The Prince

Rating:
Summary: An Un-interesting Book
Review: this book isn't that bad... i mean... i've never read a book like this. this book talked of how a prince is suppose to act and stuff! ow gosh... this was a very boring book.... maybe fun and interesting for those with a mind for conquering or trying to persuade people to love them... great for political people.... but for me... and i maybe speakin for others... this was a very boring book.... I don't like the way Machiavelli wrote this... this was just to help him with his reputation... i guess i don't think very brillantely.... well... it was ok... but not good to read just for fun.. cuz it's not fun...

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece of politcal theory
Review: This book shows how, for the fist time, political theorists broke with the medieval tradition "Do what God wants and you'll stay in power", and realized that there were times when what was effective was not always what was moral. Niccolo Machiavelli showed a stunned audience (though a very small audience at the time) how to effectively use power as a ruler to cause your subjects to fear, and thus be loyal to you. While you may not agree with his ideas, they are stated in such an understandable and matter-of-fact manner that you have to at least think about them for a while.

Rating:
Summary: The basic lesson for all who want to rule the world!
Review: This book is very useful for politicians and rulers; no wonder many conquerors such as Cromwell, Louis XIV,Napoleon I, and Adolf Hitler have spent many years perusing and practicing it.Unfortunately, the passage of time has dimmed the influence and power of this book.Let me take several historical examples: Louis XIV and Cromwell on the seventeenth century has very successfully practiced the methods in this book to gain power. Louis XIV could rule France absolutely until his death without any considerable rebellion.On the beginning of the nineteenth century Napoleon I also did the same thing as Louis XIV;on the onset of his empire he ruled successfully, but his power diminished drastically and he was forced to abdicate twice and exiled.This is because his enemies had known that he was merely copying the methods in this book. Adolf Hitler, on World War II also did the same thing and he was forced to bow down to his enemies only 5 years after the beginning of the war. If we practiced these methods now, I think that we won't win more than a single battle or two. Nowadays many people in the world have read this book, not except an 11-year Indonesian girl like me. To gain power and deceive the world now, we should use a new method. Nowadays the world is almost united and democracy is very popular. To conquer the world we must use a new method, and not merely relying on this book like our predecesors unless we are ready to meet failure very soon. This book is a good beginning,anyhow. Go and get it. I am sure that anyone interested in history(especially Italian history in the sixteenth century),politics and art of war & gaining power will enjoy perusing it very much. Who knows, you will be the first(wo)man to conquer and control the world?

Rating:
Summary: Machiavelli, the master pragmatist strikes again!
Review: In its immediate context, 'THE PRINCE' is an excellent & insightful document; Machiavelli states very clearly his views on an idealistic state. However, the practicalities of some of his dogmatic beliefs make Machiavelli's Republic untenable & his Prince almost mythological. Nevertheless Machiavelli remains highly quotable; good old Nick!

Rating:
Summary: excellent study material
Review: This treatise is an excellent example of civic humanism. This idea is essential for understanding the principles and ideas behind Renaissance thought.

Rating:
Summary: BORING!
Review: I Hate this book! I have no idea what the heck the guy is talking about! I am supposed to act like I am writting a letter or something to the Machiavelli guy but I have no idea what I should say. If anybody can help me it is due on Tuesday the 26th. Thanx!

Rating:
Summary: it needs not stars but understanding
Review: a glymps into the undeveloped human min

Rating:
Summary: An incisive look into the workings of power
Review: A must read for any student of life who wishes understand the inner workings of power and political control. This should be on the reading list of every high school student in America. It will greatly inhance their ability to think with critically about the complex events occurring in the world today. Allowing them to categorize those events in their proper political context.

Rating:
Summary: If you're bored, you're boring.
Review: As I look over the reviews of the classic works of literature, I am appalled by how often I see the word boring being used. I guess it's because great books don't come with big screens, speakers and a joy stick. Welcome to the Millenium.

Rating:
Summary: this book makes you wonder about life
Review: I like the way he explained the way that the provinces were won over and the mistakes that some of the princes made in loosing them. I also like the way he brought forth knowlege like saying that "the injury therefore that you do to a man should be so that you should not fear his revenge" that you could still use eventhough he lived centuries ago