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mymiddlename123's review against another edition
3.0
Quite honestly this book was so far over my head that the majority of the content didn't really mean much to me. What I mean is that I'm not all that much into political tactics and politics in general. I actually picked up this book to learn more about politics since it seems to be one of the more popular books in the genre (according to Goodreads). But it was written by a man who studied political strategy for basically his whole life (from what I gather) and it looks like he wrote it to a prince/soon-to-be-prince who already had some political knowledge. So for a novice most of the advice and tactics were way above my head.
That said it's written almost like a manual (How to be a Prince for Dummies? lol j/k). So it was really interesting to see an honest perspective from a well-known political adviser during his time. It really has some timeless information in it and makes you really appreciate the fact that governments go through cycles and are bound to fall and change over time. Despite its advice being against the people for the most part, it is a little comforting to know that governments have always been changing and wars have always been going on. So even if it seems bad now, things can change and change doesn't always have to be a bad thing.
Some things were a little scary to hear because there are things going on in our country (the US) right now that appear to be the very tactics that Machiavelli recommends for taking over a country and taking away freedoms. But again, this is what I meant by saying that governments go through cycles. What's happening now can either succeed or not succeed and either way the result is most likely nothing that hasn't happened in history before (which is a strange kind of comfort to me).
Anyhow, I'm not really a good person to critique and pick at this particular piece of literature because the subject is something I don't know really anything about. Even so, it's easy to see why this has stood the test of time and is still being read today. The information is for the most part timeless and it's almost haunting the depth of knowledge Machiavelli possessed on political strategy. I think I'll appreciate this one a little more if I re-read it in the future when I know a little bit more about political strategy and tactics (that is, if I ever decide to venture deeper into the subject).
That said it's written almost like a manual (How to be a Prince for Dummies? lol j/k). So it was really interesting to see an honest perspective from a well-known political adviser during his time. It really has some timeless information in it and makes you really appreciate the fact that governments go through cycles and are bound to fall and change over time. Despite its advice being against the people for the most part, it is a little comforting to know that governments have always been changing and wars have always been going on. So even if it seems bad now, things can change and change doesn't always have to be a bad thing.
Some things were a little scary to hear because there are things going on in our country (the US) right now that appear to be the very tactics that Machiavelli recommends for taking over a country and taking away freedoms. But again, this is what I meant by saying that governments go through cycles. What's happening now can either succeed or not succeed and either way the result is most likely nothing that hasn't happened in history before (which is a strange kind of comfort to me).
Anyhow, I'm not really a good person to critique and pick at this particular piece of literature because the subject is something I don't know really anything about. Even so, it's easy to see why this has stood the test of time and is still being read today. The information is for the most part timeless and it's almost haunting the depth of knowledge Machiavelli possessed on political strategy. I think I'll appreciate this one a little more if I re-read it in the future when I know a little bit more about political strategy and tactics (that is, if I ever decide to venture deeper into the subject).
ldivankovich's review against another edition
2.0
I had to read this book for class and honestly, I wasn't for it at first, but I actually was intrigued to understand the mindset of Machiavelli. I felt that it was fairly controversial and yet contradictory and the principles proceed. To be feared or to be loved? To be generous or to be stingy? However, to not be hated.
Machiavelli's The Prince can be applied to many of today's political leaders.
Machiavelli's The Prince can be applied to many of today's political leaders.
xtinaji's review against another edition
Read this for a History of Modern Political Thought theory course
ryatwilight's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly have no clue how to rate or review this. This made my brain hurt between the language that was translated from 16th century Italian to it centering around my two least favorite subjects ever…history and politics. But it was interesting to finally learn where the term “Machiavellian” originated.
I think my eyes glazed over while reading most of this, but from what I gather it details how to go about obtaining and keeping power by using historical examples of both great, powerful men and men who did not fare so hot.
Some of the lessons I gleaned from the book:
1) Follow in the path of other great men and imitate them.
2) Use force, not prayers.
3) Injuries/evil should be inflicted all at once.
4) Good laws come with good arms.
5) It is better to be feared than loved.
6) Do not be hated.
7) Stay away from the property and women of your subjects.
I think my eyes glazed over while reading most of this, but from what I gather it details how to go about obtaining and keeping power by using historical examples of both great, powerful men and men who did not fare so hot.
Some of the lessons I gleaned from the book:
1) Follow in the path of other great men and imitate them.
2) Use force, not prayers.
3) Injuries/evil should be inflicted all at once.
4) Good laws come with good arms.
5) It is better to be feared than loved.
6) Do not be hated.
7) Stay away from the property and women of your subjects.