The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Prince
Book Review: Faithful version of the original text.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a translation of the full original text of this classic in organizational theory. No "educated" person should be without this book. The lessons are about human nature, and are as applicable today as in the time of Machiavelli himself.
Book Review: President Obama as "The Prince"
Summary: 5 Stars
The potent power of Machiavelli's ,"The Prince" has become almost a cliché'. To say "The Prince" is one of the most relevant and evolving books written within the last 500 years is an understatement. In modern times, the recent presidential election is an excellent demonstration of how Machiavelli's principles of acquiring power played out perfectly and successfully dismantled the established order reminiscent of the Medici Dynasty. Are we seeing Machiavelli's treatise being demonstrated by President Obama? Like Machiavelli's crafty fox, Obama uses cunning to control the ferociousness of political lions. Machiavelli's amorality for doing what's necessary for the situation reflects the current idea of truncated power, where one uses powerful people to shorten the arduous years generally required to build a political empire.
"The Prince" will be best appreciated by applying the principles laid out from the "Old Country" to modern reality. Machiavelli couldn't have known his tome would be the blueprint for modern politics. Read "The Prince" with an openness to the realities of human nature and its interplay with power.
Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute
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Book Review: Product Overview
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was in excellent condition. It took over 2 weeks to receive, so make sure you plan accordingly when you purchase.Book Review: The Truth Hurts
Summary: 4 Stars
Arguably the most misunderstood book ever written, Niccolo Machiavelli's THE PRINCE is not the Satanic bible it is reputed to be. It is, quite simply, a study of political power; how to get it, how to use it, how to keep it. It is indeed a frightfully amoral book, but I would argue that Machiavelli has been blamed for the color of the kettle, which he is merely describing, as if he himself made it that way. To my mind, a study of power, especially political power in postMedieval Europe, can't help but be amoral.
Anyway. In THE PRINCE, Machiavelli uses historical examples going back to the Roman times and before to explain why certain politico-military leaders triumphed, why others failed, and why some did a lot of the former before they ultimately did the latter. Where he has generally run afoul of critics, especially the more sensitive (or "principled" sorts) is that he tends to view the tactics of leadership in absolutely cold-blooded, ajudgemental terms. Cruelty and massacre, mercy and liberalism, greed, generosity, loyalty, and betrayal, all are assessed according to their effectiveness and the likelihood of achieving the desired result. Nothing is "good" or "bad" in and of itself, except as in it allows or hinders a prince to gain, hold and expand his power. This is generally summed up as preaching "the ends justify the means", but that is generally a phrase used by people who haven't read the book. Firstly, Machiavelli isn't one one to justify anything; justification is for apologists and people with bad consciences, and he is neither. Second,
he explicity states in his work that too much cruelty, betrayal, murder, treaty-breaking, rapacity, and villainy are self-defeating; the tend to generate the very forces they are employed to destroy. The end, in other words, doesn't justify the means, it simply dictates them.
Obviously there is a great deal more to THE PRINCE than this thesis; Machiavelli spends a lot of time passing judgement on things like the use of mercenaries in an army, how best to run a territory which you have acquired by force as opposed to one you inherit by treaty, and all other other topics which were pressing on the leadership caste of the sixteenth century, some of which have no bearing on today's world. Taken as a whole, however, THE PRINCE remains a fascinating, timely and somewhat chilling study of political power, and should be required reading to anyone in a leadership position, from an assistant manager to an assistant secretary of state, president of the Elks to President of the United States. It contains a lot of wise counsel (such as Machiavelli's warning to "kingmakers" on their likely fate after the king takes power), and the fact that a lot of it is unpleasant to hear doesn't make any of it less true, or at least less arguable. Seems to me that of the strangest things about political correctness (thought control, as Orwell rightly called it) is the constant demand that we deny reality rather than say something offensive, impolitic or simply barbarous. That we lie rather than put forth observations or arguments which are accurate but too brutal for the sensitive person to face. Machiavelli's great sin - in my mind - is not what he actually wrote, but rather his refusal to lie about the nature of power politics, which are exactly what he says they are. In an age when call-and-response has replaced discourse, buzzwords pass for profundity, and the hot air coming out of Washington is at 450.5 degrees Fahrenheit and rising, it seems to me that honesty is a better policy, even when it's painful to hear.
Book Review: boook
Summary: 4 Stars
this book has imensely inspired my life and moral. i haven't changed myself for the books sake, but merely incorporated the books "principalities" into my life as i best see fit to encourage a better life. the package came in ample time and was boxed safely
thankyou
durell
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