The Prince (Modern Library Classics)
by Niccolo Machiavelli
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Book Summary Information
Author: Niccolo MachiavelliIntroduction: Albert Russell Ascoli
Translator: Peter Constantine
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-02-05
ISBN: 0812978056
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Modern Library
Book Reviews of The Prince (Modern Library Classics)
Book Review: A Great Leadership Guide
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Prince" by Machiavelli is one of the greatest classics of political science. Unfortunately, Machiavelli has developed a reputation for encouraging leaders to stop at nothing in order to get power. While it is true that Machiavelli advocates that leaders must sometimes do wrong in order to maintain power, he doesn't advocate doing wrong only to hold power. In Machiavelli's world view, the stability of a leader's power is actually a greater good for a society. It must be remembered that the world in which Machiavelli was writing in was a war-torn 16th century Italy. In this world, leaders would often change and this would lead to economic instability and violence. A strong leader would reduce this instability and bring prosperity to the citizens of his country.
Another thing that might surprise readers is that Machiavelli is a believer in the power of the people. As a staunch republican, he believed that the strongest base of power for a leader is the people that he leads. As you read through this book, you'll notice an interesting split between Machiavelli's opinion of individuals and of the people. Machiavelli is very critical of individuals--setting them up as people who can't be trusted and which must be held at arms-length. However, when talking of the people, he claims that a ruler cannot rule for long without the support of the people. In fact, he goes so far as to say that the support of the people is stronger than any fortress. The citizens of a state are it's strongest fortress.
There are many intriguing ideas presented in "The Prince". No doubt you'll be able to find something that applies to your situation. I highly recommend this especially to anyone involved with people management whether in business or in school.
Summary of The Prince (Modern Library Classics)
The first modern treatise of political philosophy, The Prince remains one of the world's most influential and widely read books. Machiavelli, whose name has become synonymous with expedient exercises of will, reveals nothing less than the secrets of power: how to gain it, how to wield it, and how to keep it. But curiously, this work of outspoken clarity has, for centuries, inspired myriad interpretations as to its author's true message.The Introduction by noted Italian Renaissance scholar Albert Russell Ascoli provides a perfect opening to Peter Constantine's illuminating new translation of this seminal work.
"Constantine elegantly captures in English the pith of Machiavelli's brilliant Italian prose."
-Edward Muir, Clarence L. Ver Steeg Professor in the Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University
"Peter Constantine's excellent translation belongs in everyone's library. Perhaps now more than ever we have much to learn from this Renaissance thinker, present at the birth of the modern world."
-John Jeffries Martin, professor of history, Duke University
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