Credit: anthempress.com

Luxembourg-based author Waqas M Awan has announced the launch of his debut book, Power of Sage: An Antithesis to Machiavellian Prince, set to take place on Wednesday 3 July 2024 at the Coque National Sports and Culture Centre in Luxembourg-Kirchberg at 18:00.

The book was published by Anthem Press on Friday 21 June 2024 and is now available on Amazon, B&N, WHS Smith and other major retailers around the world. The book constructs a new model for attaining power, challenging the traditional Machiavellian approach to constructing power and thereby proposing a fourth school of leadership (after Plato, Machiavelli and Nietzsche).

According to the author, since humanity’s cognitive revolution about 70,000 years ago, humans have mastered the art of cooperation more than “any other” species on Earth, creating large cooperative societies, and establishing cities, nations and civilizations. However, with the formation of societies came the need for leadership and the question of who should wield the power to guide people.

The author noted that Plato proposed the concept of the “Philosopher King” in the 4th century BCE. He believed that power should reside with all-knowing philosophers, who have the knowledge and expertise to drive society forward. However, he overlooked the need for societal consent and failed to address the potential for abuse of power by those who claim to possess superior knowledge. Secondly, Niccolo Machiavelli in the 16th century, believed that power should be exercised by a pragmatic person, a so-called 'Prince'. Such a leader would use cunning methods to maintain power. He acknowledged the harsh realities of politics, neglecting the ethical considerations and disregarding the well-being of society in pursuit of self-preservation.

The third model of power was put forward by Friedrich Nietzsche, in the 19th century, with the idea of the “Übermensch”. He believed that power should reside with a person who is free from traditional frameworks; such a person should pursue individual greatness rather than the common good. This model of power risks promoting a self-centred approach to leadership that may undermine societal cohesion and promote selfishness, the author warns, proposing instead a “holistic understanding of power”. The “Power of Sage” aims to present an alternative approach to leadership, with a leader driven by “inner peace, the importance of empathy, integrity, and a deep connection to the collective well-being”.

The book aims to challenge traditional notions of power, introducing a contemporary model to encourage ordinary individuals to wield power.

Registration to the event is available via the link below: https://power-of-sage.ticketbud.com/book-launch