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Machiavelli: A Man Misunderstood
a person who adopts the principles recommended, or supposed to have been recommended, by Machiavelli in his treatise on statecraft; a person who practises expediency in preference to morality; an intriguer or schemer. Usu. derogatory.' For more than five hundred years the name Machiavelli has resonated through the world of politics and power. He was an extraordinary man living in an extraordinary a brilliant thinker and theorist who was also a consumate diplomat. In this new biography of the Florentine political theorist and statesman, Michael White goes beyond our preconceptions to draw an objective picture of the author of THE PRINCE and THE ART OF WAR, who has been characterised for posterity as a corrupt, power-hungry demon whose works encouraged tyrants to kill and control. He does so by placing Machiavelli's remarkable life in the context of the Renaissance and its luminaries, such as the Borgias and Leonardo da Vinci.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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77 people want to read
About the author
Michael White
46 books138 followersMichael White was a British writer who was based in Perth, Australia. He studied at King's College London (1977–1982) and was a chemistry lecturer at d'Overbroeck's College, Oxford (1984–1991).
He was a science editor of British GQ, a columnist for the Sunday Express in London and, 'in a previous incarnation', he was a member of Colour Me Pop. Colour Me Pop featured on the "Europe in the Year Zero" EP in 1982 with Yazoo and Sudeten Creche and he was then a member of the group The Thompson Twins (1982). He moved to Australia in 2002 and was made an Honorary Research Fellow at Curtin University in 2005.
He was the author of thirty-five books: these include Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science; Leonardo: The First Scientist; Tolkien: A Biography; and C. S. Lewis: The Boy Who Chronicled Narnia. His first novel Equinox – thriller, an occult mystery reached the Top Ten in the bestseller list in the UK and has been translated into 35 languages. His non-fiction production included the biography Galileo: Antichrist. Novels following Equinox include The Medici Secret, The Borgia Ring and The Art of Murder.
White wrote under two further names, Tom West and Sam Fisher. He used the latter pseudonym to publish the E-Force trilogy, State of Emergency, Aftershock, and Nano.
A further novel by White, The Venetian Detective, features characters including Galileo and Elizabeth.
White wrote a biography of Isaac Newton, The Last Sorcerer. He was both short-listed and long-listed for the Aventis prize. Rivals was short-listed in 2002, and The Fruits of War long-listed in 2006. He was also nominated for the Ned Kelly Prize for First Novel (for Equinox in 2007).
He was a science editor of British GQ, a columnist for the Sunday Express in London and, 'in a previous incarnation', he was a member of Colour Me Pop. Colour Me Pop featured on the "Europe in the Year Zero" EP in 1982 with Yazoo and Sudeten Creche and he was then a member of the group The Thompson Twins (1982). He moved to Australia in 2002 and was made an Honorary Research Fellow at Curtin University in 2005.
He was the author of thirty-five books: these include Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science; Leonardo: The First Scientist; Tolkien: A Biography; and C. S. Lewis: The Boy Who Chronicled Narnia. His first novel Equinox – thriller, an occult mystery reached the Top Ten in the bestseller list in the UK and has been translated into 35 languages. His non-fiction production included the biography Galileo: Antichrist. Novels following Equinox include The Medici Secret, The Borgia Ring and The Art of Murder.
White wrote under two further names, Tom West and Sam Fisher. He used the latter pseudonym to publish the E-Force trilogy, State of Emergency, Aftershock, and Nano.
A further novel by White, The Venetian Detective, features characters including Galileo and Elizabeth.
White wrote a biography of Isaac Newton, The Last Sorcerer. He was both short-listed and long-listed for the Aventis prize. Rivals was short-listed in 2002, and The Fruits of War long-listed in 2006. He was also nominated for the Ned Kelly Prize for First Novel (for Equinox in 2007).
