The Counsels of Cormac by Cormac Mac Airt (2004, Hardcover)

Throughout the centuries, mankind has created a number of treatises on what makes a leader great: books such as Machiavelli’s The Prince, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, and Baltasar Gracian’s The Art of Worldly Wisdom. And yet, until now, little has been made of the Celtic tradition of leadership where qualities such as generosity, affability, fairness, and modesty are highly prized. THE COUNSELS OF CORMAC, attributed to King Cormac MacAirt, who ruled in the third century CE, is one of the best-known classics of this Irish tradition: a rich folk wisdom passed on for generations that is as relevant today as it was centuries ago.


Knowledge was highly prized by the Celts and their pursuit of learning encompassed everything from seeking an understanding of the ordinary to contemplating the inexplicable. The emphasis on education extended to the selection of leaders. Kingship was not hereditary; kings were elected by freeholders of their territories. Thus a king’s personal qualities were paramount and he was expected to be well schooled in all branches of knowledge. Traditionally, manuals of instructions were written to ensure the cultivation of people capable of leadership, and King Cormac’s writings display a splendid understanding of human nature that is among the most highly prized in Irish history.

Cormac, portrayed by Irish poets and historians as one of the greatest of the Irish high kings, is particularly famed for his achievements in culture and for the personal qualities he brought to governing. In the words of a later historian he was, “wise, learned, valiant and mild, not given causelessly to be bloody as many of his ancestors were; he reigned majestically and magnificently.” Thomas Cleary’s highly readable contemporary English translation of THE COUNSELS OF CORMAC brings the legendary king’s sage advice to present-day readers—from a to-the-point chapter outlining the “traditional prescription for a chieftain” to a charming discourse on “what is fitting for a chieftain and an alehouse” (a Celtic version of how to create a productive and pleasurable workplace), THE COUNSELS OF CORMAC is a beguiling blend of whimsy and wisdom, sharp-eyed humor and comforting common sense, perfect for those seeking to enhance their own leadership abilities, learn from the wisdom of the past, and connect with the roots of Celtic civilization.