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The Art of War/The Prince
This special edition of "The Art of War" by Machiavelli & "The Prince" by Machiavelli unites both of Machiavelli's renowned volumes on strategy together, so that the philosophy and mechanisms for obtaining power and managing power may be seen as a single entity. Possessed of a great intellect, Niccolo Machiavelli was uniquely suited to examine and explain the important details of statecraft. Machiavelli, like Plato, Pythagoras and Confucius two hundred odd decades before him, saw only one method by which a thinking man, himself not powerful, might do the work of state building, by seizing the imagination of a Prince. With these writings, he has influenced the history of the world. Machiavelli has so influenced human civilization that the very Machiavellian, has come to mean that which is characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning. A prime example is his "A wise prince, when he has the opportunity, ought with craft to foster some animosity against himself, so that, having crushed it, his renown may rise higher." His advice, on this and other suggested intrigues, has been heeded by various heads of state for over four hundred years.
Other special edition books in this series dealing with the subject of warfare and strategy
The Art of War By Sun Tzu - Special Edition
The Art of War By Mao Tse-tung - Special Edition
The Art of War By Baron De Jomini - Special Edition
Other special edition books in this series dealing with the subject of warfare and strategy
The Art of War By Sun Tzu - Special Edition
The Art of War By Mao Tse-tung - Special Edition
The Art of War By Baron De Jomini - Special Edition
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1521
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1723 people want to read
About the author
Niccolò Machiavelli
2,144 books4,979 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 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 20, 2018
rating coming soon
August 14, 2024
What happens if you compress a history textbook into a smaller format? A book about wars will be created. What happens if you compress it further? Something like this book will be created. A universal guide on how to survive in 16th century Italy and modern society. And this is nothing but concentrated evil.
However, the question is not whether you should read it or not. This is a must-read book. The real question is whether there is an alternative to these recommendations that can make the world safer.
However, the question is not whether you should read it or not. This is a must-read book. The real question is whether there is an alternative to these recommendations that can make the world safer.
August 9, 2021
Произведение «Государь» до недолго времени может заинтересовать читателя, поскольку довольно короткое, а также первое время наблюдать за мыслями человека, жившего в 15-16 веке довольно интересно, однако в произведении «О военном искусстве» весь интерес испаряется моментально. Тезисы, указанные там, уже не актуальны на сегодняшний день, повествование довольно сумбурно, ни одна мысль не подкреплена конкретным примером. Поэтому, посоветую, пожалуй, остановиться только на первой части этой книги, или вовсе купить «Государя» отдельно, без каких-либо ещё произведений Макиавелли.
February 20, 2018
Pratica e teoria per un signore del 1500
Citando esempi (con lo stesso scopo e metodo delle note bibliografiche in un articolo scientifico moderno) dalla Storia antica, dalla mitologia, dalla Bibbia, ma anche da eventi a lui contemporanei l’autore compone un dittico senza tempo. Se nel Principe Machiavelli ci racconta la filosofia che sta dietro alla sua idea di governante, ne L’arte della guerra l’argomento si sposta su aspetti logistici e funzionali. Ad una lettura consecutiva (e doverosa), si ha l’impressione di avere un manuale “teorico-pratico” completo il cui scopo - nonostante i titoli e le interpretazioni “machiavelliche” che ci sono arrivate attraverso i secoli - è quello di aiutare i governanti a mantenere la pace in un’Italia dagli equilibri instabili.
Citando esempi (con lo stesso scopo e metodo delle note bibliografiche in un articolo scientifico moderno) dalla Storia antica, dalla mitologia, dalla Bibbia, ma anche da eventi a lui contemporanei l’autore compone un dittico senza tempo. Se nel Principe Machiavelli ci racconta la filosofia che sta dietro alla sua idea di governante, ne L’arte della guerra l’argomento si sposta su aspetti logistici e funzionali. Ad una lettura consecutiva (e doverosa), si ha l’impressione di avere un manuale “teorico-pratico” completo il cui scopo - nonostante i titoli e le interpretazioni “machiavelliche” che ci sono arrivate attraverso i secoli - è quello di aiutare i governanti a mantenere la pace in un’Italia dagli equilibri instabili.
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March 19, 2010The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (1940)
February 22, 2020
Увлекает :)
December 26, 2024
Любопытный учебник по антикризисному менеджменту, написанный неожиданно емким и точным языком.
