Reviews

``Chieftains create strong morale and discipline in the tribe when they train their warriors and Huns well, tell them what is expected of them, allocate to them the necessary tools and weaponry, and provide them with the leadership required to win.'' These words, mischievously ascribed to the barbarian scourge of Rome, epitomize the career-boosting advice Roberts gives in this sequel to Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun . He summarizes ``Hunnic'' history, culture and military campaigns in brief chapters, and offers appropriate rules and admonitions in the archaic guise of Attila lecturing his chieftains. ``Warriors and Huns are wise to turn down assignments they don't believe they can handle,'' he counsels, and ``all competent warriors are fierce in battle and generous in victory.'' Other maxims address mutual loyalty, the division of booty, how to dodge the arrows of ``envy, jealousy and fear,'' and the art of deception. (Feb.)

A sequel to Roberts's Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun (Warner, 1990. reprint), which was geared to individuals, this manual offers advice for organizational leaders. Like many ``how to'' books in management, it uses ``how to win battles'' as a metaphor for competing for markets and market share. ``Chieftains who meet their own needs first--at the expense of the tribe--are worthless leaders,'' reads a typical entry. ``Chieftains who hold on to power through a cunning mixture of deceit, brutality, and largesse are desperate despots. Huns do not follow them. Great warriors refuse to serve them.'' Even Attila the Hun knows there is nothing new under the sun--which is true of this work. The metaphor does make this fun reading, however, and since its predecessor sold 500,000 copies, Victory Secrets is recommended for all general business collections.-- Michael D. Kathman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Collegeville, Minn.