Niccolò's Smile: A Biography of Machiavelli

by Maurizio Viroli

A vivid portrayal of the great Italian philosopher - now in paperback

In Niccolò's Smile, Maurizio Viroli brings to life the fascinating writer who was the founder of modern political thought. Niccolò Machiavelli's works on the theory and practice of statecraft are classics, but Viroli sugggests that his greatest accomplishment is his robust philosophy of life -- his deep beliefs about how one should conduct oneself as a modern citizen in a republic, as a responsible family member, as a good person. On these subjects Machiavelli wrote no books: the text of his philosophy is his life itself, a life that was filled with paradox, uncertainty, and tragic drama.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Renaissance, Philosophy, Italy, Politics

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Maurizio Viroli is Professor Emeritus of Politics at Princeton University, Professor of Government at the University of Texas (Austin) and Professor of Political Communication at the University of Italian Switzerland (Lugano).

Reviews

[Wesley F · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple things. (1) This book is a translation from the original Italian version and so obviously it was meant for an Italian audience, (2) it is not a comprehensive biography of Niccolo Machiavelli, it is more of a supplement.

The book's thesis is that Machiavelli has been inaccurately portrayed as advocating princes and governments do evil, that power is more important than anything else. He is named as the proponent of feared princes. His philosophy is often referred to as the school of evil. Even his name has negative connotations, which are unfair.

If you read Machiavelli's full work, you see that he was a proponent of republican government, despised foreign tyranny, but most of all inept government. He blamed the ills of Italy during his time on the total ineptitude of its leaders, in addition to their lack of morality. He decided to take on the ineptitude problem convinced he couldn't do anything about their morals. Even the pope was a ruthless tyrant in those days. His ideal government was a republic which celebrated liberty.

Machiavelli's The Prince was for already established principalities but his "Discourses" more completely lays out his philosophy. Viroli captures all of this.

Unfortunately the narration is very problematic, largely due to the rough translation. Since it is for an Italian audience, it throws out tons of names an places that Americans know nothing about. I know some geography of Italy but even I couldn't keep track. The descriptions of wars, political intrigue, were all tough to follow largely due to the historical reality.

Italy's leaders during this period were truly incompetent. No one could maintain peace or their own power for more than a few years. Foreign invaders entered several times during Machiavelli's lifetime and almost every time Italian leaders managed to botch things, leading to the death and misery of their people. However, it is impossible to get anything out of this when you can't track what's going on. I couldn't.

Finally, the chapters on his personal life were very interesting but didn't paint him in a very positive light, despite the kind words of the author. Machiavelli was a hedonist with a dark and dirty sense of humor. In person, I bet he was very interesting and likable but clearly he had no self control.

Anyway, solid read overall but it is more for an Italian audience or at least someone very familiar with Italian history, politics, and geography.

[Alexander J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even during his life, Machiavelli was a misunderstood person. The existence and use of the term 'Machiavellian' speaks to this: We view him, as many of his contemporaries viewed him, as someone who endorsed a complete lack of morality and justice in the pursuit of power. But this easily-digestible book presents a very different Machiavelli. Using Machiavelli's smile as a recurring image to vivify the various details of his life, Viroli presents us with a mischievous and loving Machiavelli who stressed the importance of history and loved "liberty and civil equality". Likewise, Machiavelli, in his political theses, wrote so often about the role of Fortune, or chance or contingency, on human life. He believed that a human being was capable of controlling only half of what happens in their life, and that Fortune controlled the other half. A successful person, both on the political and the individual levels, recognized the presence of chance and planned accordingly. His life is emblematic of this philosophy. In Viroli's language, we have the opportunity to see Machiavelli as both a theorist of and an active participant in the politics of the day. Most importantly, we receive a vivid and illuminating narrative of the life of one of history's greatest and most misunderstood thinkers.

All that said, I'm not sure if this book has universal appeal, or if it is more appropriate for people who already have an interest in political theory. Much of the biography combines history with theoretical musings, in this regard being a bit wonkish. But I, for one, found it highly engrossing, easy to read, and illuminating.

[icaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'è qualcosa che non mi convince in questa biografia. L'autore è uno dei maggiori studiosi italiani di Machiavelli e il libro non difetta di documentazione appropriata, usata con grande mestiere. La ricostruzione della vita del segretario attraverso la corrispondenza privata è senz'altro pregevole. La narrazione è piana e la lettura scorrevole. Ma Viroli non è riuscito ad appassionarmi. Penso per analogia a una biografia di Spinoza, letta anni fa, che mi aveva fatto una grande impressione.
Forse il richiamo continuo al dato della 'fortuna' (buona o cattiva) di Niccolò, pur legittima e, anzi in totale sintonia con il pensiero di Machiavelli rende un po' troppo monocorde il racconto. Non so.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look into Machiavelli's entire life, both professional and personal. Written from a very sympathetic perspective, but still a good way for those unfamiliar with him to see the man beyond the impressions that most people have based on a superficial knowledge of his works.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid historical context coupled with fawning prose by an author with a serious man-crush on machiavelli, which annoyed even this reader with a man-crush of his own

[Michel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This song goes to you Niccolo, 🎵Aloe Blacc - You Make Me Smile🎵

(Mmmm)
You make me smile
(Ba-be, mmmm)
You make me smile

I think its safe to say
Things just haven’t been going my way
No work coming in, so my money is thin
And I still got bills to pay
But all in all you been right here with me
When I’m sinking low you come through and lift me
It’s nothing more than the love that you give me
Keeps me from drowning in tears

You make me smile (Oh, you make me smile)
You make me smile (You Come through and save the day)
You make me smile (You make me smile!)
You make me smile (In a very special way)

Everywhere I go people seem to ask me
Where I get my joy, why am I so happy?
In these trying times when a frown is the fashion
I’m beaming like the sun, now how can that be?
See the answer to the query is very simple
I’m always grinning from dimple to dimple
Because you love me unconditionally
My happiness is heart-shaped, can’t you see

(When you were gone)
Can’t you see when you’re gone girl (When you’re gone away from me)
I just don’t know what to do (Don’t know what to do)
Everything about you girl (Everything, everything, everything, everything)
Everything revolves around you (Revolves around you)

You make me smile (And I wanna thank you, for making me smile)
You make me smile (You came through and saved the day)
You make me smile (You make me smile!)
You make me smile (Oh, in a very special way)
You make me smile (You make me smile, Ooo)
You make me smile (Love the way you make me hold my head up high)
You make me smile (You make me smile!)
You make me smile (Feel like I've been walking the sky)
You make me smile (When nothin's going my way, what else can I say?)
You make me smile (When I can't see the light here you come shining bright)
You make me smile (When everything's bad and I'm feelin' real sad)
You make me smile (When I don't have the answers you always give me a chance to smile...)
You make me smile...
Smile!
Smile!

[Alberto Redondo Miró · Rating 4 out of 5]

La sonrisa se Maquiavelo es una biografía con un toque tragicómico que le aporta originalidad, aportando el rigor histórico que las novelas no suelen tener con el dinamismo que las biografías más académicas carecen.

Ambientada en una época terrible para Florencia, en el que las luchas internas y las guerras desangran no solo a la pequeña república sino a la península italiana en su totalidad, “La sonrisa de Maquiavelo” combina algunos pasajes de gravedad con otros episodios realmente divertidos, como aquel en el que el irreverente y libertino Maquiavelo engaña a unos monjes para vivir a cuerpo de rey a su costa durante varias días.

Gracias al difícil equilibrio que alcanza, siendo un libro a la par informativo y divertido, estamos ante una biografía muy recomendable para cualquier lector interesado en el Renacimiento italiano y en la figura de Maquiavelo.

[Lorién Gómez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro sensacional, delicioso y divertido. Muy bien escrito; grande Il Macchia y grande Viroli.

Maquiavelo era un cuñado, un cachondo, uno de los nuestros. Capaz de ser un golfo y un hombre sapientísimo -porque qué son las dos cosas sino lo mismo-.