Я читал версию на Букмейте в переводе Руфа Хлодовского и его же предисловием, оно занимает 42% книги и ничуть не менее интересное. В частности, он рассказывает о том, что Макиавелли, хоть больше всего и любил политику, был человеком многих талантов: его сравнивали с Дюрером, он писал поэзию и стал автором самой популярной комедии своего времени. В 16 веке это было естественно — и, пожалуй, остается естественным до сих пор.
Цитаты:
«Умы бывают трех родов: один все постигает сам; другой может понять то, что постиг первый; третий сам ничего не постигает и постигнутого другим понять не может. Первый ум – выдающийся, второй – значительный, третий – негодный.»
«Не стоит лишь надеяться на то, что можно принять безошибочное решение, наоборот, следует заранее примириться с тем, что всякое решение сомнительно, ибо это в порядке вещей, что, избегнув одной неприятности, попадаешь в другую. Однако в том и состоит мудрость, чтобы, взвесив все возможные неприятности, наименьшее зло почесть за благо.»
«Но, имея намерение написать нечто полезное для людей понимающих, я предпочел следовать правде не воображаемой, а действительной – в отличие от тех многих, кто изобразил республики и государства, каких в действительности не знавал и не видывал.
Ибо расстояние между тем, как люди живут и как должны бы жить, столь велико, что тот, кто отвергает действительное ради должного, действует скорее во вред себе, нежели на благо, так как, желая исповедовать добро во всех случаях жизни, он неминуемо погибнет, сталкиваясь с множеством людей, чуждых добру.»
«Дерзну прибавить, что обладать этими добродетелями и неуклонно им следовать вредно, тогда как выглядеть обладающим ими – полезно. Надо являться в глазах людей сострадательным, верным слову, милостивым, искренним, благочестивым – и быть таковым в самом деле, но внутренне надо сохранять готовность проявить и противоположные качества, если это окажется необходимо.»
«Сохраняют благополучие те, чей образ действий отвечает особенностям времени, и утрачивают благополучие те, чей образ действий не отвечает своему времени.»
«Ибо правило, не знающее исключений, гласит: государю, который сам не обладает мудростью, бесполезно давать благие советы, если только такой государь случайно не доверится мудрому советнику, который будет принимать за него все решения. Но, хотя подобное положение и возможно, ему скоро пришел бы конец, ибо советник сам сделался бы государем.»
«Дела, неугодные подданным, государи должны возлагать на других, а угодные – исполнять сами. В заключение же повторю, что государю надлежит выказывать почтение к знати, но не вызывать ненависти в народе.»
«Жестокость применена хорошо в тех случаях – если позволительно дурное называть хорошим, – когда ее проявляют сразу и по соображениям безопасности, не упорствуют в ней и по возможности обращают на благо подданных; и плохо применена в тех случаях, когда поначалу расправы совершаются редко, но со временем учащаются, а не становятся реже. Действуя первым способом, можно, подобно Агафоклу, с Божьей и людской помощью удержать власть; действуя вторым – невозможно.
Отсюда следует, что тот, кто овладевает государством, должен предусмотреть все обиды, чтобы покончить с ними разом, а не возобновлять изо дня в день; тогда люди понемногу успокоятся, и государь сможет, делая им добро, постепенно завоевать их расположение. Кто поступит иначе, из робости или по дурному умыслу, тот никогда уже не вложит меч в ножны и никогда не сможет опереться на своих подданных, не знающих покоя от новых и непрестанных обид.»
Я читал версию на Букмейте в переводе Руфа Хлодовского и его же предисловием, оно занимает 42% книги и ничуть не менее интересное. В частности, он рассказывает о том, что Макиавелли, хоть больше всего и любил политику, был человеком многих талантов: его сравнивали с Дюрером, он писал поэзию и стал автором самой популярной комедии своего времени. В 16 веке это было естественно — и, пожалуй, остается естественным до сих пор.
Цитаты:
«Умы бывают трех родов: один все постигает сам; другой может понять то, что постиг первый; третий сам ничего не постигает и постигнутого другим понять не может. Первый ум – выдающийся, второй – значительный, третий – негодный.»
«Не стоит лишь надеяться на то, что можно принять безошибочное решение, наоборот, следует заранее примириться с тем, что всякое решение сомнительно, ибо это в порядке вещей, что, избегнув одной неприятности, попадаешь в другую. Однако в том и состоит мудрость, чтобы, взвесив все возможные неприятности, наименьшее зло почесть за благо.»
«Но, имея намерение написать нечто полезное для людей понимающих, я предпочел следовать правде не воображаемой, а действительной – в отличие от тех многих, кто изобразил республики и государства, каких в действительности не знавал и не видывал.
