gabrielhopkins's review against another edition
3.75
I didn't like this translation very much and I am not a fan of the notes being at the back of the book. I like notes in the footnotes instead. Tim park had a better translation
saluki's review against another edition
4.0
“The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.”
A fascinating insight into the government of Renaissance Italy. Machiavelli contrasts idealistic views with reality, underscoring fundamental weaknesses in human nature, yet advocating a ruthless approach to the pursuit of power. A ruler must master the art of cunning deception as well as maintain an appearance of honour and virtue. A Prince must "...learn 'how not to be good' as protection from unscrupulous men." Even patronage and favours must be measured with care, "...for friendships acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are bought but are not owned, and at the proper time cannot be spent."
Machiavelli describes personal qualities of a successful ruler, the importance of military force, the art of war, wealth, patriotism and even luck as strategies to protect the prince while safeguarding the nation.
The information and ideas in this book are mind-bending and a Machiavellian pursuit of power is scary business if considered in a modern context.
A fascinating insight into the government of Renaissance Italy. Machiavelli contrasts idealistic views with reality, underscoring fundamental weaknesses in human nature, yet advocating a ruthless approach to the pursuit of power. A ruler must master the art of cunning deception as well as maintain an appearance of honour and virtue. A Prince must "...learn 'how not to be good' as protection from unscrupulous men." Even patronage and favours must be measured with care, "...for friendships acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are bought but are not owned, and at the proper time cannot be spent."
Machiavelli describes personal qualities of a successful ruler, the importance of military force, the art of war, wealth, patriotism and even luck as strategies to protect the prince while safeguarding the nation.
The information and ideas in this book are mind-bending and a Machiavellian pursuit of power is scary business if considered in a modern context.
sophieecook's review against another edition
3.0
this was interesting. i'm not planning a coup d'etat so perhaps i'm not the intended audience for this, but the sheer cynicism and immorality of this treatise on ruling as a monarch is honestly staggering. it's clear that while some good points were certainly made, this outlook on life is certainly not a healthy one; here's a snippet that tells you exactly how Machiavelli saw mankind, "We can say this of most people: that they are greedy and unreliable; they lie, they fake, they're greedy for cash and they melt away in the face of danger."
wouldn't recommend this as a self-help book if you're looking to change your way of treating people lol
regardless, reading this while listening to Rachmaninov's piano concertos was certainly an experience
wouldn't recommend this as a self-help book if you're looking to change your way of treating people lol
regardless, reading this while listening to Rachmaninov's piano concertos was certainly an experience
ferris_mx's review against another edition
3.0
Satisfactory. Nothing that hasn't been repeated and embellished in 100 modern books on the nature of power; i.e., nothing shocking. He didn't seem evil, but rather the product of a time and place with great political instability.
Except for the random and horrifying misogynist comment near the end.
Except for the random and horrifying misogynist comment near the end.
fienvermeylen's review against another edition
3.0
Was voor een examen. Ik ben blij dat ik het gelezen heb, want ik zou het anders nooit hebben vastgenomen en ik heb wel degelijk veel bijgeleerd!!
princemyshkin97's review against another edition
3.0
Half consisting of parts that are still pertinent today, and parts that are really only relevant if you’re a 16th century Italian ruler. The former made it worth the read but this was still quite a slog to get through at times. 3.5
kingofspain93's review against another edition
4.25
I'm trying to read through books I've had for years so I can downsize, which is probably the only way I could have ended up reading this. I associate Machiavelli with mid-level managers and elevated gym bros who are trying to manipulate their way though life. Basically, broey dudes who also quote The Art of War. I think Tony Soprano dismissively refers to The Prince as something all the guys in his circle have read. James McAvoy's greasy frat boy spy owns a copy in Atomic Blonde. that kind of context.
I liked it! I've stopped dismissing managerial books (turns out they are extremely good and I was a massive idiot for disparaging them) and really this is more accessible, overhyped philosophy anyway. despite the toweringly douchey cultural legacy it has, Machiavelli is a straightforward writer who strikes a dry tone and doesn’t seem full of himself. His points are interesting and the relevance to the workplace (or any personal-political setting) is immediately clear; when he describes good and bad habits for new rulers, I can’t help but think of all the managers I had back in college. That said, as a work of tactics on a state level it is still fascinating and insightful. I don’t have to translate it into a recognizable context for me to get something out of it.
It’s critical to the lasting success of The Prince that Machiavelli masterfully sidesteps religiosity, which would otherwise muddle this and make it unreadable. A hilarious example is when he describes ecclesiastical governments like the papacy as so beyond his skills as a thinker and writer that, as they are governed by god, he wouldn’t dare to try to analyze them. Then he says that if he were to try, it would go something like this and he makes his arguments from there. Similarly, there is a later section that is notable for Machiavelli’s insistence that a prince should aspire to every virtuous quality at all times except for when it is unwise to do so. These passages show the failures in logic that come when thinkers stop at the walls that Machiavelli pole vaults over. Throw god in to placate the censors and then, please, reason your way around him and through to the other side. Please do not try to reason through god. I’ll just say it, this shit is seminal.