"Con su sonrisa respondía a las miserias de la vida para no dejarse vencer por la pena, el desdén y la melancolía, y para no dar a los hombres y a la fortuna la cruel satisfacción de verlo llorar. Pero su sonrisa no era solamente su manera de defenderse de la vida: era también su manera de sumirse en ella. En su sonrisa había aquel amor por la libertad y por la igualdad civil que en él fue siempre fortísimo, porque sólo entre libres e iguales, no com amos ni siervos, se puede reír de verdad".

[Antonio Gallo]

Un poco machiavellico sorriso

Il sorriso, il riso e il sogghigno sono espressioni graduate e diversificate di stati d'animo con i quali gli uomini osservano la realtà e con essa interagiscono. Quella che ci troviamo a vivere nel mondo d'oggi è certamente una realtà molto diversa da quella che gli uomini hanno vissuto in passato. Essa cambia naturalmente di momento in momento. Le cose non accadono mai allo stesso modo. Ma è certamente mutata la maniera con la quale ci confrontiamo con essa. Restano alcuni momenti e sentimenti che gli uomini condividono da quando vengono al mondo, indipendentemente da dove si trovano o in quale epoca sono vissuti.

Ad una certa età le cose del mondo dovrebbero vedersi in maniera distaccata e disincantata. Possibilmente senza rancore, odio e cattiveria perchè ormai gran parte dei giochi si sono giocati. Si sono conosciute persone ed eventi, ognuno è stato personaggio ed interprete sul palcoscenico della vita. Se “una certa età” è quella che si è formata col susseguirsi di diversi decenni vissuti con un piede in un millennio ed un secolo nuovi e un altro in quelli precedenti, se si sono visti molti e variegati avvenimenti scorrere sotto gli occhi: papi e presidenti, governi e parlamenti, deputati e senatori, guerre e rivoluzioni, illusioni e delusioni, vittorie e sconfitte, disastri e conquiste, allora si dovrebbe avere la capacità di osservare e vivere la realtà del presente, e degli anni che ci restano da vivere, con quello stato d’animo che caratterizza la prima condizione a cui ho accennato all’inizio: il sorriso. Ed invece, così non accade sia per chi ha “una certa età”, sia per chi si trova nella “mezza età” e, più grave ancora, chi è “giovane”.

Come si fa a definire un sorriso? Forse soltanto accompagnando questa parola con aggettivi, di quelli più in uso per descrivere la significativa modifica dell’aspetto e dell’atteggiamento del viso. Quest’ultimo, mai come in questo caso, è l’espressione dichiarata dello stato d’animo della persona che decide di sorridere. Sorriso leggiadro, grazioso, gentile, dolce, amorevole, pietoso, malinconico, mesto, materno, affettuoso, complice. Il sorriso può essere del cielo, della natura, della vita, della primavera, della bellezza, della giovinezza, della fortuna. Insomma uno stato d’animo quasi sempre positivo, gioioso, creativo.

Il riso, invece, comporta una modificazione fisica accentuata del volto, molto più forte del sorriso. Può essere mesto, triste, di compassione, di odio, di sprezzo, di sdegno, di rabbia, canzonatorio, sardonico, maligno, mefistofelico, smodato, rumoroso, sguaiato, sgangherato. Avrete notato il forte aumento nella gradualità rispetto al sorriso. Chi ride decide di dare un giudizio, sceglie una morale da assegnare, quasi sempre negativa, un colpevole da designare, una condanna da emettere. Il cammino porta inevitabilmente a quello che è il terzo grado di giudizio decisamente inappellabile: il sogghigno.

La beffa, la provocazione e la malignità caratterizzano il sogghigno. Chi sceglie questo stato d’animo sa che va allo scontro. Ha deciso di dare battaglia e nulla potrà fermarlo. E’ ben sicuro della propria superiorità non solo morale, ma anche culturale, sociale e politica. A questa persona non interessa il dialogo, il dibattito, la discussione. Ciò che conta è la distruzione dell’avversario, la vittoria su di lui ad ogni costo, il suo annientamento morale, spirituale, politico. Spesso si arriva anche alla eliminazione fisica dell’avversario che non ha via di scampo.

