Free classics · 1532
The Prince
Niccolò Machiavelli · translated by W. K. Marriott
A short, blunt guide to getting and keeping power, so blunt that its author's name became an insult.
- to read
- 4 h
- to read
- at 20 min a day
- 11 days
- at 20 min a day
- public domain
- Free
- public domain
What it’s about
Machiavelli wrote it for a ruler of Florence, using examples from history and his own time to explain how princes win, lose and hold states.
It is short, and its arguments still start debates in politics and business.
- Power
- Fear and love
- Fortune and skill
Why people stop, and how to finish
The many examples from Italian city politics are hard to follow without knowing who these rulers were.
What helps: Focus on the rule each chapter states, then glance at the examples. Ask about a name when it matters.
At 20 minutes a day you’ll reach the last page in about 11 days.
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