Ибо расстояние между тем, как люди живут и как должны бы жить, столь велико, что тот, кто отвергает действительное ради должного, действует скорее во вред себе, нежели на благо, так как, желая исповедовать добро во всех случаях жизни, он неминуемо погибнет, сталкиваясь с множеством людей, чуждых добру.»
«Дерзну прибавить, что обладать этими добродетелями и неуклонно им следовать вредно, тогда как выглядеть обладающим ими – полезно. Надо являться в глазах людей сострадательным, верным слову, милостивым, искренним, благочестивым – и быть таковым в самом деле, но внутренне надо сохранять готовность проявить и противоположные качества, если это окажется необходимо.»
«Сохраняют благополучие те, чей образ действий отвечает особенностям времени, и утрачивают благополучие те, чей образ действий не отвечает своему времени.»
«Ибо правило, не знающее исключений, гласит: государю, который сам не обладает мудростью, бесполезно давать благие советы, если только такой государь случайно не доверится мудрому советнику, который будет принимать за него все решения. Но, хотя подобное положение и возможно, ему скоро пришел бы конец, ибо советник сам сделался бы государем.»
«Дела, неугодные подданным, государи должны возлагать на других, а угодные – исполнять сами. В заключение же повторю, что государю надлежит выказывать почтение к знати, но не вызывать ненависти в народе.»
«Жестокость применена хорошо в тех случаях – если позволительно дурное называть хорошим, – когда ее проявляют сразу и по соображениям безопасности, не упорствуют в ней и по возможности обращают на благо подданных; и плохо применена в тех случаях, когда поначалу расправы совершаются редко, но со временем учащаются, а не становятся реже. Действуя первым способом, можно, подобно Агафоклу, с Божьей и людской помощью удержать власть; действуя вторым – невозможно.
Отсюда следует, что тот, кто овладевает государством, должен предусмотреть все обиды, чтобы покончить с ними разом, а не возобновлять изо дня в день; тогда люди понемногу успокоятся, и государь сможет, делая им добро, постепенно завоевать их расположение. Кто поступит иначе, из робости или по дурному умыслу, тот никогда уже не вложит меч в ножны и никогда не сможет опереться на своих подданных, не знающих покоя от новых и непрестанных обид.»
January 28, 2025
Review of The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.”
Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince remains the ultimate manual for power, strategy, and the ruthless pragmatism required to govern effectively. Written as a guide for rulers navigating the treacherous political landscapes of Renaissance Italy, its principles extend far beyond its historical context, serving as a blueprint for leadership in any era.
Machiavelli dismantles the idealistic illusions of governance and exposes the reality of power: strength, cunning, and decisive action are the hallmarks of true dominance. He emphasizes that morality and virtue, while useful as tools of persuasion, must never hinder a ruler’s ability to secure and maintain authority. Instead, he advocates for adaptability—using kindness when it serves one’s interests, but resorting to calculated brutality when necessary.
At the heart of The Prince lies the concept of realpolitik: power is not about ideals but about effectiveness. A ruler must cultivate an image of virtue while remaining unbound by moral constraints when survival demands otherwise. Machiavelli’s study of figures like Cesare Borgia illustrates that fortune favors those who seize control rather than those who wait for justice or fate to act in their favor.
His lessons on military strength, deception, and the art of controlling perception are as relevant today as they were five centuries ago. Whether in politics, business, or personal ambition, those who understand Machiavelli’s principles can navigate power structures with precision and authority.
Key Lessons from The Prince:
• Power is maintained through a balance of fear and respect—it is better to be feared than loved, but never hated.
• A ruler must be both a lion and a fox—strong enough to command, yet cunning enough to avoid traps.
• Fortune favors the bold—those who take decisive action shape their own destiny.
• Perception is power—a ruler must appear virtuous, even if ruthless in practice.
• Loyalty is fragile—it must be carefully managed through rewards, fear, and control.
Conclusion:
Machiavelli’s The Prince is not for the weak-willed or the idealistic. It is a handbook for those who seek to command, conquer, and control. Its lessons are brutal, yet undeniably effective for those who understand that power is not given—it is taken. This book is essential for anyone who refuses to be at the mercy of others and instead chooses to shape their own destiny.
Rating: 5/5 – A masterclass in strategy, control, and the ruthless pursuit of power.
“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.”
Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince remains the ultimate manual for power, strategy, and the ruthless pragmatism required to govern effectively. Written as a guide for rulers navigating the treacherous political landscapes of Renaissance Italy, its principles extend far beyond its historical context, serving as a blueprint for leadership in any era.