Perchè ho voluto parlare di queste tre condizioni della mente, che ho definito “stati d’animo”, è presto detto. In questi giorni mi sono riletto la biografia di Niccolò Machiavelli di Maurizio Viroli, intitolata “Il sorriso di Machiavelli”, pubblicata diversi anni fa da Laterza. Leggendo le vicende del grande Fiorentino ho avuto modo di capire quanto sia importante, arrivati ad un certo punto dell’esistenza e della propria esperienza vissuta, saper guardare gli eventi con distacco e disincanto, con un lievemente accennato sorriso. Lo stesso sorriso che si legge sul ritratto che appare sulla copertina del libro. Non ha nulla di ambiguo, inquietante, spregiudicato, subdolo. Insomma di… machiavellico.

E’ piuttosto il sorriso di chi, con questo discreto atteggiamento del volto, era vissuto guardando, osservando e vivendo le vicende degli uomini, del mondo e del suo Paese in particolare. Un sorriso che “rispondeva alle miserie della vita per non lasciarsi vincere dalla pena, dallo sdegno e dalla malinconia, e per non dare agli uomini e alla fortuna la soddisfazione crudele di vederlo piangere. Il suo sorriso era non solo il suo modo di difendersi dalla vita. Era anche il suo modo di immergersi in essa. Nel suo sorriso c’era quell’amore della libertà e dell’uguaglianza civile che fu sempre fortissimo in lui, perchè è solo fra liberi e uguali, non con i padroni nè con i servi, che si può davvero ridere. E c’era sopratutto un profondo e sincero senso di carità, quella carità che gli faceva amare la varietà del mondo ed era il suo amore per la patria, quella carità benigna, che “non ha invidia, non è perversa, non insuperbisce, non è ambiziosa, non cerca il suo proprio commodo, non si sdegna, non pensa il male, non si rallegra di quello, non gode delle vanità, tutto patisce, tutto crede, tutto spera”, come scrive nell’Esortazione. Queste parole, che Machiavelli fa sue, sono l’ultima chiave per capire, forse la bellezza del suo sorriso e della sua saggezza di vivere”.

Con queste bellissime parole Maurizio Viroli conclude la biografia del grande Fiorentino. Senza dubbio uno dei più grandi Italiani di tutti i tempi. Il grande teatro della politica del suo tempo ha insegnato ben poco ai suoi compatrioti di oggi a distanza di tanti anni. Nessuno in questo Bel Paese è disposto ad imparare dalla Storia. Solo e sempre idee di smodata ed infinita ambizione, invidie piccole e grandi, tempeste provocate e prevedibili, vere e presunte tragedie, la vita come farsa e commedia, aggressioni fisiche e giudiziarie, bizantinismi, moralismi, interessi personali e di gruppo. Firenze e l’Italia di allora si ritrovano e si rinnovano nell’Italia di oggi. E’ vero, mancano le impiccagioni, il sangue nelle piazze, le esecuzioni pubbliche, i roghi e gli eserciti invasori.

Tutto è più sofisticato, subdolo, strisciante, colorato, virtuale e subliminale, in grado di essere recepito, accettato e fatto proprio dall’individuo e dalla massa, in maniera inconscia. Sempre in nome della libertà, una parola usata, questa volta sì, con “ipocrito sorriso”. Non si sa più sorridere con leggerezza, accettazione, distacco, con la volontà di capire anche le ragioni dell’altro, di venirgli incontro, di offrire e trovare convergenze. Si preferisce ridere smoderatamente, applaudire all’unanimità, con crudele sarcasmo, demolire con la satira distruttiva che non fa sconti e non costruisce, sgretola gratuitamente, sovverte demonizzando.

Pronti a passare al sogghigno che prelude allo scoppio dell’applauso distruttivo finale, segna l’uscita di scena dell’avversario, stanato e fatto colpevole, pronto allo scherno pubblico, al lancio della monetina, al disprezzo popolare. L’antica gogna, il decisivo rogo, questa volta mediatico. La vostra guida, per difendersi e sopravvivere, ha deciso di sorridere prima di se stesso e poi degli altri e del mondo. Ha scelto per questo post Niccolò e vi assicura di essere stato in buona compagnia.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettura molto interessante, cronache di fine ‘400 , intrighi politici e umani senza tempo,,, una dimensione storica analizzata con competenza e con un tratto leggero e sagace,,,
Viroli in questo lavoro storiografico analizzando le opere ed i carteggi arrivati a noi riesce a tratteggiare l’uomo Machiavelli (il Machia) con i suoi pregi e le sue debolezze , consegnando a noi un “grande” della storia.

