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Summary: Long Reading
Review: It was a good and informative book...but for someone who likes to read action books, or anything that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this is not the book for you. For those of you who like learning about politics, this has a lot of relevence. It can pertain to the present day events in society.Machiavelli's "The Prince" goes into extraordinary detail as to the characterists and needs of traits to be a good ruler. Machiavelli gives the good and the bad points to each trait or characteristic. He also discusses the type of armies a ruler should have or the one's a ruler shouldn't...and he lists the good and the bad sides. I didn't like this book a whole lot because I am a person who likes to be entertained with excitement and adventure. I am an adventuruous person. In my opinion, if you're adventurous and into politics you might like this book. I didn't on the other hand. The only way to really find out about whether you like it or not is to buy it and read it yourself. I can't be the decider of whether or not you like, so choose for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: You need a long attention span
Review: This book has some good points and is interesting for about five total pages. Personaly i didnt like it a all because its is extremely boring. All it seems to be is a long essay that rambles on and on.
Rating: 
Summary: a classic
Review: Machiavelli wrote this masaterpiece for the Prince of Florence as a guide on how to attain power and, once there, how to keep it. The lessons contained therein are as true today as they were in Renaissance Italy 500 years ago. While much of what Machiavelli has to say may seem "underhanded" or even "immoral", this book has been the manual for many who were successful in reaching their political goals - one might even say (in true Machiavellian fashion) that morals have no place in politics... Regardless of one's feelings about the messages of the book, it is an excellent commentary on the human condition, on politics, and especially on those who practice the art. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: A classic?
Review: This book did not hold my interest. Machiavelli does make some good points about politics, but his writing style failed to hold my interest. I don't have much else to say about this book. I apologize if this review was not helpful to you.
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Summary: Not as men SHOULD act, but as they DO act
Review: Machiavelli's immortal treatise on monarchical government, while not necessarily applicable in the strictest of senses today, nevertheless contains many valuable insights pertinent to the modern leader. Machiavelli has gotten a bad rap, and not all of it undeserved, but his work nevertheless contains some extremely valuable information. The likes of Hitler, Napoleon, and Mussolini have counted themselves among Machiavelli's disciples, and the term "Machiavellian" often is synonymous with deceit and evil. So what is the use of Machiavelli today? After all, the book was written over 400 years ago, in the age of feudalism. Despite its age, Machiavelli's advice is very useful today. One of his best qualities is that he sees people for what they are, not what they should be. Where other philosophers concern themselves with how men should act (in an ideal situation), Machiavelli realizes that, in reality, men will not act as they should, and so his focus is on how men actually do act. If he has an overall pessimistic view of mankind, he is not entirely unjustified. Of course, not all of Machiavelli's ideas are acceptable in today's world. Machiavelli asserts that the populous is weak, stupid, and easily contented. And though he believes popular support to be extremely important, he believes so only because this condition adds to the power of the monarchy. In today's world of democracy, this doesn't really fit. And his admonitions that the prince use hypocrisy and deceit whenever convenient are a bit hard to swallow. Still, if you REALLY understand what he's saying, it becomes clear that Machiavelli, while condoning these and other vices, says such unlawful practices should be indulged in ONLY when it will benefit the state. In his eyes, the end should justify the means. In short, Machiavelli's work is a masterpiece of human thinking. We still have much to learn from this old thinker, and do ourselves a great disservice by dismissing his ideas as evil (in fact, his condoning of deceit is exaggerated to some extent). Machiavelli's methods are certainly dated and cruel in many respects, but many of his basic thoughts are very useful in today's world.
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Summary: Ever wonder why politicians are merciless dogs?
