The Prince: Second Edition

Niccolò Machiavelli

May 2010 · University of Chicago Press

About this ebook

The most famous book on politics ever written, The Prince remains as lively and shocking today as when it was written almost five hundred years ago. Initially denounced as a collection of sinister maxims and a recommendation of tyranny, it has more recently been defended as the first scientific treatment of politics as it is practiced rather than as it ought to be practiced. Harvey C. Mansfield's brilliant translation of this classic work, along with the new materials added for this edition, make it the definitive version of The Prince, indispensable to scholars, students, and those interested in the dark art of politics.

This revised edition of Mansfield's acclaimed translation features an updated bibliography, a substantial glossary, an analytic introduction, a chronology of Machiavelli's life, and a map of Italy in Machiavelli's time.

"Of the other available [translations], that of Harvey C. Mansfield makes the necessary compromises between exactness and readability, as well as providing an excellent introduction and notes."—Clifford Orwin, The Wall Street Journal

"Mansfield's work . . . is worth acquiring as the best combination of accuracy and readability."—Choice

"There is good reason to assert that Machiavelli has met his match in Mansfield. . . . [He] is ready to read Machiavelli as he demands to be read—plainly and boldly, but also cautiously."—John Gueguen, The Sixteenth Century Journal

Ratings and reviews

While the fundamental approach of Machiavelli to leadership is force and position, but if you stay diligent there are plenty of gems to be found. A great example of his tone, approach, and wisdom is found in the quote: "And here we must observe that men must either be flattered or crushed; for they will revenge themselves for slight wrongs, whilst for grave ones they cannot." It is not a long read and probably worth an evening read.

"To learn that people not in power will do all they can to acquire it, and people in power will do all they can to keep it.”- Neil deGrasse Tyson I decided to pick up this book and give it a try after seeing Neil deGrasse Tyson's list of must read books on Reddit. Yes, there is a lot of good information in this book. Yes, it is a classic. But why only three stars? When I rate a book, I rate it on its 'page turnability' (which is not in the dictionary) and its lack of 'put-downness' (which is also not in the dictionary). There was a lot of good information in here about the manner of obtaining and maintaining power, but also there was a lot of esoteric euro-centric historical references that I am not very familiar with. Additionally, the translation of 16th Century Italian into English is quite obtuse to me. Indeed, I am not a well educated Renaissance Man who can read through this type of text and understand everything clearly. That being said, there was a lot of good information it. Machiavelli came out and said a lot of things that in my subconscious I realized. But when he puts these points down on paper, I can only respond Duh (in the words of another reviewer) when I read them. Looking at this information spelled out for me makes me stop and think about other examples, especially how King Jofrey and Queen Cersei's reigns failed so epically.

This book opened my eyes to the kind of government we have and what to truly expect form human beings with authority.

About the author

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was a diplomat, politician, and philosopher of the Italian Renaissance. Modern political philosophy and political science is founded on Machiavelli's writings. He served for many years as a senior official in the Florentine Republic with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. When the Medicis came to power, he was imprisoned and then retired to the writing of his works of political philosophy.