“硬球”是《硬球:政治是这样玩的》独创的一个寓意深刻的概念，既指政界人物为了胜出、权力和成就而展开的讲求实际、大胆出击、不畏艰难、“过关斩将”的竞争游戏，也指他们进行这种“硬碰硬”或者说“打硬仗”的激烈游戏时，所使用的各种巧妙有力的手段与技巧。
在作者看来，世界就是一个大球场，或者说许多球场，只有那些能玩“硬球”的人才能赢得比赛的胜利。一个人如果掌握了“硬球”游戏的法则，在这个日常生活也充满了政治权谋的世界，他就能赢得一席之地，并且发达辉煌。
《硬球:政治是这样玩的》英文版自出版以来，一直畅销不衰，并以20多种语言在许多国家流传。它不仅受到政界人士的钟爱，也备受企业家、公司白领、大学生的欢迎。

With his more than forty years’ experience observing people and politicians in our nation's capital–ten of those years on Hardball , five nights a week–Chris Matthews has learned from the pros what it takes to be a success. Now Matthews shows us what we can learn from the world’s most accomplished people and, more important, how we can emulate their best habits to improve our own lives.

In The Hardball Handbook , Chris Matthews focuses on four areas–friendship, rivalry, reputation, and success–and shows how we can cull the best traits of others and use them ourselves. Matthews takes us on a raucous road trip through political history and points out the best–and worst–behaviors of some of its most notable characters. Written in the assertive, good-natured style that is Matthews’s trademark, each chapter has something to teach us. Here are a few truths from The Hardball Handbook:
• People would rather be listened to than listen.
• People don’t mind being used; what they mind is being discarded.
• People are more loyal to the people they’ve helped than the people they’ve helped are loyal to them.
• Not everyone’s going to like you.
• No matter what anybody says, nobody wants a level playing field.
Once you understand these and other universal truths–and how to make them work for you–you’ll be ready to win at life.