Review: Of course you have. Well, here's the answer. Machiavelli's classic text on acquiring and maintaining political power laid the foundation for modern politics, for better or for worse, and remains its bedrock. Machiavelli was an Italian patriot and a long-time member of the Italian hierarchy as a sort of political consultant, having been recently ejected from his position when he wrote this manual. Italy was then in a turbulent political situation, seemingly under attack from all quarters, and very unstable. The author wrote this treatise and sent it to Lorenzo Medici -- the Prince, as it were, who was ultimately responsible for Machiavelli's dispension. Such a loyal patriot was our good author that he actually wrote this book and sent it to him as a gift. Well, what does it contain? Just about everything that anyone would want to know about how to acquire political power, and how to keep it. Machiavelli covers just about every conceivable situation: how to rule a brand new land colonly, or one that has been taken over; how a Prince should bear him or herself; how they should keep faith; how to maintain their army; how to keep tabs on the commoners and the nobles, and much more. He includes many maxims and principles that have been taken up time and time again in the nearly 500 years since the publication of this slim volume. One need only look at the current political landscape to see just how inudated these principles have become in the political philosophies of our world leaders, e.g., Machiavelli's idea that it is better to go to war on your enemy's turf before they come to your own, in order to minimize losses, and his famous statement that it is better to be feared than to be loved -- but try your best not to be hated. Many have condemned the ideas and principles contained herein because they eschew moral and ethical standards in deference to pragmatic political gain. Well, wake up, folks. Politics is a dirty game and always has been. It is viscious, ruthless, and takes no prisoners -- a truly dog-eat-dog world. It is not for the faint of heart. Machiavelli tried to tell us this 500 years ago; it's about damn time we started listening. The writing style used in the book is very, very simple, and it is extremely short. Machiavellis states his points, offers then-contemporay and also classical examples to justify his various points -- and then stops. I agree with what another reviewer said that, if this book was written today, especially by an academic, it would be much, much longer. Machiavellis states clearly what he wants to state, and spends no time on anything else: not a word in the text is wasted. So, who would read this book? Well, if you are looking to enter the field of politics, or to assume a leadership position in general, then you probably already have. If not, you are probably wondering why you are failing. It is also an essential read for anyone in the fields of political science or Rennaisance literature. It is, also, a classic text, a long-surviving piece of Italian Rennaisance literature, and an easy, short, and worthwhile read for the general classical reader.
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Summary: "The Prince" A classic masterpiece!
Review: Machiavelli's "The Prince" is the most realistic and accurate blueprint on how to obtain and hold the influence of power, whether it be through one's own natural ability, through the fortune of others, or through attrition and deception. I found it truly ironic that Machiavelli wrote this passage after he had been removed from his political position, and exiled to his farm that was left to him by his father. It is useful reading for anyone who has ever thought of entering the political field, or any other form of leadership.
Machiavelli's perfect leader would be a person who would willing to gain power through any means necessary. The leader would also be able to effectively decide what type of leadership should be applied no matter what the situation may be. To Machiavelli, "The end; justified the means".
As the translator, Daniel Donno said, "The prince he envisioned would be unencumbered by ordinary ethical and moral values; his prince would be man and beast, fox and lion". Furthermore, Machiavelli goes on to state that the perfect situation for a leader to be in is to be loved and feared at the same time. Although this is a rare occurence, Machiavelli goes on to state that it is much better to be feared as a leader, then loved.
In conclusion, Machiavelli's "The Prince" is a sixteenth century masterpiece that is as true today, as it was when it was written back in the early fifteen hundreds. I would recommend this book to anyone who was considering a career in politics, leadership, as well as the common everyday person. Not only does his writing explain to you what traits are essential and necessary to become an effective and efficient leader, it also shows the everyday person what traits to watch our for and to expect from a leader as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Ideas
Review: Machiavelli presents really great ideas in this bok, which he has written for the prince. A great history/politics book. It was a tad uneventful though.
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Summary: Contrary to its Reputation
Review: As a high school student I remember many of my instructors referring to Machiavelli as the author of the famous book on backstabbing for power. After having finally read the Prince, I really wonder where this reputation comes from. Machiavelli makes it clear from the first page that he's writing a guide for taking and maintaining power without any moral considerations getting in the way, but his arguments outline a benevolent authority, not a tyrannical one. In the Discourses (also included in this book), he extols the virtues of the people over the prince. The Prince and the Discourses both have interesting gems for the modern reader. Machiavelli uses many examples of powerful people and institutions from his time. He expresses almost an atheistic position when discussing religion, and, furthermore, he describes a general disillusionment with religion by the people of Italy. I found all these subtle things quite intriguing and not at all what I would have expected. Machiavelli writes in a very easy to read style (is this just the translation?) and he presents logical arguments and historical examples to back everything up, but his arguments generally boil down to 'because I say so'. I suspect if a modern writer (particularly an academic) wrote this same book, it would be five times longer, with detailed justification for each point made.
