The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

In this slim, pocket-sized volume, Ira Stephen Behr lists 70 of the total 285 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition that guide the behaviour of all Ferengi businessmen (the rest have not yet been revealed to mere humans). The introduction, ostensibly written by Quark, DS9's resident Ferengi bartender, sells the Rules in language amusingly similar to that used by the 100s of books currently available that promise to teach the reader how to succeed in business. Quark assures us that if we want to live the good life and see our profits increase, all we need to do is memorise, contemplate and apply the Rules of Acquisition. However, as the 19th Rule reminds us, "Satisfaction is not guaranteed".

The body of the book consists of the Rules themselves, one to a page, illustrated by a dozen black and white stills from the shows. Some are downright cynical, like Rule 261, "A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience" but others make straightforward business sense, such as Rule 218, "Always know what you're buying".

This book may not make you rich but it certainly underlines the similarities between Ferengi business practices and the free-market capitalism we see all around us today and reminds us all that there is more than a grain of truth in the 284th Rule: "Deep down everyone's a Ferengi". --Elizabeth Sourbut