Machiavelli dismantles the idealistic illusions of governance and exposes the reality of power: strength, cunning, and decisive action are the hallmarks of true dominance. He emphasizes that morality and virtue, while useful as tools of persuasion, must never hinder a ruler’s ability to secure and maintain authority. Instead, he advocates for adaptability—using kindness when it serves one’s interests, but resorting to calculated brutality when necessary.
At the heart of The Prince lies the concept of realpolitik: power is not about ideals but about effectiveness. A ruler must cultivate an image of virtue while remaining unbound by moral constraints when survival demands otherwise. Machiavelli’s study of figures like Cesare Borgia illustrates that fortune favors those who seize control rather than those who wait for justice or fate to act in their favor.
His lessons on military strength, deception, and the art of controlling perception are as relevant today as they were five centuries ago. Whether in politics, business, or personal ambition, those who understand Machiavelli’s principles can navigate power structures with precision and authority.
Key Lessons from The Prince:
• Power is maintained through a balance of fear and respect—it is better to be feared than loved, but never hated.
• A ruler must be both a lion and a fox—strong enough to command, yet cunning enough to avoid traps.
• Fortune favors the bold—those who take decisive action shape their own destiny.
• Perception is power—a ruler must appear virtuous, even if ruthless in practice.
• Loyalty is fragile—it must be carefully managed through rewards, fear, and control.
Conclusion:
Machiavelli’s The Prince is not for the weak-willed or the idealistic. It is a handbook for those who seek to command, conquer, and control. Its lessons are brutal, yet undeniably effective for those who understand that power is not given—it is taken. This book is essential for anyone who refuses to be at the mercy of others and instead chooses to shape their own destiny.
Rating: 5/5 – A masterclass in strategy, control, and the ruthless pursuit of power.
May 30, 2024
Tanto O Príncipe como A Arte da Guerra oferecem valiosas janelas para o cérebro do cabrão quinhentista. Cabrão, e bem: porque de ser-se cabrão dependia, então, a sobrevivência. Mais do que a arte bem guerrear e bem governar, estes livros retratam sobretudo um ambiente de desconfiança quase omnipresente entre as elites da época, de permanente vigilância face a cada possibilidade de traição e contra-traição que nas cortes principescas constantemente surgiam; e o retrato deste ambiente é, creio eu, valioso para ilustrar o ambiente em que se desenvolve a história da Europa na Renascença - e, por extensão (porque não também?), a da Idade Média. Ainda que a Arte da Guerra, com a sua incessante descrição do devido posicionamento de batalhões, chegue a ser bastante entediante para quem (como eu) não esteja interessado em tática militar na Época Moderna, não deixa de, globalmente, ser interessante enquanto documento histórico.
Quando políticos contemporâneos começam a citar O Príncipe como influência é que uma pessoa se começa a assustar. De nada serviu a queda do feudalismo e a emergência de estados centralizados fortes? De nada serviram os séculos de guerras, que resultaram neste período de invulgar (e esperemos que prolongada) paz? Regressamos, uma vez mais, a esta lógica governativa individualista, preocupada com o próprio umbigo, num constante medo da facada que poderá dar o vizinho, porque - e nisto Maquiavel parece crer inequivocamente - o ser humano é intrinsecamente mau? Espero que não - não me parece tão negra a natureza humana. Espero que, por interessante que sejam estes dois livros, Maquiavel permaneça onde deve permanecer: na poeira dos séculos.
Quando políticos contemporâneos começam a citar O Príncipe como influência é que uma pessoa se começa a assustar. De nada serviu a queda do feudalismo e a emergência de estados centralizados fortes? De nada serviram os séculos de guerras, que resultaram neste período de invulgar (e esperemos que prolongada) paz? Regressamos, uma vez mais, a esta lógica governativa individualista, preocupada com o próprio umbigo, num constante medo da facada que poderá dar o vizinho, porque - e nisto Maquiavel parece crer inequivocamente - o ser humano é intrinsecamente mau? Espero que não - não me parece tão negra a natureza humana. Espero que, por interessante que sejam estes dois livros, Maquiavel permaneça onde deve permanecer: na poeira dos séculos.
October 23, 2017
Both books contain interesting information about human nature and motivations.
Both are books that I've been meaning to read for years and I wasn't disappointed. I did find it a bit overwhelming to listen to both at once. In retrospect I shouldn't have listened to the whole thing in one sitting and yet I can't think of where I would have stopped.
There is a lot of information in these books, I'll definitely need to listen to them again to absorb more.
