Before anything, I'd like to say that even though this blog is written in English, I recommend you to do as I did and read the books I criticise in their original language (if you can). This way you'll like them much more and you'll find astute word games and double meanings which will help you read the book in all of its potential.

March 17, 2013

The Prince - Niccolò Machiavelli

Criticism:

This book, written by Niccolò Machiavelli to Lorenzo de Medici as a "gift of peace", is a guide to any prince of what steps he must take to be able to maintain a territory under his power once he has conquered it. Therefore, it talks about the end of
not losing it while sacrificing for it virtues such as honesty, etc., which according to Machiavelli, are obstacles for it. This is why we find in this book the famous concept of "the end justifies the means", as Machiavelli maintains that one can't be a good person and retain a princedom at the same time.
However, I think that this book is plagued with truths which are applicable to real life; and that it helps the reader ponder about society's behavior, and which aspects of this behavior change throughout time, and which don't.
From my point of view, this is a magnificent book that anyone with interest in politics or society itself should read. However, it's a book that requires thought about it, for reading it in a hurry is a complete waste of time.

Author's official webpage: Nonexistent



No comments:

Post a Comment