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The Prince and Other Writings

by Niccolò Machiavelli, Wayne A. Rebhorn (Translator)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 340 ratings · 39 reviews

The Prince and Other Writings, by Niccolo Machiavelli, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classicsseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:
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Paperback, 224 pages

Published October 1st 2003 by Barnes & Noble Classics

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Apr 04, 2010 Ben Babcock rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ben by: Jennifer Black

Shelves: own, 2010-read, biographies, history, non-fiction, philosophy, philosophy-2913, politics, 2010-best10

Want to know the difference between the Renaissance and present-day society? If Machiavelli had written The Prince today, it would be called Ruling Principalities for Dummies. In the fifteenth century, manuals for prospective rulers took the form of profound philosophical treatises. In the twenty-first century, they're bullet-point lists bound in bright yellow covers with a cartoon on the front. Part history and part philosophy, The Prince is a glimpse into the mind of a Renaissance thinker. As...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Nathan Parr rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first read the Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli after I was coming off of the Art of War by Sun Tzu, which was a book that was and still is critically acclaimed for its discussion of strategy and management. I was however let down, as the Art of War, in my eyes, did not live up to the expectations that had come before it and as a result, I felt a little disheartened in what was labeled as a classic. But upon learning of the Prince I thought that I would give the classics another chance and, in sh...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Logan Cunningham rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great political philosophy book, but it's a shame most people tend to miss the fact that the book is about how a leader should be pragmatic to ensure the best for the state, not how to be inconsiderate puppy-kicker. In fact, the oft-quoted line "It is better to be feared than loved" is false: the line, in full, is "From this there arises a dispute: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the contrary. The reply is that one should like to be both the one and the other, but as it is dif...more

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Jun 10, 2012 David Withun rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: politics

This was a very interesting read. Machiavelli was certainly an interesting man with some interesting, and somewhat complicated, ideas. I appreciate that this particular translation of The Prince included other related works by Machiavelli, including even some portions of his Discourses on Livy. The translation was also spectacular and I especially appreciate that the translator pointed out in the text each time that Machiavelli used the Italian word "virtu" or a related word, a word that is very...more

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May 15, 2012 Shawn rated it 1 of 5 stars

While some great philosophers and spiritual leaders in the 2,000 years prior to Machiavelli such as Buddha, Lao Tzu, Socrates, Cicero, Jesus, and Marcus Aurelius preached selflessness and a virtuous life, Machiavelli writes about exactly the opposite.
He addresses this work to the ruler of his hometown of Florence, preaching basically complete selfishness. Doing whatever you need to do to not only retain but to increase your power as well.
Among others, he advocated destruction of cities, lying,...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Here I will give my opinion of this particular translation of Machiavelli's famous treatise, that being The Prince and Other Writings, translated by Wayne A. Rebhorn. If you're interested in a detailed explanation as to why the book itself will remain a timeless classic, see other reviews.

Reading this book was like having a good friend explain the text using simple language. Mr. Rebhorn starts off with a few sections to paint Machiavelli within the context of his time, and follows every chapte...more Here I will give my opinion of this particular translation of Machiavelli's famous treatise, that being The Prince and Other Writings, translated by Wayne A. Rebhorn. If you're interested in a detailed explanation as to why the book itself will remain a timeless classic, see other reviews.

Reading this book was like having a good friend explain the text using simple language. Mr. Rebhorn starts off with a few sections to paint Machiavelli within the context of his time, and follows every chapter with detailed footnotes that do everything from clarify Old Nick's meaning to correct his occasional inaccuracies. Some misrepresentations of historical events actually seem intentional on Machiavelli's part, which sheds light on his character even beyond the text. This is especially true in the additional readings.

Those additional works salt this translation to balance the bitterness of The Prince. They bring a much more humane view of the man, and give valuable insight into his lifestyle and mindset as he wrote The Prince and 'Discourses' alongside each other. Like twins born into a bad marriage, you do them a great disservice separating the two. They are incomplete without each other.

As far as the writing style is concerned, Rebhorn mercifully edit's Machiavelli's, er... 'longwinded' style down a bit (sentences no longer take up an entire page). Any words that may have many meanings or connotations lost in translation are explained beforehand, and the original word is placed alongside the translation in brackets. If his choice of translation requires explanation, Rebhorn includes them in the footnotes, which helps us avoid many of the misconceptions other translators only propagate. For example, the word 'Virtu' is used endlessly as the core of Machiavelli's philosophy, and while it can be translated into 'Virtue,' it also has a number other other decidedly less tasteful connotations. When other translators have tacked the letter 'e' at the end of Virtu and called it a day, it has sounded like Machiavelli endorses a particular behaviour when he's just remarking on its practicality. Rebhorn's dedication to a truthful portrayal of Machiavelli's spirit helps carry The Prince's intended tone, that of practical analysis in place of moral debate.