Well narrated with a good pace and a natural delivery.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Both are books that I've been meaning to read for years and I wasn't disappointed. I did find it a bit overwhelming to listen to both at once. In retrospect I shouldn't have listened to the whole thing in one sitting and yet I can't think of where I would have stopped.
There is a lot of information in these books, I'll definitely need to listen to them again to absorb more.
Well narrated with a good pace and a natural delivery.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2025
Fosse stato con testo originale in volgare a fronte e non una pura e semplice edizione integrale probabilmente mi sarebbe piaciuto di più (credo anche che l'avrei compreso di più). Comunque interessante, per quanto difficile da leggere; comunque acuto, nonostante la sua veneranda età
February 25, 2019
The Prince ****
The Art of War ***
The Prince is a collection of Machiavelli's thoughts and observations on how to be a successful leader. He makes statements about how a leader should act and then backs them up with examples of how leaders have succeeded and failed throughout history and what caused their defeat or victory. He uses examples from various empires, but mainly focuses on examples from Italy, both in his time and during the Roman Empire. The Prince includes a lot of interesting historical information as well as profound observations about politics and human nature.
The Prince was very interesting to read because I learned a lot about Italian history and because Machiavelli made interesting observations about how people behave and how leaders can be successful. Many of his observations seem to hold true because various political examples from after his time hold to the patterns he described. However, I question how universally applicable his assumptions are because they are all founded on the idea that humans are essentially evil, and I personally do not believe this is true, since I know many people who spend much of their time helping others with no benefit to themselves except the knowledge that they've improved the life of another. I disagree with some of Machiavelli's points, for example his idea that war is inevitable and should therefore not be avoided. I am a pacifist because I believe that injuries to people should be avoided, so it is better for a country to protect its citizens by not putting them in the way of gunfire than to fight for their beliefs while risking the lives of citizens. In addition, Machiavelli is evidently sexist, and his ignorance of the ability for women to hold power means that he has ignored that women sometimes have different tendencies than men. For example, Machiavelli concludes that bonds of love are unreliable because they will always be broken at the first point where an action benefits one of the people and not the other, but the actions of many mothers in respect to their children is an obvious contradiction to this rule. Machiavelli's sexism is also evident as he only references women as objects for men's pleasure and compares fortune to a woman in that "if you wish to master her, you must strike and beat her." Of course, Machiavelli's ideas about gender were common in his time, but it does affect the universality of his statements considering that he ignored the actions and motivations of half of the human race.
Overall, The Prince was an extremely interesting book and it brought up a lot of questions about politics and human nature that were fascinating to ponder. I appreciate the historical examples Machiavelli used to back up each of his claims, and admire the depth of his observations about people. However, I think that some of his basic assumptions about people that he thought too obvious to explain are questionable, so I question the truth of his statements and the sagacity of a modern leader to actually follow his advice.
The Art of War ***
The Art of War describes how to form, train, and fight with an army in Machiavelli's time. The main idea is that the Romans were great warriors so a good army should be modelled after them with very minor changes to account for modern weapons such as guns. Machiavelli covers pretty much every detail a military commander would need, discussing how to recruit an army, train it, engage in battle, set up camp, organize marches, and defend a city, as well as how to account for any accidents that might occur in any of these situations. It is extremely detailed, giving the exact numbers of soldiers necessary for a battle, the exact positions they should take, and the exact dimensions for how much space the soldiers will take up when marching and in camp. These details made it very easy to visualize the army in my head, since it was so well-described.
The Art of War was well-written and very useful for a military leader in Machiavelli's time who wanted to improve their army, however since it describes an army that uses pikes, swords, and shields, it's not particularly useful to military strategists today. In the present day, I can really only think of two cases in which it's useful; the first would be for anyone interested in Italian or military history, and the second is writers thinking of how to describe an army in a fantasy or historical fiction book. Luckily, I'm interested in Italian history and I want to be a fantasy author, so I didn't find the book too boring, but even so there were parts when I thought that the information was pretty useless in the 21st century.
I enjoyed The Art of War because it was well-written and a good source on Italian military history in both Roman and Renaissance times. However, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else unless you're fascinated by those subjects, because unless military history interests you it's useless to read 200 pages about the exact way to form an army in the 1500's.
February 15, 2019
Are you ruthless enough to win? Find out by reading this
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May 13, 2020Well that was a turn of the screw!
October 6, 2020
A classic everyone should read.
