The Prince

by Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince cover
Good Books rating 4.27
Technical:
  • ID: 259
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780937832387
  • Publisher: Branden Books
  • Published: 2002-07-16
  • Formats: 50
  • Reviews: 3
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Paperback • £4.99–£12.99 Hardback • £10.99

Written in the early 16th century by Niccolò Machiavelli, "The Prince" is a seminal political treatise offering pragmatic advice to rulers on how to acquire and hold power. It breaks from traditional moralistic views by advocating that sometimes immoral actions are necessary for political success, illustrated through historical examples and the infamous figure of Cesare Borgia. Machiavelli’s work is notable for being written in vernacular Italian, making its innovative ideas accessible beyond scholarly Latin audiences. The treatise explores themes such as military defense, reputation management, generosity versus cruelty, and the role of fortune in politics. While controversial and often criticized as ruthless or even evil, "The Prince" remains a foundational text in political philosophy, provoking ongoing debate about the nature of power and leadership. Its practical approach to rulership continues to influence political thought centuries after its posthumous publication in 1532.

Reviews
Foyles · 2025-08-05
brilliant 4.00

The book is considered a brilliant guide for rulers focused on retaining power, highlighting its relevance for authoritarian or sectarian governments.

The review sees The Prince as a masterful political guide, particularly apt for leaders who prioritize maintaining power above all else. It notes that the treatise's focus on ruthless pragmatism and realpolitik makes it especially suited for dictators or sectarian leaders who operate with an emphasis on control and survival rather than moral ideals.

Quick quotes

    The prince is a brilliant book for dictators or sectarian governments.

    Most of the ideas focus on keeping princes in power.

    Concerned not with lofty ideals, but with a regime that would last.

London Review Bookshop · 2011-06-30
pragmatic 4.30

The Prince is recognized for its analysis of the violent and pragmatic methods rulers use to gain and maintain political power.

This perspective highlights The Prince as a candid exploration of the harsh realities behind political power, focusing on how rulers often rely on violence and pragmatism rather than idealism. It presents the book as a timeless study on power dynamics, emphasizing that the acquisition and retention of power frequently involve morally ambiguous actions that challenge conventional ethics.

Quick quotes

    The Prince analyses the usually violent means by which men seize, retain, and lose political power.

    The Prince, his tough-minded, pragmatic handbook on how power really works.

    The Prince made Machiavelli's name notorious and has remained controversial ever since.

The Independent · 2009-07-05
excellent 4.50

This translation by Tim Parks is praised for its accessibility and gripping style, capturing Machiavelli's original message without dilution.

The review appreciates Tim Parks' translation of The Prince for being both accessible and engaging, which makes Machiavelli's tough, pragmatic political advice resonate clearly with modern readers. The reviewer emphasizes that Parks successfully maintains the sharpness and directness of Machiavelli's message, presenting the political treatise as an essential and still relevant manual for understanding power dynamics.

Quick quotes

    This is an excellent translation of The Prince by Parks, accessible and gripping without diluting Machiavelli's message one iota.

    Machiavelli's tough-minded, pragmatic handbook on how power really works.

    The Prince remains as lively and shocking today as when it was written almost five hundred years ago.

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