The Tyrant's Handbook is a satirical, darkly comedic guide to political manipulation, power, and absurd leadership strategies. Written in the style of a "how-to" manual, the book mocks the egos of dictators, the absurdity of propaganda, and the ridiculous lengths leaders will go to maintain control.
At its core, the book follows Bartholomew, an incompetent but ambitious aspiring tyrant who repeatedly fails in his attempts at world domination-mostly due to his own clumsy schemes, obsession with cheese, and wildly ineffective strategies. The book is a parody of political handbooks, taking inspiration from real-world authoritarian tactics and exaggerating them to absurd and ridiculous levels. Through Bartholomew's blunders, it highlights the arrogance, incompetence, and absurdity of power-hungry leaders, ultimately showing that most "tyrants" are more ridiculous than they are competent.