Jack Reacher's Rules

“Reacher made no reply. It was a technique he had perfected half a lifetime ago. Just stand absolutely still, don’t blink, say nothing. Wait for them to run through the possibilities. Wait for them to start worrying.”

BLIND BLAKE

This is the only known photograph of Blind Blake, whose life—and death—remain something of a mystery.

Born Arthur Blake in 1896 in (probably) Jacksonville, Florida, Blind Blake’s distinctive guitar playing sounded like a ragtime piano. Blind from birth, he is still regarded as the unrivaled master of ragtime blues finger-picking, who could play a complete band arrangement by himself. Between 1926 and 1932 he recorded more than eighty tracks for Paramount, which were big sellers in their day. After Paramount’s bankruptcy Blake became a heavy drinker and died, by accident or disease, at the age of thirty-eight. But there is also a story that he was murdered in Margrave, Georgia.

“You know that old expression ‘He could play the guitar just like ringing a bell’? That’s what I used to say about Blake. He would pick up that old instrument of his and the notes would just come tumbling out, faster than you could sing them. But each note was just a perfect little silver bell, floating off into the air.”

“For the infantry it all came down to simple arithmetic. If you could inflict two casualties for every one you took, you were ahead.”

“To fail to take the battle to the enemy when your back is to the wall is to perish.”

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Think like the enemy; be the enemy.

When contemplating the offensive, the first thing you must plan is your inevitable retreat.

If your attack is going too well, you have walked into an ambush.

Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps.

Never leave enemy ordnance usable.

“All plans fall apart as soon as the first shot is fired.”

Friendly fire isn’t that friendly.

If you can’t attack at one end, you have to defend at the other.

Incoming fire has the right of way.

Double back to positions the enemy thinks are abandoned.

If you’re surrounded, that simplifies your problems.

“A good battle plan that you act on today can be better than a perfect one tomorrow.”

Gen. George S. Patton

“Sooner or later, you’ve got to engage the enemy’s main force. You don’t win the war unless you do that. You take it on and you destroy it.”

In order to win, you must be prepared to lose.

Don’t worry about why it went wrong. Just damn well put it right.

Know how to deceive the enemy, and that sooner or later they have to be fought head-on.

If you attack you have to keep on and on attacking until the enemy is run off its feet and the war is won.

Everything in war is improvisation.

Try to look unimportant. They may be low on ammo.

Never retreat, just advance in the opposite direction.

“While coolness in disaster is the supreme proof of a commander’s courage, energy in pursuit is the surest test of his strength of will.”

Field Marshal Viscount Wavell

“They mess with me, they answer to me.”

“War isn’t about dying for your country. It’s about making the enemy die for his.”

Gen. George S. Patton

“Cocked and locked.”

1 Beretta M9 Over two decades of distinguished service in the U.S. Army

2 Glock 17 Extremely simple and extremely reliable

3 Heckler & Koch MP5K A submachine gun for law enforcement

4 M16 assault rifle For a long time the U.S. Army’s weapon of choice

5 SIG-Sauer P226 Swiss excellence