JamesHackerMP Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Who's read The Prince before? What did y'all think of it? One of the more fascinating books I've read in the political realm and, best of all, IT'S SHORT! Quote "We're not above nature, Mr Hacker, we're part of it. Men are animals, too!" "I know that, I've just come from the House of Commons!" [Yes, Minister] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash74 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 (edited) His respect for the Borgia's I thought was a little rough and his distaste for democracy I felt was wrong but a brilliant mind that many great leaders use his example today. I must admit I did read it about ten years ago Edited August 4, 2016 by Ash74 Quote “Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains.”― Winston S. Churchill There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him. –Robert Heinlein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Mayers Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I haven't read this except THROUGH other authors. One I really like and recommend is any of Robert Greene's books. His best known is the "48 Laws of Power". When I first begun reading it though I was somewhat shocked in that it sounded as though it were like the "anarchist cookbook" in that it appeared to be overtly and unapologetically brazen in suggesting methods and tactics most effective to manipulate others. He also has other works of the same form too. I had changed my mind upon about his intent upon reading as I initially thought it was just another pop-psychology/motivational book intent to MOTIVATE its readers 'how to succeed' by using its author's anecdotal stories of how he/she learned the secret that made them successful. You know......from the profit they made by motivating the reader to buy the book they are presently reading! In contrast, Greene, and to those like Machiavelli, and 'company', speaks honest of the tactics openly without feigning that those tactics learned SHOULD be used or not. (He even teaches how cult leaders succeed in this way.) We ALL should read these materials if at least to be aware of the power of rhetoric and manipulation that others use on us all to manipulate as we do ourselves intentionally or not. The focus of these types of writings is about POWER between different people or groups of people, HOW we use them for good or bad, and how we MAY use them to be more effective for knowing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pateris Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 If you want another great, but short, book, get a hold of The Law, by Frederic Bastiat. Written the 1840s, still and excellent discussion of the place of law in democratic society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlight Graham Posted August 5, 2016 Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 The Prince is basically just a book of realpolitik for the time and place. i thought it was interesting but didn't blow my mind. Quote "All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain Partisanship is a disease of the intellect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHackerMP Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 He did kind of have a "man crush" on Cesare Borgia. Quote "We're not above nature, Mr Hacker, we're part of it. Men are animals, too!" "I know that, I've just come from the House of Commons!" [Yes, Minister] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHackerMP Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Also, I think NIck wanted a savior for Italy more than he wanted a despot for Florence. Quote "We're not above nature, Mr Hacker, we're part of it. Men are animals, too!" "I know that, I've just come from the House of Commons!" [Yes, Minister] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queenmandy85 Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 I have a copy but I never read it. I prefer the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. Quote A friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlight Graham Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 I heard Hillary Clinton keeps a copy of The Prince on her nightstand. Quote "All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain Partisanship is a disease of the intellect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHackerMP Posted August 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2016 I have a copy but I never read it. I prefer the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. Nice answer! It's a bit like rules of acquisition--but of power, not profit. Machiavelli never really discussed how they can mean the same thing, though. I heard Hillary Clinton keeps a copy of The Prince on her nightstand. I think she has a man-crush on Cesare Borgia, too. Quote "We're not above nature, Mr Hacker, we're part of it. Men are animals, too!" "I know that, I've just come from the House of Commons!" [Yes, Minister] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHackerMP Posted August 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 What's interesting is how Renaissance-era Italy could be the Middle East by any standards. I wonder how many people like Hosni Mubarak, Ben Ali, Bashar Assad, etc., have read this? Quote "We're not above nature, Mr Hacker, we're part of it. Men are animals, too!" "I know that, I've just come from the House of Commons!" [Yes, Minister] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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