in detail the way he operates. “Think big” is the first piece of advice he offers his readers, something that even his harshest critics find difficult to dismiss, given that this mindset led him to the highest office in the country. Another principle, equally consistent with his overall business activity, is the exploitation of publicity. His publisher, Samuel Irving Newhouse – the infamous “Si” of the Condé Nast and Random House empire – admitted that the launch of this book was the most successful of all time. Sales were equally impressive, with The New York Times ranking The Art of the Deal at the top of its bestseller list for 13 weeks. Let us turn, however, to an issue of greater relevance to us—one that touches on his handling of the conflict in the Middle East. “The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal,” he wrote as early as 1987, “is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have. Leverage is having something the other guy wants. Or better yet, needs. Or best of all, simply can’t do without.”