Il timbro utilizzato è divulgativo , adatto a tutti, ma le vicende trattate per la loro tipicità - siamo nel bel mezzo di lotte complesse tra papato, imperi Francese e Spagnolo, comuni e città - risultano a tratti complesse, quasi che lo scenario , la visione d’insieme tende a volte sfuggire , costringendo il lettore meno preparato a sorvolare un po’ sulle trame nella ricerca del filo conduttore.

Rimane quindi nel suo insieme una lettura piacevole a tratti impegnativa che però non sfugge all’obiettivo non troppo celato dell’autore di consegnare a noi del 20mo secolo un grande della storia , che ha conosciuto momenti di gloria e momenti di abbandono, così come sono da sempre le vicende dei grandi uomini illuminati, impegnati nella ricerca costante della verità, del riconoscimento e della giustizia.

[Mullmuzzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una maravillosa biografía acerca de una de las mentes más brillantes en materia de política en toda la historia, ejemplo para grandes tiranos y gobernantes de distintas etapas de la historia. Sí, ese es Nicolás Maquiavelo, una historia muy interesante sobre un hombre del que se ha mitificado su imagen, especialmente para mal, donde se ha encasillado como una persona malvada y fría, de él viene precisamente el término “maquiavélico”. Una investigación extensa y profunda que nos muestra además del perfil político de este pensador-filósofo una visión más humana y personal del autor de El Príncipe. El autor de esta biografía nos lleva desde las anécdotas de la infancia de Maquiavelo donde observamos como gracias a su padre poco a poco adquirió un verdadero amor por los libros y la historia antigua, desarrollándose cada vez su aguda visión para observar al ser humano, su comportamiento y las pasiones que lo han dominado durante toda su existencia. Me llevé una sorpresa al descubrir que Nicolás era un hombre alegre, divertido, ocurrente y muy querido por sus amigos, tenía una idea de una persona seria y aburrida sentada todo el tiempo bajo la luz de la vela y redactando sus fabuloso análisis políticos, pero no, realmente se trataba de una persona que disfrutaba convivir con la gente, viajar y conocer lugares y costumbres diferentes, todo lo anterior le proporcionó una gran visión para conocer al ser humano. Al leer muchas de sus deducciones casi llegaría uno a pensar que en verdad se trataba de un profeta capaz de adivinar el futuro, pero solamente era un hombre con una sorprendente capacidad de observación y una natural percepción e inteligencia que lo llevó a trazar analogías y entender la relación entre sucesos a través del tiempo (algo para lo que nos debería servir el estudio de la Historia más que para acumular anécdotas y fechas con análisis vacíos y superficiales). El autor nos proporciona una vívida perspectiva de la Italia en el siglo XVI donde estaba muy lejos de ser una nación consolidada y estaba extremadamente dividida por muchas disputas entre España, Francia, Inglaterra y Alemania, vemos como cambiaban de gobernante y formas de gobierno estas tierras, donde Maquiavelo siempre apelaba a la República como la mejor forma de gobierno pero bajo ciertas reglas y características que muy pocos seres humanos tienen, sin duda Maquiavelo era un idealista y apasionado, lo bueno de ello es que lo era en todas las facetas de la vida. Vemos como fue un amante de las mujeres, contrario a la idea que se tiene de que era un hombre misógino y machista, observamos que en efecto sí era lo que hoy conocemos como “mujeriego” pero también era un enamorado del amor, siempre trató bien a las mujeres de su vida y fue correspondido y apreciado por varias de ellas. Una persona sin prejuicios y que nunca dejó el sentido crítico pero que toleraba los diferentes estilos y costumbres de las personas. Ante todo Maquiavelo era un amante de su patria y de su gente, obvio quería sentirse amado como todos pero gran parte de su labor política como canciller y diplomático la realizó pensando en el bien de su pueblo, desafortunadamente se topó con la estulticia de los reyes, cardenales, Papas y el espíritu humano en general donde predominan las ambiciones, envidias y mentiras, quedando relegado el mismo Maquiavelo a ser solo un observador por no tener poder ni ser parte de la élite con riqueza y propiedades a pesar de entender muchas veces la estrategia que se debería seguir para mantener unidos los territorios de Florencia (su tierra natal), Venecia, Napolés, Milán y otras ciudades y lejos de invasores extranjeros. Un ejemplo de su inteligencia y amor a su tierra es la ingeniosa estrategia de armar una milicia ante un ejército alemán frágil (pero que nadie les había puesto resistencia por estar aún más divididos y llenos de disputas internas) justo antes de que éstos invadieran Florencia logrando desviar el ataque hacia Roma evitando así que los florentinos y su familia sufrieran las consecuencias de una guerra. Algo que Maurizio Viroli hace de manera extraordinaria en este libro es entrelazar y analizar hechos históricos tomando fragmentos de las diferentes obras de Maquiavelo logrando con ello entender su visión general de las cosas y entender sus motivaciones en la vida. En general podemos decir que Maquiavelo fue un genio incomprendido, un visionario político y humano que se adelantó a su época y que aún ahora son muy valoradas sus ideas y enseñanzas, las cuales de cierta forma aunque han cambiado los estilos, se siguen aplicando en el arte de gobernar el mundo.