Alongside the above, the inclusion of the homework questions for a second read, as well as the recommended readings, this book really served to set a precedence for translations that I hope others will follow. I had attempted other translations of The Prince and was rewarded with only frustration - this one kept me riveted throughout.

TL;DR - If you plan to read The Prince, this is the edition you want.(less)

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Oct 25, 2011 Jared rated it 4 of 5 stars

As always there is a little awkwardness in reviewing a classic. Anything that stands the test of time deserves it's praises. I am no Machiavelli or political theory expert so I do not know how accurate the translation is. And perhaps some of the power of Machiavelli's writing is lost when translated. So, I must point that I have only read this translation.

Fortunately, this is a very user friendly translation to read. The writing is clear, and concise. The vocabulary is not strange. The footnot...more As always there is a little awkwardness in reviewing a classic. Anything that stands the test of time deserves it's praises. I am no Machiavelli or political theory expert so I do not know how accurate the translation is. And perhaps some of the power of Machiavelli's writing is lost when translated. So, I must point that I have only read this translation.

Fortunately, this is a very user friendly translation to read. The writing is clear, and concise. The vocabulary is not strange. The footnote/ explanation system in the book is very user friendly, and helpful even if it is a little redundant.

I certainly do not agree with all of Machiavelli's ideas but they do make a certain kind of sense. While reading him I always had the distinct sensation that a lot of things he was saying would "work". It also puts a spotlight on why there is so much wrong with the world. Being bad can work out quite good. If I had to summarize Machiavelli's morality it would go like this. "Please don't be bad, but be bad if you have to, and if you have to be bad be smart about it, and if your smart about it you won't have to be bad very often. But if you like being bad, and your smart about it you can get away with being bad whenever you want."

However, there were some ideas I thought he was right on the money about. For instance, it is better to have a citizen army then to hire mercenaries or rely on allies. The only way a leader can be secure from being assassinated by his people is to make sure his people respect him. Don't make your own personal body guards hate you. That sort of stuff makes a lot of sense.

Some of his ideas I am just not sure if he right or wrong about. One idea he puts forward is that when two neighbors are at war the prince should not choose to be neutral but instead must choose a side and fight. A lot of his reasoning about this matter seems sound. If you choose the losing siding well at least you have a friend. If you choose the winning side you have a really powerful friend. And maybe you can become really powerful in the process. If you choose neutrality you might be picked off by the winning side after the war is over. That makes a certain kind of sense. But I wonder if he would hold to this logic for World War 1 or World War 2. Or any of our other wars that could possibly become World Wars. But of course he wrote during the Renaissance. (less)

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Jun 24, 2011 Andy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy, nonfiction, geopolitics, middle-ages

This edition of Machiavelli, published by Barnes & Noble, includes The Prince in its entirety, two letters to friends, and excerpts from The Discourses. The Prince, naturally, takes center stage. I think of Sun Tzu's The Art of War as the stereotypical businessman's nod to the classics, but I found this to be more enjoyable and relevant. It feels provokingly sensible even today, almost 500 years after it was originally written, to anyone whose job involves managing people and vying with riva...more This edition of Machiavelli, published by Barnes & Noble, includes The Prince in its entirety, two letters to friends, and excerpts from The Discourses. The Prince, naturally, takes center stage. I think of Sun Tzu's The Art of War as the stereotypical businessman's nod to the classics, but I found this to be more enjoyable and relevant. It feels provokingly sensible even today, almost 500 years after it was originally written, to anyone whose job involves managing people and vying with rivals for superiority.

Some describe Machiavelli's philosophy as "the end justifies the means," which is accurate at times. But I think a fairer assessment of him is that he is a realist with a dim view of human nature. The term realpolitik comes to mind. The Prince is not about justifying whatever goal you want to achieve, but specifically about gaining and maintaining power and sovereignty and acknowledging that this can involve deception and suspensions of traditional morality.

I particularly recommend the sections on avoiding contempt and hatred, which Machiavelli says, and I agree, is a fatal flaw for a prince. (And wherever you see "prince" or a similar term you can read "manager" for our modern workplace.) A ruler has to show strength but in a balanced way, as too little or too much will make him despised by his people. I also recommend the first few chapters, regarding hereditary princes versus princes who obtain power by conquest; while this sounds on first glance like it would have aged poorly, I found that it analogized well to workplaces where a manager is promoted from within versus where she is hired from elsewhere.

