The Prince is a classic book that explores the attainment, maintenance, and utilization of political power in the western world. Machiavelli wrote The Prince to demonstrate his skill in the art of the state, presenting advice on how a prince might acquire and hold power. Machiavelli defended the notion of rule by force rather than by law. Accordingly, The Prince seems to rationalize a number of actions done solely to perpetuate power. It is an examination of power-its attainment, development, and successful use.
Eric Wilson’s Review: On this book’s 501 year anniversary I thought I wouldn’t have this chance again to review it for quite some time. Essentially this book is the first work of political realism and political philosophy that concerned itself not with the ideal government (such as Plato and others) but with the practical realities of politics and power. This book paints in real colors the ugly and true side of politics and pulls back the curtain of the system that controls and manipulates the people. It has been debated whether this book was in satire or a playbook for the elite in power but either way what it says and how it says it is still today fundamentally difficult to argue against. It gives new meaning to politics as usual and shows that the system and game has not changed much in over 501 years. Must read if you are a tyrannical King or narcissistic person hungry for power orrrrrrr if you are a liberty loving patriot wanting to better understand the philosophy of the system and how to defend against it.
This book was once banned by the Catholic Church, herald as a masterpiece by Karl Marx, most of the founding fathers are known to have been strongly influenced by Machiavelli's political works, William Shakespeare references Machiavelli ideas in his plays, and this book and author was debated by the likes of Beacon, Descartes, Adam Smith, Locke, and Montesquieu. I still wonder even though it is still today the most translated Italian book of all times and clearly the most commented and read book in political discourse if many of you have even read it yet??
