How to Achieve True Greatness

by Baldassare Castiglione

From the 100-part Penguin Great Ideas series comes an excerpt from the famous Book of the Courtier.

In his witty and perceptive discourses on the ideal virtues of a Renaissance courtier, Baldesar Castiglione sets out values that continue to offer illumination in questions of leadership and government—espousing such qualities as prudence, courage, loyalty, affability, and style, and even encouraging the playing of sport as one of the best ways to gain influence and power.

Penguin Great Ideas:
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves—and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war, and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked, and comforted. They have enriched lives—and destroyed them. Now Penguin Great Ideas brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals, and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are. Other titles in the series include Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and Charles Darwin’s On Natural Selection.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Renaissance, Classics, Self Help, Essays, Italian Literature

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1528

About the author

Best known Italian diplomat Count Baldassare Castiglione in 1528 wrote Il Cortegiano , which describes the perfect courtier.

Probably most famous prominent soldier Baldassarre Castiglione of Casatico in Renaissance authored the book. The very influential work, an example of a book, dealt with questions of the etiquette and morality in 16th-century European circles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldass...

Reviews

[jzthompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few of these Penguin 'Great Ideas' books now, some have been good and some have been hard to grapple with. I think a problem I'm starting to see across all of them is that without an introduction or notes it's quite hard to understand the basis of the selection and... When like with this one... There's an abridgment and an argument to be followed... To pick out what the book is driving at. Referring to Wikipedia gave me a very different idea of what this was driving at than the extracts here... so I gave up. Sometimes it's better to not understand a thing at all than to grapple towards a half arsed semi-understanding.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read that I am not quite sure what to make of. This guide to becoming a good courtier, which I assume translates to today's modern gentleman, focuses on some key attributes that anyone wishing to become a good courtier should strive towards pursuing. These attributes include being in top physical health (that is to say actively participating in "gymnastics"), attaining a deep understanding of the humanities (as it is at the core of civilization), strongly relying on justice (as it is the tool that sustains everyone including yourself), venerating beauty (as it is a divine source) and pursuing love in the rational (as oppose to love of the "senses").
While I do agree with nearly all the points made in this retelling of a long Italian renaissance night with courtiers, I find it hard to say any of this knowledge is ground-breaking. My edition is, after all, a truncated version of the original text and perhaps that is why I feel this book to be a bit underwhelming.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow my hair back. I read some names that I hadn’t read before, and I did enjoy particularly the part about how the courtier should teach virtue and such to a prince (similar to the quote on the cover of the book), but that part seemed brief. I think my expectations were off, and thats my own thing.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short exploration on what it takes to be a truly great courtier. Although I enjoy reading this "Penguin Great Ideas" series, this one stands out as rather challenging due to the complete lack of introduction and context.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to a perfect courtier during the Renaissance. An on old-school version of a gentleman.

[Ann Rahfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is fascinating to be listening in to this old discussion. It is too bad that part three isn't included in this printing as the discussion there focuses on women.

[Aamina · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The highest degree of grace is conferred by simplicity and nonchalance’

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book on how to manage navigation of Renaissance court life. How to speak, carry oneself and present a façade to achieve this level of "greatness."

[Ethan Skipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extended yap session with possibly the world's worst blunt rotation

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of Penguin "Great Ideas" series, this book is an excerpt from the Renaissance writer Baldesar Castiglione. It is written for the patrons of the Italian court on how to behave properly. The ethical debate comes from a two night debate which becomes so heated that they forget about time and dawn arises.

On the first night the group decided that the courtier should strive to have the high values, strong warrior abilities and well-educated like that of the prince (but not overstep one's position) but on the second night the debate turned into a debate on love and beauty. Several examples drew from Greek stories including Alexander tales (and Aristotle as his teacher) and the final well-approved argument by Bembo sounds like it was taken from Plato's discourse on love. This struck me as odd. Did he mean that love of beauty is the highest value to achieve true greatness? Just a little confusing.

[Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

short book about the characteristics of the perfect courier in Italy. Couriers were seen as advisors to princes and therefore had to be as close to perfection as the princes wanted themselves to be also. ths story is abotu a dinner party where a group of Italian aristocrats get together and discuss what attributes such a courtier must have and what makes someone truly great. some interesting points raised about bravery and beauty.

[DilanAc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A socratic type dialogue between a number of men in a salon type atmosphere. It owes much to Plato but the discussion on love is very interesting. This idea of divine love, chaste love, courtly love seems to have died with the Renaissance but it is fascinating.

[Elsie]

Just in time for the start of the fall semester

[Maxo Marc]

Had some catchy sayings in it and some timeless truths.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

We did not communicate well - at all: http://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/2...

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Focused too much on old people and love. Not enough on actually becoming great internally.