Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 7
 A look into the mind of Machiavelli September 28, 2009
Avid Reader (Lisbon, NH)
This book is a look into the mind of Machiavelli when he wrote it. This clears out the definition of "Machiavellian".
Read it again September 9, 2009
Ken Poppers
Everyone that vies for or holds political office needs to reread this classic. I read this as a freshman in college, had a hard time with it & then when my child had to read it for high school I read it again. Obviously neither W. nor Obama has picked this up in a long time.
Prince review September 4, 2009
Lynden S. Vickery (Orem, Utah)
This is a must read for literate thinking persons. I have enjoyed the historical setting introduction to the text. It was a valuable enlightenment into the character of Machiavelli, and the events occureing in the nations during Machiavelli's life. Many of the things he speaks of, a person can see repeated or reflected in politics in our world history in the succeeding centuries since Machiavelli's time. A worthwhile way to use reading time. Highly recommended.
 Great Book, So-so Edition March 19, 2009
Jean-Paul Valois (Brussels, Belgium)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This edition of Machiavelli's "The Prince" obviously received considerable attention by the publisher. It is intricately typeset, and on each page there is a reasonably wide column left for notes.
Unfortunately the aesthetics of the typesetting while sound as long as they are judged upon pure technicality, are superficially lavish in ways that do not typographically (or typography-historically) fit the subject matter. Despite that, while the large drop-caps are certainly "loud", they do not greatly distract from the content which is fascinating indeed.
If you have the money, there are more professionally treated editions. However, for its price, this edition is a reasonable proposition for the student on a tight budget.
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE February 7, 2009
Steven Travers (CALIFORNIA)
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
Machiavellism is a name often given to politicians who have no ideals other that to get what they want, which is to achieve power. Fair enough, and I cannot argue that point. But at the same time, there are aspects of Machiavellianism, which actually is now called realpolitic more than Machiavelli, that are essential in modern politics, especially campaigning and warfare, or more appropriately, the politics of pre-war.
The crux of the author's advice to the The Prince is that it is better to be feared or respected than loved, which certainly parallels America's post-9/11 place in the world. There are times in which it is appropriate and better to be loved, but obviously this is a calculated act. It reminds me of how the Clintons did polling to determine what would be the most popular place to vacation for them with the public, or how after Moncia they "allowed" cameras to "capture" them, "cuddling" in bathing suits, or how Clinton walked into Ron Brown's funeral telling a big you-know-what-eating joke until he saw cameras, then wiped a fake tear from his eye. Pure Machiavellianism.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 7
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