[Edmund Roughpuppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people read Machiavelli in school, but I did not absorb The Prince until my late forties. I’d spent time in Corporate America, Niccolo’s observations rang true. They did not sound “mean” or “evil” to me. His writing carried the strong, earthy aroma I associate with Italy. More importantly, he was the first philosopher I encountered who bothered with EVIDENCE for his ideas. The vast majority of my philosophical reading was a tedious list of unsupported assertions, such as:
Nobody is more inferior than those who insist on being equal.
Reality is created by the mind, we can change our reality by changing our mind.
What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.
A high degree of intellect tends to make a man unsocial.

All four statements above reference the same amount of evidence in their support: zero.

Niccolo provides a refreshing alternative approach: Let’s see what we can learn from what people actually do, and the consequences that tend to follow. He had a ring-side seat on politics, as he worked to achieve stability in the chaos of Renaissance Italy. He also studied the histories of the Roman Empire and drew his conclusions about human nature from that history. He wasn’t interested in history for its own sake, however.

[Machiavelli] could not understand why his contemporaries did not appreciate the greatness of Roman history and why they mostly read stories of antiquity out of mere curiosity, attracted by the variety of human experiences there, without wishing to follow in the footsteps of these great men.

Maurizio Viroli shares the life of this great man, at once charming and heroic. Niccolo was a diplomat but also a commoner, often smacked down by the changing power dynamic in Florence. I was not imprisoned and tortured as he was, but like him, I garnered no respect in my company or interest in my crazy ideas. On that level, I could relate to him.



Viroli writes beautifully, as Machiavelli did. He sings an aria for Niccolo, for his courage, his clarity:

Guided by teachers both classical and contemporary, Niccolò formed a distinctly personal conception of life—a rich blend of generosity, enthusiasm for great deeds, intense passions, comprehension of the fragility of life, and a love of beauty that sprang in part from a deep understanding of life's harshness and human malice. What he did not learn from books, he learned in the streets and squares, the public benches, churches, and taverns of Florence, a unique school of life, magnificent and harsh. Practically speaking, Florence forced him to live a life worth the telling.

[Albert Jaeger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography follows Machiavelli’s life chronologically in 22 chapters, each about 10 pages. The book is long on reciting actual or presumed events in Machiavelli’s life, including his sexual proclivities, and short on interpreting Machiavelli’s political ideas. What I liked about the book: its brisk pace; the author’s witty asides (which may, however, work better in Italian); and at the beginning of most chapters there are grand philosophical ruminations on the meanings of life, love, and politics. As regards the market for Machiavelli books, however, the book seems to land uneasily somewhere between the profound writings of Quentin Skinner about Machiavelli’s political thinking and Alexander Lee’s recent scholarly tour de force covering Machiavelli’s life in some 750 pages. Finally, the book’s print is easy to read.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography of the political science genius Machiavelli written in a relatively humouristic way --especially with regards to his womanizing, aims to strip him of the diabolical portrayal he has unequivocally been given by researchers, and instead to present him in a more humanistic light.

