arcyeus 's review for:

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

3.0

informative slow-paced

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Better read as a historical document rather than an actual philosophical text. Much of what he says is self-explanatory and long-winded although occasionally there are good insights and turns of phrase. He makes clear-headed arguments about how a Prince should behave and why one should never hire mercenaries. Unfortunately, since most of our governments now are not monarchies or principalities and Machiavelli wrote this as an exhortation to the Medicis this will not provide much to those seeking to ‘48 Laws of Power’ their way to stardom.