The Prince (Dover Thrift Editions) [Paperback]

Niccolò Machiavelli (Author), N. H. Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 1992 | Series: Dover Thrift Editions

Classic guide to acquiring and maintaining political power is refreshing in its directness, yet often disturbing in its cold practicality. Starkly relevant to the political upheavals of the 20th century, this calculating prescription for power remains today, nearly 500 years after it was written, a timely and startling lesson in the practice of autocratic rule.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English
Original Language: Italian

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (September 21, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486272745
• ISBN-13: 978-0486272740
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Government > Constitutions
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Political
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Politics > History & Theory

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'must read' for ambitious two-faced megalomaniacs!, May 8, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Prince (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

Politicians usually read this text in the first political science class which they take. Actually, understanding Politics without understanding the principles in this text is an impossibility. A person who does not understand the principles of this text is too naive to understand why their leaders do what they do. Politics occurs in business, family life, and other settings, as well as government; Machiavelli's rules may be applied in all of these. Though living by these rules isn't necessary, a successful politician must act with mindfulness of their implications, or face failure. Considering the far reaching implications of Machiavelli's thought, one might wonder why elementary school children do not study "the Prince."

Many people don't have the guts to face what Machiavelli says. He presents the rules of 'hardball' politics; the only time that he mentions morality is when he describes the occasions in which a leader may need to fake it. Politicians have become so adept in following these rules that those whom they lead will often take offense at the suggestion that their leaders live by them. Read this book and understand the daily news.

"The Prince" is the quintessential text of Political Science. The Dover edition, though small, does not lack any of the origional text. It does lack the clutter of scholarly commentaries. It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the politics which impacts their life, but it will merely irritate the gullible

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to learn how to conquer the world?, September 21, 2001

By 

"cmartis" (Stone Mountain, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

Machiavelli wrote this book for the Medici back in a time that is suppossed to be so different from today. Yet, The Prince is as applicable as the day it was wrote- maybe more so. It's a concise, almost surgical, guidebook to world domination. Superficially, this book is written like stereo instructions with precise directions on control of your enemies, followers, and friends. But, deeply, it will force any serious reader to take stock of the lengths neccessary to attain great power. Lives are flited at like pieces on a chess board with absolutely no uneccessary concern (if they can't hurt ya, screw 'em). Why, aside from that whole learning about world domination thing, this book is such a neccessary read for anybody with a stake in daily life is because this is the book your leaders sleep with under their pillow. There hasn't been an intelligent, powerful, and influential political leader that hasn't been influenced by Machiavelli and this book. It's very important to really wrap yourself around reality in reading this book so as to open your own eyes to what people do to lead (not just dictators, facists, and imperialists, but deomcrats and republicans.). This book is Political Reality 101- you must read it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still relevant, December 1, 2001

By 

"blissengine" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

Machiavelli's brilliant text (I read the N. H. Thomson translation, in the Dover Thrift edition) is sometimes disturbing, but ultimately brilliant in its analysis as to the achievement of political power. His arguments are rational and succinct, and it amazed me how relevant all this was to today's political landscape! Who could have thought that a document nearly 500 years old would survive and remain important.