The first of Machiavelli's letters, "The Life of Castruccio," espouses a similar philosophy to The Prince but isn't as well written. The second letter, to Francesco Vettori, is very short and is more of a historical supplement. The excerpts from The Discourses also are similar in nature to The Prince but are better than "Castruccio" and provide some sharp observations on the role of religion and traditions. (Make a show of obeying them even if you don't believe them, as they instill order and confidence.)

The introduction and endnotes, supplied by Prof. Wayne Rebhorn at UT, are clear and offer the reader the depth of understanding that you'd want to see out of all ancillary material. Rebhorn emphasizes historical context, describing the wars and politics and rulers of Europe in the 1400s and 1500s and how they shaped Machiavelli's life and thoughts. (less)

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Jul 31, 2010 SteveR rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, biography

In The Prince, Machiavelli offers some positive insights for "princes" and leaders such as ..."Since men almost always walk in paths beaten by others and proceed in their actions by imitation ... a prudent man should always enter the path beaten by great men and imitate those who have been most excellent … do what the prudent archers do when they place their bow, they aim higher than the target they want to hit, not in order to reach such a height with their arrow, but with the aid of such an ai...more

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May 28, 2011 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Part political science and part history, The Prince is basically an instructional guide for a new prince to follow in order to most effectively lead and hold onto his power. While this book is often credited with giving us the phrase "the ends justify the means", that is not what Machiavelli is trying to express. I think this explanation from the Introduction by Wayne Rebhorn is helpful.

"In keeping with his preference for an effectual truth that bears fruit in the real world, Machiavelli stress...more Part political science and part history, The Prince is basically an instructional guide for a new prince to follow in order to most effectively lead and hold onto his power. While this book is often credited with giving us the phrase "the ends justify the means", that is not what Machiavelli is trying to express. I think this explanation from the Introduction by Wayne Rebhorn is helpful.

"In keeping with his preference for an effectual truth that bears fruit in the real world, Machiavelli stresses the importance of judging human beings and their deeds in terms of how things turn out in the end. This is not the same thing as saying that the end justifies the means, although sometimes Machiavelli is interpreted that way. Revealingly, in chapter 18 of The Prince, “How Princes Must Keep Their Word,” he uses a phrase that shows just how different his thought is on this subject. The phrase occurs just after Machiavelli has declared that a prince must appear to be “all mercy, all loyalty, all sincerity, all humanity, all religion,” although he need not actually have any of these qualities. The reason is that men in general judge things by appearances and that the few who may perceive the truth will be overwhelmed by the many who do not. Moreover, he continues, “in the actions of all men, and especially of princes, where there is no court of appeal, one looks at the outcome.” “One looks at the outcome”: si guarda al fine. Machiavelli’s statement here may seem to suggest he is saying that the end or outcome justifies whatever means the prince might use to achieve it—in other words, that a good end makes even the most wicked means morally acceptable. But what he is really saying is that people will judge a prince’s means to be good as long as he succeeds and the outcome is beneficial to them. Machiavelli admits, both here and in his works generally, that morality may be a good thing, but it is not what drives people’s behavior in the real world. What he is not saying, however, is also important, for by not declaring that the end justifies the means for the prince, he is not offering the prince a convenient way out of the moral dilemma he faces, which results from the fact that if he wants to gain and keep political power, he has to do despicable things that cannot really be justified morally by the end he pursues. If one could argue that a prince who does evil does it simply in order to bring about some greater moral good—defined as, say, political stability or economic welfare— then this problem would vanish. Such a move was precisely the one made by political theorists in Machiavelli’s wake who came up with the idea of ragione di stato or raison d’état—namely, that some serious and morally unimpeachable “reason of state” could justify the most criminally culpable acts. By contrast, what Machiavelli is saying is harder, more uncomfortable, more thought-provoking, and more cynical: sometimes the prince must do evil simply because he cannot gain or preserve power otherwise, but as long as he succeeds and people benefit from it, they will not be upset."

The other writings in this book are helpful in gaining a greater understanding of Machiavelli, and I particularly like the "Excerpts from the Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livy". I found the Chapter 2 Preface to be especially interesting.(less)

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May 17, 2013 Jessica Vile rated it 3 of 5 stars

I felt like this book was a lot of common sense practice put into words. I suppose his points needed to be put into word because although common sense shuold be found amongst us all, many seem to lack it. Overall, a good book with solid ideations but not exactly my style.

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Jan 12, 2013 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I feel this is one of those books that people rate five stars because they kind of feel like they have to. I did not particularly enjoy reading it but the chilling apathetic views of success, politics, and power were not lost on me.
"It is much safer to be feared than loved." One of the creepy resonating gems. But I also found myself avoiding my reading stack because of it. I can't say this is one I liked (not worth the hype) but I also think it's one everyone should read...unfortunately.

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Feb 02, 2013 Caroline Whitten rated it 4 of 5 stars

A classic and a must read for all those interested in politics and the human condition.

