2.19k reviews for:

The Prince

Niccolò Machiavelli

3.52 AVERAGE


though I find it more useful as personal philosophy, Machiavelli's attitude towards the conduct of law is a pretty pragmatic guide to relations domestic and international, though I have no intention of reading Hobbes, I took away one star because of his attitude towards governing without contractual agreements, such as what the afformentioned Hobbes and Rousseau were about. Though sometimes it pertains to notice when dealing with your boss, your children (if you have any) or anyone who challenges your authority or rights, that tough love is the best kind of love.
informative reflective medium-paced
informative tense

გამოცდის წინა დღეს წავიკითხე და ისე აგრესიულად ვარ განწყობილი, არ მგონია ბოლომდე ობიექტური ვიყო. თუმცა მაკიაველის სახელმწიფო მართვის მოდელები, ტირანიის აშკარა გამოვლინებებია და ნაწარმოებში აღწერილი ნიშნების, შემდეგ პრაქტიკაში გამოყენებამ საშინელი შედეგები მოიტანა, ალბათ მაკიაველის გარეშეც არ იქნებოდა რადიკალურად განსხვავებული ისტორიული სურათი, თუმცა მაკიაველი მაინც კარგი გზამკვლევია ტირანი ხელისუფალისთვის ხალხის „დასაბოლებლად“
challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

An essential for any student of Western political thought. Machiavelli lived in dynamic and intense institutions within a dynamic and intense region in a dynamic and intense time. The Italians are often neglected for their philosophical developments and even their literature is reduced often to merely Dante. Any reader of The Prince should take time to read Machiavelli's fictional works, they are The Prince and more in excellent motion.

Why did I waste my time on this?
informative medium-paced

This guy gets such a bad reputation for real. There's even a whole personality trait named after him that pretty much boils down to being manipulative. However, Machiavelli is a lot more than a manipulative person. His ideas are not necessarily immoral, just amoral. In a world where everyone is fending for themselves, there is no space for undiscriminating compassion. Renaissance Italy is one such world. I would say even that the ideas enunciated here constitute an early form of utilitarianism. There is a clear and total rejection of Kant's categorical imperative, centuries before it was even thought of! There is a lot to learn from Machiavelli and dismissing his writings as "historic" or "outdated" does not do justice to the thought put behind the writing. Evidently, The Prince is a product of its time and it does have some strange ideas. However, I would say that the writing is quite clear and the lessons can be valid, even in this day. Note that I do not condone that a person acts in a strictly Machiavellian way since the need for such behavior is long gone. Collaboration and empathy are much more valuable in today's world. Nevertheless, if one does not read this book to learn, they should at least read it for a culturally enriching experience.
challenging informative reflective slow-paced

This book is suited only to those leading people, not in middle management but with almost absolute autonomy. Learnings are vast, paraphrasing mentioned ideas to real life situations while studying the book is necessary.