The New Prince [Audio Cassette]

Dick Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1999

Niccolo Machiavell's The Prince has been the most widely read and quoted book about politics for the past five centuries. But in the democracies of the information age, new ideas are needed to make governments prosper through the next century. Who better to write The New Prince than current political dark prince Dick Morris?

Morris contributed significantly to President Clinton's reelection in 1996 and, during the previous two decades, helped many political officials (democrats and republicans alike) gain office. Now Morris takes a hard look at our times and writes a how-to book for office-seekers, special interest groups, and anyone who cares about politics. The New Prince is the essential rule book and program guide for the next election and the new millennium.

In fifty insightful, witty, honest chapters, Morris advises candidates to adopt idealism as a strategy---not because of misguided altruism, but because it works. He tells politicians, advocacy groups, business leaders, and citizens how to promote their causes and get their jobs done effectively. His pragmatic idealism would bring about a system in which value is place on:
-message over money
-issue over image
-positives over negatives
-substance over scandal
-strategy over spin

In discussing current issues, Morris draws on the political experience of both major parties over the past three decades. He offers insights into the character and development of the most remarkable political figures of our times. He also lays out what he believes will be the political agenda for the twenty-first century: the environment, the elderly, education, economic growth, and genetic engineering.

Machiavelli wrote The Prince for the powerful prince of Florence. The New Prince is equally practical. It takes up such vital contemporary issues as:
-how to raise money and keep your virtue
-how to survive a scandal
-how to stop your staff from controlling you
-how to use paid advertising

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It is beyond irony for Dick Morris, the man who has done as much as anyone in the 1990s to increase cynicism in the political process and encourage politicians to play to our worst fears and instincts, to turn around and say that politicians should be more idealistic because that's what people want. Yet that's the premise of The New Prince. Morris--who rose to national prominence by telling Bill Clinton what to say to appease Democratic liberals as he shifted party policy to the right--argues that the new pragmatism in politics is "to stay positive; to focus on the issues; to rise above party; and to lead through ideas.... Our candidates and office holders need to change their tactics, their focus, and their strategies--not in the interest of better government, but in order to succeed in their chosen line of work." Fewer people are voting, he says, but the ones who do are better informed, so message is more important than money now. Although he argued for early negative ads in the 1996 presidential campaign, Morris has seen the light, saying that "voters have moved beyond" negative ads. He also thinks Americans are sick of scandal, which is why the Republicans couldn't impeach Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Arguing that politicians have to constantly take the public temperature to govern effectively--"Each day is election day in modern America"--Morris justifies the constant polling that he has used as a political tactic throughout his career. So what is leadership? Morris defines it as maintaining "sufficient forward momentum to control events and steer public policy without losing public support."

Essentially, The New Prince is a handbook for politicians who want to get themselves elected, whether it be to the school board or the presidency, and on that level it works. But as a sage commentary on the state of politics at the end of the 20th century... heaven help us. --Linda Killian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Morris, the strategist who fell from public grace after masterminding President Clinton's reelection campaign, would be expected to come across on tape like an explosive political firecracker. But on this follow up to his Behind the Oval Office (also available in an author reading from ART), he sounds oddly subdued. He halfheartedly seizes upon Machiavelli's historical The Prince as a model to explain his present-day political theories. He offers up platitudinous catchphrases to guide would-be candidates: "stay positive," "focus on the issues, and "rise above the party." Morris is at his best, though, in his specific observations of Clinton's travails, telling how the president faced down "savage partisanship" and became a "hostage" of the Democratic party. Morris argues that, in order to survive, "it is from the center that leaders must lead." That's not exactly a firebrand statementAin any medium. Simultaneous release with the Renaissance hardcover. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audio Renaissance (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559275421
• ISBN-13: 978-1559275422
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,390,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dick Morris served as Bill Clinton's political consultant for twenty years. A regular political commentator on Fox News and other networks, he is the author of six New York Times bestsellers (all with Eileen McGann) and one Washington Post bestseller.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating commentary on recent U.S. political history, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century (Hardcover)

If you can get past any preceived ideas you might have of Mr. Morris, this is an insightful discussion of modern U.S. politics. Morris did not invent modern political polling, he just raised it to an art form. The real villian is neither Morris or Machiavelli. The real and dangerous villian is the Prince who seeks to achieve, first and foremost, political power for himself and distantly second, if at all, to enhance the welfare of the state. Machevelli's and Morris's genius is not in what they created, but rather in what they were able to discern already in operaton in the real world. These observations, which escaped all others until pointed out, are condemned along with the writers as evil incarnate. Morris illustrates how modern politics operates and what motivates our modern politician. Machiavelli's and Morris's most important observation is "Get Real". This is how the game evolved and is now played. To be in the game, either as a player or as an educated observer, Morris book provides timely and valuable insights.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Roadmap to winning an election - but what then?, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century (Hardcover)

Dick Morris' is without doubt a brilliant political consultant and tactitian. His new text is in essence an "Anarchist's Cookbook" for the politician who wants to win an election - regardless of party, ideology or character. In fact, he argues that character is no longer so important - certainly not as important as the candidate's message.

My great disappointment, however, was that Dick's book is only a partial revisit to Macchiavelli's works (The Prince, Discourses). While Macchiavelli stresses the importance of character, and centers his thesis for a successful republic on righteous leadership that is focused upon the welfare of the people, Dick remains committed to the "message" and "issues", only. "Jeffersonian Democracy" in his eyes is based on public opinion NOW - with all of its fickleness, partisanship and emotional "heat of the moment" decisionmaking.

Like his most famous protege', it is my personal opinion that Mr. Morris possesses no moral compass and no real concept of LEADERSHIP under fire. Tough decisions often must be made from controversial options, and as in Chess, the long term "end game" is what's really important - especially in foreign affairs and National security. This is where character, strong will and moral authority really play a role - if you possess them.

Dick Morris is the recognized master at waging and winning political war - but what does one do after the victory? Many of thus are still asking that question.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DELIGHTFUL READ, June 29, 1999

By 

Sylvan G. Feldstein (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century (Hardcover)

The guy successfully combines the theories of a trained political scientist, which he isn't, with the experiences of a wise political advisor, which he is. It's a delightful read.