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Feb 07, 2013 Georgene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-literature

Having read The Art of War by Sun Tsu and now The Prince And Other Writings, I can see a number of parallels between the 2 books. Written 2,000 years and thousands of miles apart, I find that very interesting. There is an anthropological term for such a thing, but damned if I can EVER remember what it is.

Well worth reading.

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Mar 24, 2010 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

I'm actually going to change my star rating of this book, but my previous review said that I really did not like it. Looking back, it wasn't really that terrible, but reads like a textbook. A really old textbook. Don't go into it expecting a page-turning adventure (even though I don't know why you would). And, going through AP Government, I realize how relevant Machiavelli was during his time, and that relevance lasts to the modern world.

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Apr 08, 2009 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A short book that took some time to read, if only because it is very easy to put down and pick up again at a later date. It was amusing to read during last year's campaign season, and then again while I waited in line to get into a Senate hearing. The most entertaining section, I thought, was the instruction on avoiding flatterers, as the whole book was a means of trying to gain favor with the ruling prince at the time it was written.

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Jun 02, 2008 lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to lisa by: michelle, e

Shelves: classic, borrowed

i think i'm now ready to take over a principality. i read everything in this book: introduction, the prince, the letters, the excerpts on discourse.

i now want to do a little historical reading. the renaissance was so damn interesting. does any one have any history book recommendations? not like actual history books, but like biographies or something. oh! maybe a book on the papacy? or on the medici family?

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Aug 11, 2011 Fred rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: prof-development, military-history

Great classic book. It's been three or four years since I've read the Prince but much about it has stuck with me. The Prince is to politics what Sun Tzu's The Art of War is to warfare. This is a great edition to own also because it covers a lot about Machiavelli's life and what makes him so qualified to cover this subject. Sort of puts everything in perspective.

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Mar 10, 2009 Kris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Chilling! This is a 400-year old classic that instructs a young man on becoming a prince. Throughout the book, the end always justifies the means. A prince must seem good, and should be good, unless the state requires him to be evil. If so, blame it on those surrounding you. Evidently, this book has been steady reading for many political leaders...even now.

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Aug 22, 2012 Adria rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: physical

I got to page 25 of 190 and decided that this was not a good read for me. Sorry to say that this was another book that was just too difficult and centers a topic of wich I have no interest. I could imagine my father reading this, or someone like him with an interest in politics, and sincerely enjoying it. It's not for me, though at least I tried.

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Feb 24, 2011 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely great and remarkably accessable language. I would suggest reading letter from Machiavelli to Francesco Venturi before reading The Prince. The inclusion of excerpts from Discourses on Livy is a weakness, however. One would likely be better off reading the Discourses as it complete work.

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Apr 14, 2012 Michael Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Whether serious or cynical, this is an excellent work of literature; it is thoughtful, concise, and has the capability to be either a wonderfully dark work on the realism of politics, or one of the greatest satirical works of both the Italian and English languages.

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Dec 19, 2009 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to read The Decline Of The Roman Empire now. He alludes to the Roman Empire quite a bit. I can think of some world leaders who subscribe to Machiavelli's thinking. I have just read Utopia ,different ends of the spectrum. . Both are political agendas. Good books.

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Mar 11, 2008 Gary Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars

After trudging through "The Republic" and "Politics," anyone can find this realism refreshing. Machiavelli is so often misunderstood as a teacher of evil, so I'd recommend some background reading before cruising through "The Prince."

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May 19, 2010 Paul Pellicci rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy, history

Basic training for dictators and tyrants. This also is a good book for gangsters and those interested in studying power and power moves.
After reading this book I read about the Borgias, logical next step.

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Apr 07, 2009 Jesika rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So far, and I am nearing the end of this, I am not enjoying it all that much. I feel like I am reading a history book, or something for school. Definitely not what I generally read.

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Feb 13, 2008 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hard to read, but rather easy to understand the concept. i don't know about his belief's credibility, but it is very logical and realistic in its viewpoints of politics and world.

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Dec 28, 2008 Jarir rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Excellent for seeing how world leaders and governments act or might in general.Shows the hard line and darker side of human social/politico structure.

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Sep 05, 2012 Grant Ford rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Essential to anyone developing their own philosophy. Not that you would have to adopt his philosophies, but that you should be aware of them.

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May 07, 2008 Rsoeffker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very great writing, very great opinions. The prince doesn't follow my personal philosphy exactly, but its very good and beyond powerful.

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About Niccolò Machiavelli

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian political philosopher, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright. He is a figure of the Italian Renaissance and a central figure of its political component, most widely known for his treatises on realist political theory (The Prince) on the one hand and republicanism (Discourses on Livy) on the other.

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