June 25, 2023
Pretty good. However, the 48 Laws of Power by Green can give you more. It's obvious - it's newer. If you like this type of non-fiction, you'll like it
July 24, 2023
Цікавий трактат про управління середньовічною державністю і вибудовування вертикалі, біблія пізнання управління
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August 12, 2025I have learned that some wounds are not meant to heal but to remind us of the cost of existing at all.
September 14, 2011
It took me a long time to finish reading this; indeed it was sat on my shelf or bedside table for over a year until I forced myself to concentrate on it over other more easily read & understood books. But while I admit I found it difficult at times to fully understand many of Machiavelli’s ideas without re-reading sections several times over there are so many lessons taught that are as relevant today as they were 500 years ago. Numerous passages throughout ‘The Prince’ could relate directly to the west’s current involvement in Afghanistan and Libya; for example on how forcefully removing an occupied populations weapons, will lead to further strife, or how populations that are used to a strong prince/dictator will find it difficult to adjust to democratic rule. Furthermore its vivid descriptions of how those who desire power should go about achieving and retaining it are as relevant to contemporary political thought as anything written since.
A criticism of the purpose of the text has been that it is sarcastic in nature since while many of the ideas Machiavelli discusses relate to keeping armed conflict to a minimum and the long term failure of violent occupations of ‘free’ people; he puts Duke Valentino, a man who conquered much of central Italy with French & Papal forces on a pedestal as a wise prince to copy.
The Art of War is a very different book to the Prince and I’ll admit to being slightly thrown at first by its Socratic dialogue structure. While it can seem like the book focuses entirely on 15/16th Century warfare with little that is relevant to modern society, the further I got into the book, the more I understood how many ideas relating to the management of troops/workers, risk-reward, innovative thinking and awareness of your surroundings among many others were relevant to today’s world. I did find some of the in-depth descriptions of unit formation and movement a little tedious but again this provided ample lessons on the scaling of forces, having multiple redundancies, adaptability of plans and planning for the unexpected.
While I can’t claim to have ever read any of core management school textbooks, I do think this should be a must read for anyone looking to understand how to successfully manage & motivate people, successfully plan and achieve objectives, and understand some of the underlying issues in many politically unstable (and indeed stable) countries in the world today. This is not even to mention how Machiavelli’s accounts provide a vivid picture of political life in 15th/16th century Italy.
A criticism of the purpose of the text has been that it is sarcastic in nature since while many of the ideas Machiavelli discusses relate to keeping armed conflict to a minimum and the long term failure of violent occupations of ‘free’ people; he puts Duke Valentino, a man who conquered much of central Italy with French & Papal forces on a pedestal as a wise prince to copy.
The Art of War is a very different book to the Prince and I’ll admit to being slightly thrown at first by its Socratic dialogue structure. While it can seem like the book focuses entirely on 15/16th Century warfare with little that is relevant to modern society, the further I got into the book, the more I understood how many ideas relating to the management of troops/workers, risk-reward, innovative thinking and awareness of your surroundings among many others were relevant to today’s world. I did find some of the in-depth descriptions of unit formation and movement a little tedious but again this provided ample lessons on the scaling of forces, having multiple redundancies, adaptability of plans and planning for the unexpected.
While I can’t claim to have ever read any of core management school textbooks, I do think this should be a must read for anyone looking to understand how to successfully manage & motivate people, successfully plan and achieve objectives, and understand some of the underlying issues in many politically unstable (and indeed stable) countries in the world today. This is not even to mention how Machiavelli’s accounts provide a vivid picture of political life in 15th/16th century Italy.
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December 23, 2009http://nhw.livejournal.com/731403.html[return][return]I found it very thought-provoking. The style is a little reminiscent of Sun Tzu's The Art of War - less staccato, of course, and with rather too many references to events contemporary to Machiavelli which I have only dimly heard of, if at all. Machiavelli's strictures on statecraft for the autocratic ruler are not hugely relevant for Western democracies, where the executive's freedom to do what they want is (thank God!) hemmed in by many legal and political restrictions.[return][return]But for a number of the countries that I take an interest in, which have democratic form but not content, his analysis is actually a much better explanation of their rulers' behaviour, and a useful metric for predicting whether they will succeed or fail, than any appeal to democratic theory. To take one example that is no longer contemporary, I read the passage on a Civil Principality, "where a leading citizen becomes the prince of his country, not by wickedness or any intolerable violence, but by the favour of his fellow citizens", and thought of Eduard Shevardnadze and his downfall.[return][return]And indeed some of his strictures have a wider application than merely to autocratic rulers' domestic policies. His observation that while you may have to choose being feared over being loved, you must avoid at all costs being hated, has obvious read-through to external as well as internal interventions in any country's politics.[return][return]The last few chapters - on choosing the right person to be your right-hand man, while at the same time avoiding the attentions of flatterers - are obviously to be seen in the light of the entire book being a job application; but they are none the less important observations on the psychology of leaders and their advisers.[return][return]So yeah, an excellent read.