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 11, 2017
Like White’s biography of Leonardo da Vinci, I’ll confess I picked this up mostly because Machiavelli is an important character in the game Assassin’s Creed 2 (and at one point he even makes a reference to The Prince in the game). I haven’t read The Prince, but I had a certain idea of the content. White’s key point in this biography is that despite the aura of disreputable scheming around Machiavelli, that wasn’t his intent in writing The Prince, and he served Florence well and faithfully. Mostly, he was a shrewd strategist and diplomat, and an observer of human nature, who doesn’t seem — at least in White’s account of it — to have got the respect he deserved.
White’s biographies all seem to be pretty well sourced, and they’re very readable. I’d recommend them.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
White’s biographies all seem to be pretty well sourced, and they’re very readable. I’d recommend them.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
September 4, 2025
I didn't know Machiavelli very well before I've read this biography. I've heart a lot of people say that he has an autoritarian view on leadership. Although this might be partly true, it seems that this was contemporary knowledge in Italy during Machiavelli's life. The way this book proposes multiple perspectives on the principles of diplomacy, republics and governance made it an interesting read.
January 5, 2014
An easy enough book to read, entertaining in parts...but I was expecting something which would have delved deeper into Machiavelli's life and offer a more in depth analysis of his work. I feel like White had the title long before finishing the book and then wasn't able to properly deliver on it.
Still, I did learn some interesting facts and tid-bits from the end of 15th/first third of 16th century and because I didn't know much about Machiavelli himself most of the information presented in this book was new for me.
I don't know why I expected more, I guess it was the title. As is I'd rate this book a very strong 3/5.
Still, I did learn some interesting facts and tid-bits from the end of 15th/first third of 16th century and because I didn't know much about Machiavelli himself most of the information presented in this book was new for me.
I don't know why I expected more, I guess it was the title. As is I'd rate this book a very strong 3/5.
July 31, 2011
Like another reviewer, I read this after reading a very good book about the Medici. This I didn't enjoy quite as much but neverless found it very engaging. The headline is Machiavelli was not Machiavellian. He merely observed that trait in others. I think after reading this the obvious next thing would be something about the man of pure evil, Cesare Borgia and his even more dastardly dad, Pope Alexander VI. What a crew.
May 27, 2018
A very interesting book that shows that Machiavelli was not Machiavellian. He was a man who wrote based on his experience and a man abused and disrespected by the city he served and love his entire life.
February 11, 2025
An engaging biography with much insight to the context to The Prince.
January 4, 2010
‘We are much beholden to Machiavel and others ..
.. that write what men do, and not what they ought to do, ‘ (Francis Bacon ‘The Advancement of Learning’ 1605)
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an extraordinary man living in tumultuous times. While he is most famous today as the author of ‘The Prince’ (not published until after his death), his other works include ‘The Art of War’, eight volumes of Florentine histories as well as poems and plays. In respect of his writing Machiavelli was better known as a comic author during his lifetime because of his plays ‘Mandragola’ and ‘Clizia’.
‘The Prince’ was based on observations of Cesare Borgia. Its brutal truth: that leaders who are prepared to be ruthless are those who are successful may not be palatable be accurately reflects Machiavelli’s experience. This book looks beyond ‘The Prince’ to the man Niccolo Machiavelli himself and the times in which he lived. Renaissance politics, the roles of various popes and of the Medici family are part of the backdrop. In Machiavelli’s vision of an ideal government, the people (not a collective whole, but a small powerful elite) worked with the ruler. This is not democracy as most of us understand it today, but neither is it tyranny. It is ironic that Machiavelli is best remembered for his observations in ‘The Prince’ when for much of his life Machiavelli effectively served the government of Florence.
I think that Machiavelli has been misrepresented and misinterpreted over the past 500 years, which has led to some (at least) misunderstanding. But to really appreciate the man and his work, it is necessary to appreciate the times in which he lived and understand that reputations can be made and destroyed by the capricious nature of politics.
