Definitely not what I was expecting, but not an unpleasant read overall. These 300 maxims written by Baltasar Gracian dictate how to navigate an imperfect world with practicality, rather than (what I'm sure Gracian would have deemed) idealism or, worse yet, naivety. The writing style has a matter-of-fact feel to it, with only the occasional indulgence in lyricism. Gracian was a Jesuit, so dispassionate writing didn't really surprise me, though.
As for the teachings themselves, they were a little harsher than I anticipated. A great majority focused on using people to one's advantage, bordering on manipulation. Gracian doesn't write maliciously, but it's hard not to adopt a sense of pessimism as you read his estimations of humanity, life, and the skills and subterfuge necessary to prosper. It's not all dark; more than once, he extols characteristics like virtue, wisdom, and honor, and reiterates their importance to become an optimal human being. It's a quick read and offers a different perspective from the usual philosophical suspects. Maybe I'll read it again if I can stop perceiving offenses toward optimism from it.