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The Prince Machiavelli - Complete Edition: The New Modern English Translation
127 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2025
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About the author
Niccolò Machiavelli
2,142 books4,976 followers
The Prince
, book of Niccolò Machiavelli, Italian political theorist, in
1513 describes an indifferent ruler to moral considerations with determination to achieve and to maintain power.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, a philosopher, musician, and poet, wrote plays. He figured centrally in component of the Renaissance, and people most widely know his realist treatises on the one hand and republicanism of Discourses on Livy .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%...
1513 describes an indifferent ruler to moral considerations with determination to achieve and to maintain power.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, a philosopher, musician, and poet, wrote plays. He figured centrally in component of the Renaissance, and people most widely know his realist treatises on the one hand and republicanism of Discourses on Livy .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%...
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 27, 2025
I only ended up reading this because of my book club. A member loves politics and suggested this as our next read. Otherwise it wouldn't have been a choice of mine. Regardless, it was a great read. I'm not sure how to rate this book because it's just a modernization. Do I rate it based on the publisher's interpretation? Or base it of the author himself? Mine will be on Machiavelli's writing.
I rated this five stars because it was a honest insight of what Machiavelli felt are the ideals to gain and keep power. Even though I disagree with some of his viewpoints, I don't think it should affect my rating, just because we don't share the same ideals. What kept me engaged was the fact that he was able to explain the reason why he felt the tactics would work and gave examples of real-life people or scenarios where you can see its effectiveness. This made a very interesting book club discussion and insightfulness in other people's mentality.
Now I myself isn't one for politics, and maybe that makes me idealistic. For example, Machiavelli states that it's much safer to be feared than loved. To me, I would say the opposite. When you're loved, I feel that people are more willing to follow your rule and help you prosper. They will give their all, unlike someone who is in fear and would do the minimum to avoid being punished. Another example is when he writes "the reality is that there is no safer way to hold onto a city accustomed to freedom than to destroy it completely." My initial reaction was shock, but as I thought more on his words, I do understand his reasoning, even though I don't necessary agree. Destroying a city is too extreme.
On the other hand, we do share the same ideas. Here are a few:
1. Leadership is about being needed - not feared or loved.
2. Power without control is an illusion.
3. Wisdom lies in choosing the least harmful option.
4. Such methods may bring power, but not honor.
5. Stability is not about charisma - it's about structure.
A lot of his insights can be used in other aspects of life besides politics such as running a business. No matter the size of the company, having structure, balance, and good leadership are always sound practices.
As for the publisher's modernization , I do love how they gave annotations on the people/events mentioned in Machiavelli's letter. It helped me to better understand the political climate of the times and why he felt that those tactics were necessary. I would say this is a great read if you keep an open mind and allow understanding if Machiavelli's views do not mirror your own.
I rated this five stars because it was a honest insight of what Machiavelli felt are the ideals to gain and keep power. Even though I disagree with some of his viewpoints, I don't think it should affect my rating, just because we don't share the same ideals. What kept me engaged was the fact that he was able to explain the reason why he felt the tactics would work and gave examples of real-life people or scenarios where you can see its effectiveness. This made a very interesting book club discussion and insightfulness in other people's mentality.
Now I myself isn't one for politics, and maybe that makes me idealistic. For example, Machiavelli states that it's much safer to be feared than loved. To me, I would say the opposite. When you're loved, I feel that people are more willing to follow your rule and help you prosper. They will give their all, unlike someone who is in fear and would do the minimum to avoid being punished. Another example is when he writes "the reality is that there is no safer way to hold onto a city accustomed to freedom than to destroy it completely." My initial reaction was shock, but as I thought more on his words, I do understand his reasoning, even though I don't necessary agree. Destroying a city is too extreme.
On the other hand, we do share the same ideas. Here are a few:
1. Leadership is about being needed - not feared or loved.
2. Power without control is an illusion.
3. Wisdom lies in choosing the least harmful option.
4. Such methods may bring power, but not honor.
5. Stability is not about charisma - it's about structure.
A lot of his insights can be used in other aspects of life besides politics such as running a business. No matter the size of the company, having structure, balance, and good leadership are always sound practices.
As for the publisher's modernization , I do love how they gave annotations on the people/events mentioned in Machiavelli's letter. It helped me to better understand the political climate of the times and why he felt that those tactics were necessary. I would say this is a great read if you keep an open mind and allow understanding if Machiavelli's views do not mirror your own.
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