Viroli highlights how this curious character, despite various misfortunes that befall him, manages to serve Florence, the city that he loves, by supporting its system as a republic and contributing to the foundation of its standing army.

[LA · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I had always been interested in Machiavelli and his philosophies, it was piqued after seeing his role in "The Borgias."

This was an interesting read that brought up additional works by Machiavelli that I plan to read later, as well as the long-running thread about his relationship with Cesare Borgia.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read about Machiavelli and the Medici during a recent trip to Florence. Written for more of an academic reader, this book details Niccolo’s relationships and his soft power. He was quite savvy, and quite the rebel, but made some miscalculations that sidelined him when the Medici returned to power.

[Giorgio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viroli challenges the stereotypical image of Machiavelli as a cynical manipulator of power. Instead, he presents him as a passionate republican, a devoted family man, and a resilient thinker. His famous smile is a symbol of his ironic wit and inner freedom that helped him navigate the turbulent Florentine politics of his time.
The biography draws on Machiavelli’s letters, diplomatic dispatches, and personal writings to reconstruct his inner world. Rather than a dry chronology, the book unfolds like a very easily readable, dramatic narrative.

[Thomas Fratkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are."

An interesting yet lacking biography.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being the first biography I have read on Niccolo, I am glad I chose this title. Like many, I have always been fascinated by the things Niccolo has said and the advice he had given to those in positions of power. It was a great thing to be able to understand the events in his life (personal and political) that brought him to say such famous--or infamous--quotes that ultimately depicted him in a certain light. The part I enjoyed the most was his time in which he produced The Prince and how he attempted to use it as a means to regain his former self. This man loved Florence, and when he no longer had the power to position her for greatness, the reason for living seemed to escape Niccolo.

Overall, a great book on Machiavelli. Highly recommended. Some of the advice he gave during his time can still be applied today.

[Kyle David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise, insightful intro to the life and context of Machiavelli for a popular audience. Viroli paints an interesting portrait of Machiavelli through the suggestive lens of his smile. However, Viroli doesn't land where he tells us he will. He invites us to consider the real Machiavelli through his philosophy of life, not simply his political philosophy. Yet, while giving us copious (albeit enjoyable) details about his life, Viroli spends very little ink on what is Machiavelli's philosophy of life. I found this a bit disappointing, and struggled to pinpoint what makes this biography different from others.

[Diem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read and a good synopsis of the lead-up to the sack of Rome. Maybe something is lost in the translation but it was unnecessarily prosey in spots and the language a bit hackneyed. Sometimes read like a college paper. The author and I disagree strongly on topics of morality so some of Machiavelli's behaviors that he found laudable I found repulsive. That said, Machiavelli may be unfairly portrayed as a political philosopher especially since the secular humanists won the canon wars of the '80s. The author does a good job showing why.

[Meghana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This did not live up to my expectations. It's actually an analysis of other source materials, such as letters and ambassador reports. It's not a comprehensive biography, and at times the language was too informal for me, but it did have some interesting information. Still, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they are seriously obsessed with Machiavelli (like me).

[Steven Spector · Rating 4 out of 5]

Translated from the Italian. The author's passion for his subject is easily spotted. Not the first bio on NM I'd read, but one I'd read while eating a heaping bowl of ziti and smiling through my chews.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very clear biography intermixed with Italian politics but not particularly confusing. Helpful to have read The Prince, at least, in reading this one. Not sure how much I agree with his depiction of this man. Certainly a good place to start for chewing over who Machiavelli was.

[Brook Finlayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First rate biography of an intruguing character. Machiavelli is not who you think. Most of what is thought of him is flawed. This is a very engaging read.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting take on the politics in Florence during the time of the Renaissance. Also interesting insight into the creator of the Prince.

[Anthony]

Amazing book, told with honesty and truth about this incredible journey that Machiavelli took, all still relevant, if not more so today.