July 19, 2013
The Prince is the consummate guide to assuming and maintaining power in Renaissance Italy: a defining work in political philosophy and the establishment of 'realpolitik' ideology. There were many parts I found somewhat hard to follow - Niccolo being a historian likes to 'drop names' of historical figures throughout the book... some I had knowledge of - many I did not. This made it a little bit hard to comprehend in certain places. I did find it an entertaining read that still very much rings through in today's power politics however.
The Art of War reads in the form of a dialogue and at parts I found a bit disengaging due to the content. Much of the book is dedicated entirely to the positioning and personnel requirements on the battlefield which has very little to no relevance, nor interest, to me. The parts of the book that I did find interest in was much the opposite though.
I would recommend perhaps a different version that comes along with some footnotes. An emphasis on increasing the reader's knowledge of historical figures would have particularly assisted with my ability to absorb the content, as would some kind of preface as to the political circumstances from which Machiavelli was writing. Even with this said, people with even the most remote interest in political thought should read both The Prince & The Art of War.
Highly recommended.
The Art of War reads in the form of a dialogue and at parts I found a bit disengaging due to the content. Much of the book is dedicated entirely to the positioning and personnel requirements on the battlefield which has very little to no relevance, nor interest, to me. The parts of the book that I did find interest in was much the opposite though.
I would recommend perhaps a different version that comes along with some footnotes. An emphasis on increasing the reader's knowledge of historical figures would have particularly assisted with my ability to absorb the content, as would some kind of preface as to the political circumstances from which Machiavelli was writing. Even with this said, people with even the most remote interest in political thought should read both The Prince & The Art of War.
Highly recommended.
June 13, 2022
Makiavellinin hələ XVI cı əsrdə yazdığı 'Hökmdar'ı ən uzun müddətli oxuduğum kitablardan oldu. Buna səbəb isə əsərin son zamanlar alışdığım bədii üslubda deyil, orta əsr nəsrində, nəsihət və olmuş əhvəlatlara istinadən qurulmuş idarəşilik vəsaiti şəklində yazılışıdır.
Müəllifin müharibə və sülh dövrlərində, çətin və xüsusi vəziyyətlərdə düzgün qərar vermək və davranmaq haqqında fərdi situasion təhlili oxucunu öncəki fəsillərə bir daha geri dönərək oxuduqlarını daha yaxşı həzm etməyə vadar edir.
Əsər, ilk nəzərdən, bir zamanlar oxuduğum Keykavusun 'Qabusnamə'sinə bənzəsə də, birincidən fərqli olaraq məişətdə əxlaq və cəmiyyətin qəbul etdiyi normalarına düzgün riayətdən yox, istənilən üsullarla (!) hakimiyyətdə qalmağı və siyasi məsələlərdə , məqsədə çatmaq üçün lazım gələrsə hətta qeyri-etik çirkin (!) çevikliyi belə təbliğ edir.
Kitabı oxuduqca başa düşürsən ki, siyasi davranış və mübarizə üsulları zamanlarla dəyişməz olaraq qalır. Sanki bütün vəziyyətlərə uyğun standard düsturlar əsrlər öncə əvvəlcədən yazılıb.
Mütaliə üçün ağır olsa da, ən azından ilk 25 başlığı oxumaq mütləqdir, çünki kitabı axıra kimi oxumaq səbr, inadkarlıq ya da xüsusi həvəs tələb edir.
Müəllifin müharibə və sülh dövrlərində, çətin və xüsusi vəziyyətlərdə düzgün qərar vermək və davranmaq haqqında fərdi situasion təhlili oxucunu öncəki fəsillərə bir daha geri dönərək oxuduqlarını daha yaxşı həzm etməyə vadar edir.
Əsər, ilk nəzərdən, bir zamanlar oxuduğum Keykavusun 'Qabusnamə'sinə bənzəsə də, birincidən fərqli olaraq məişətdə əxlaq və cəmiyyətin qəbul etdiyi normalarına düzgün riayətdən yox, istənilən üsullarla (!) hakimiyyətdə qalmağı və siyasi məsələlərdə , məqsədə çatmaq üçün lazım gələrsə hətta qeyri-etik çirkin (!) çevikliyi belə təbliğ edir.
