They're often the second-most powerful people in the rooms where big political decisions are made, but most voters have never heard of them.

Chiefs of staff to political leaders are notoriously shy when it comes to the media, with many noting it's a bad day if they are in the news.

But in The Right Hand, a new book by Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks, eight chiefs of staff offer a glimpse into what it's like supporting and challenging the world's most powerful people.

"The (chief of staff) role has this professional intimacy, it's such a unique role and the biggest takeaway was that at the end of the day it does come back to friendship," Saintilan-Stocks told AAP.

"All of them had different views on whether to be friends with their boss (but) the core of the role comes down to trust and loyalty

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