The Prince

SUMMARY:
Niccolò di Bernardo Machiavelli, born May '69 -- that's 1469 if you were wondering; was an Italian politician, schemer, writer and philosopher. Precious little was recorded about him until he was 29 in 1498 whence he became the Secretary of war AND  second Chancellor to the Florentine Republic.
Years later, Spanish troops invaded Florentine territory, Machiavelli was dismissed from the Chancery, arrested, tortured, tried for conspiracy and jailed for a year.
Upon release, he retired to his farm with his family and went into studying and writing.

THE PLOT:
The book opens with a diagram of the map of Italy in 1500 -- so the reader can understand the general makeup of the province at the time.

Then there's a 20-page introductory note by Anthony Grafton which is basically background information on the author, his predecessors, and the circumstances in his time.

Assured they've inundated the reader with ample knowledge of the historical makeup of the (Renaissance) period, the book finally begins with a letter by Machiavelli himself to "The Magnificent Lorenzo de Medici"; Leader of Florence.

The Prince begins with a letter from Niccolo Machiavelli to Lorenzo de Medici; one of the Princes of the Medici dynasty -- humbly offering counsel to 'the Prince'. So the book is, on a very basic level, a political analysis byway of advice from an experienced diplomat to a royal Prince.

It covers issues from types of Principalities, to means of coming by them, staying in power, dealing with malcontents, military organization, when and how to be generous/parsimonious, to be cruel/compassionate, disposition of Princes and most importantly, he discusses Fortune (luck) & how much it influences our lives.

MY VERDICT:
I like to think I'm a good person. Admittedly, I might laugh when a girl who refused my advances twists her ankle in 6inch Louboutins. I might engage in a little morose delectation when evil befalls someone I dislike. But when I see a pregnant woman standing in a bus, I'll think 'why the hell couldn't she fcvk someone with a car'...then I offer her my seat.

From the opening pages of the book, Machiavelli leaves the reader under no illusions as to what the content of the book is. In no uncertain terms, The Prince says that Islamic/Christian values/virtues aren't the most effective in becoming an efficient ruler.

Filled with epithets such as:
"...any injury a Prince does a man should be of such a kind that there is no fear of revenge..."

"Men must be either won over or destroyed...".   among others.

The Prince is a wonderful compendium of passages on topics such as greed, acquisition & retention of power, absolutism, constitutionality, changes, People, manipulation, love/fear and dependence on luck.

As a purist, the Prince will come across as a pitiless, unremorseful, irreligious, faithless, treacherous book advocating unscrupulousness and cunny by an immoral author.

As a pragmatist (that I am), the Prince is one of those books that'll put into question all you held to be right/proper/good/virtuous. Its a really powerful book.

After careful evaluation, I've thought it best to espouse some of Machiavelli's teachings. Does that mean I'm not a 'good person' anymore? Is being 'good' a terrible thing for ambition? You'll ask yourself such questions should you read the book....which you should.

MY RATING:
A must-read? Well...that depends.
A should-read? Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---->>>>Cue (I think we all have a little Machiavelli in there, somewhere...)