Kitabı oxuduqca başa düşürsən ki, siyasi davranış və mübarizə üsulları zamanlarla dəyişməz olaraq qalır. Sanki bütün vəziyyətlərə uyğun standard düsturlar əsrlər öncə əvvəlcədən yazılıb.
Mütaliə üçün ağır olsa da, ən azından ilk 25 başlığı oxumaq mütləqdir, çünki kitabı axıra kimi oxumaq səbr, inadkarlıq ya da xüsusi həvəs tələb edir.
October 25, 2020
Speaking of this edition the fist part of the book (The Art of War by Sun Tzu, book that it isn't really attributed to him) the idea es somewhat there, but the editorial did a really poor job on delivering it. The grammatical horrors and bad translation makes it really difficult to read.
For the second part (currently reading as I post this) the editorial did a better job on grammatically speaking and also at translation (can be understandable, the translation comes from a idiom much closer to english). I recommend having a history page on your computer, tablet, phone... if you're not to familiar with old Europe, this book will take you a while to really understand.
In conclusion, the editorial did a really poor job on this book (as well as the print, the book is shedding pages like a dog after winter), not worth the money in my opinion. Get a better copy.
For the second part (currently reading as I post this) the editorial did a better job on grammatically speaking and also at translation (can be understandable, the translation comes from a idiom much closer to english). I recommend having a history page on your computer, tablet, phone... if you're not to familiar with old Europe, this book will take you a while to really understand.
In conclusion, the editorial did a really poor job on this book (as well as the print, the book is shedding pages like a dog after winter), not worth the money in my opinion. Get a better copy.
July 1, 2018
Эта книга является наставлениями будущим правителям Италии. В книге подробно разбирается, как следует править, чтобы удержать / приобрести власть. Однако тут даются не советы мудрецов, а скорее холодные, совершенно лишенные эмоций принципы. Все аспекты власти совершенно беспристрастно разбираются на маленькие кирпичики. Никакие чувства в расчёт не принимаются. Человечность? - не, не слышал. "Лучше вести войну, чем её избегать". "Страх - лучший способ держать подданых в подчинении". Добрые дела надо делать с оглядкой, чтобы, не приведи господь, не переборщить. Книга больше похожа на пособие для социопатов, написанное таким же социопатом, который весь мир меряет по своей мерке.
January 17, 2008
When you get into Management classes at the university level, you'll often read some book like "You're the Best Around!! How to Win While Getting to Yes AND Use Your Strengths that You've Recently Discovered!!!"
Compared to Machiavelli, all modern business books blow. They blow hard.
Basically, Machiavelli wrote down the original version of business management, based on what he saw during the time of the Medici's in Italy.
Any dude or lady that writes a book is simply saying what Machiavelli said in business terms.
Compared to Machiavelli, all modern business books blow. They blow hard.
Basically, Machiavelli wrote down the original version of business management, based on what he saw during the time of the Medici's in Italy.
Any dude or lady that writes a book is simply saying what Machiavelli said in business terms.
February 17, 2013
"The Prince" is an excellent look into history, politics, and those who are at the top of successful powerful businesses. "The Art of War," however, took me almost 3 years to read only because it was the type of book I'd pick up when I couldn't decide what to read or couldn't sleep. Personally, I found it boring, overly detailed, but learned plenty about the military styles, defenses, training, and such of many countries during the 1400s. I love history, but I can find hundreds of other ways to learn it than from this book.
September 13, 2019
Века идут, а в мире политики ничего глобально не меняется. Почти всё, написанное в данном трактате, легко можно натянуть на нынешние реалии: политику в целом и отдельных персонажей в частности. Так как я - представитель обычного народа, то некоторые вещи мне читать довольно больно и обидно, но в то же время - весьма поучительно. Книга даёт возможность приблизиться к пониманию происходящего вокруг, к способности видеть закономерности и тенденции. Ну и конечно же - что там за цель такая, которая оправдывает эти средства.
February 5, 2016
I used to be highly biased against Machiavelli, what with his reputation of being an evil thinker, then out of pure curiosity, I happened to read the Prince, a book that looks at how politics and state craft is, rather than how we wish it to be, ever since I have nothing but deep respect for him, and love for his magnificent work, it is scary how his character types for failing politicians match today's politicians.
September 23, 2019
My marking this as Read is a misnomer. A more accurate representation is 'the day I stopped reading this' because actually, I got to Book Three and gave up. I was so bored. Then I figured that a) it's not like there's a shortage of reading matter in the universe and b) I'd rather spend my time on something else. I don't 'not finish' things easily but it was a huge relief to let this one go. Next please...
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