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Summary: The Virtues of Machiavelli
Review: In the course of my political science training, I studied at great length the modern idea of realpolitik. In that study I came to realise that it was somewhat incomplete, without the companionship of The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, a Florentine governmental official in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The Prince is an oft quoted, oft mis-quoted work, used as the philosophical underpinning for much of what is considered both pragmatic and wrong in politics today. To describe someone as being Machiavellian is to attribute to the person ruthless ambition, craftiness and merciless political tactics. Being believed to be Machiavellian is generally politically incorrect. Being Machiavellian, alas, can often be politically expedient. Machiavelli based his work in The Prince upon his basic understanding of human nature. He held that people are motivated by fear and envy, by novelty, by desire for wealth, power and security, and by a hatred of restriction. In the Italy in which he was writing, democracy was an un-implemented Greek philosophical idea, not a political structure with a history of success; thus, one person's power usually involved the limitation of another person's power in an autocratic way. Machiavelli did not see this as a permanent or natural state of being -- in fact, he felt that, during his age, human nature had been corrupted and reduced from a loftier nobility achieved during the golden ages of Greece and Rome. He decided that it was the corrupting influence of Christianity that had reduced human nature, by its exaltation of meekness, humility, and otherworldliness. Machiavelli has a great admiration for the possible and potential, but finds himself inexorably drawn to the practical, dealing with situations as they are, thus becoming an early champion of realpolitik carried forward into this century by the likes of Kissinger, Thatcher, Nixon, and countless others. One of the innovations of Machiavelli's thought was the recognition that the prince, the leader of the city/state/empire/etc., was nonetheless a human being, and subject to all the human limitations and desires with which all contend. Because the average prince (like the average person) is likely to be focussed upon his own interests, a prince's private interests are generally in opposition to those of his subjects. Fortunate is the kingdom ruled by a virtuous prince, virtue here not defined by Christian or religious tenets, but rather the civic virtue of being able to pursue his own interests without conflicting those of his subjects. Virtue is that which increases power; vice is that which decreases power. These follow Machiavelli's assumptions about human nature. Machiavelli rejected the Platonic idea of a division between what a prince does and what a prince ought to do. The two principle instruments of the prince are force and propaganda, and the prince, in order to increase power (virtue) ought to employ force completely and ruthlessly, and propaganda wisely, backed up by force. Of course, for Machiavelli, the chief propaganda vehicle is that of religion. Whoever reads Roman history attentively will see in how great a degree religion served in the command of the armies, in uniting the people and keeping them well conducted, and in covering the wicked with shame. Machiavelli has been credited with giving ruthless strategies (the example of a new political ruler killing the deposed ruler and the ruler's family to prevent usurpation and plotting is well known) -- it is hard to enact many in current politics in a literal way, but many of his strategies can still be seen in electioneering at every level, in national and international relations, and even in corporate and family internal 'politics'. In fact, I have found fewer more Machiavellian types than in church politics! Of course, these people would be considered 'virtuous' in Machiavellian terms -- doing what is necessary to increase power and authority. The title of this piece -- the virtues of Machiavelli, must be considered in this frame; certainly in no way virtuous by current standards, but then, it shows, not all have the same standards. Be careful of the words you use -- they may have differing definitions. Perhaps if Machiavelli had lived a bit later, and been informed by the general rise of science as a rational underpinning to the world, he might have been able to accept less of a degree of randomness in the universe. Perhaps he would have modified his views. Perhaps not -- after all, the realpolitikers of this age are aware of the scientific framework of the universe, and still pursue their courses. This is an important work, intriguing in many respects. Far shorter than the average classical or medieval philosophical tome, and more accessible by current readers because of a greater familiarity with politics than, say, metaphysics or epistemology, this work yields benefits and insights to all who read, mark, inwardly digest, and critically examine the precepts.
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