The Prince

If any book could be called legendary surely it is this one. Its author Italian diplomat and philosopher NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527) considered it his greatest work. Indeed his thoughts on politics as laid out so famously in this brief but profound work have become so synonymous with him that his name has become an adjective: Machiavellian. How is political power achieved? How is it maintained? Though Machiavelli states explicitly that he is not discussing Republics here only Princedoms this coldly rational guidebook to taking control and holding onto it contains such universal insights into human nature and the structure of human systems that his advice serves equally well in almost any power structure. With applications in such diverse realms as business the military even role-playing games Machiavellis rules for ruling continue to be required reading for students of politics philosophy and ethics.