I enjoyed this book and learned from it. It contains a timeline for the life and times of Machiavelli, a list of his principal works and references for those moved to learn more.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
.. that write what men do, and not what they ought to do, ‘ (Francis Bacon ‘The Advancement of Learning’ 1605)
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an extraordinary man living in tumultuous times. While he is most famous today as the author of ‘The Prince’ (not published until after his death), his other works include ‘The Art of War’, eight volumes of Florentine histories as well as poems and plays. In respect of his writing Machiavelli was better known as a comic author during his lifetime because of his plays ‘Mandragola’ and ‘Clizia’.
‘The Prince’ was based on observations of Cesare Borgia. Its brutal truth: that leaders who are prepared to be ruthless are those who are successful may not be palatable be accurately reflects Machiavelli’s experience. This book looks beyond ‘The Prince’ to the man Niccolo Machiavelli himself and the times in which he lived. Renaissance politics, the roles of various popes and of the Medici family are part of the backdrop. In Machiavelli’s vision of an ideal government, the people (not a collective whole, but a small powerful elite) worked with the ruler. This is not democracy as most of us understand it today, but neither is it tyranny. It is ironic that Machiavelli is best remembered for his observations in ‘The Prince’ when for much of his life Machiavelli effectively served the government of Florence.
I think that Machiavelli has been misrepresented and misinterpreted over the past 500 years, which has led to some (at least) misunderstanding. But to really appreciate the man and his work, it is necessary to appreciate the times in which he lived and understand that reputations can be made and destroyed by the capricious nature of politics.
I enjoyed this book and learned from it. It contains a timeline for the life and times of Machiavelli, a list of his principal works and references for those moved to learn more.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 18, 2021
Machiavelli: A Man Misunderstood by Michael White is an interesting book which gives a good insight into Machiavelli as a person, his background, and what he was trying to do by writing The Prince. However, while it was interesting and I wanted to like it, I got something of a vibe that White really dislikes the Catholic Church, at least as it was in the Middle Ages, and that this coloured his view of Machiaelli and the world in which he lived, which made it difficult to know how seriously to take some of the attitudes expressed.
It was interesting, but I'm not sure I'd strongly recommend it.
It was interesting, but I'm not sure I'd strongly recommend it.
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July 10, 2014For some reason, Machiavelli intrigues me. I am not a person who possesses a great mind to discuss ideas/philosophies but, I have got a feeling that he was not a bad person. I always believe that people just get too overwhelmed by his ideas.
So now it's time for me to seriously start analysing his ideas, well I hope my average brain can handle it:p.
~the understanding of Machiavelli's icy words~
So now it's time for me to seriously start analysing his ideas, well I hope my average brain can handle it:p.
~the understanding of Machiavelli's icy words~
April 25, 2014
Is a good way to live something about Florence history on the begining of 16th century.
When White talk about "human" side is more about his lifestyle and personality.
I think he was a brilliant man in the way he brought to the world wise rules of goverment and even management for this time.
Not evil, not saint, not "maquiavellian", not misunderstood, only a non-perfect man with a lot of talent!!!
When White talk about "human" side is more about his lifestyle and personality.
I think he was a brilliant man in the way he brought to the world wise rules of goverment and even management for this time.
Not evil, not saint, not "maquiavellian", not misunderstood, only a non-perfect man with a lot of talent!!!
February 13, 2012
This book details the career of this 'infamous'character. It provides a new perspective about this man as a human being. I also found out that his most famous work 'The Prince' was actualy dedicated to his foe a meddici prince who assumed power after machiavelli lost his influence and position in Florence.
March 7, 2015
This book is GREAT. It's a pleasure to read and hard to put down! If you've read The Prince by Machiavelli you'll find it an invaluable insight into the times that caused his way of thinking. Even if you haven't, this book will still be a fascinating read with it's colourful portrayal of life in Florence a long, long time ago. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
December 9, 2011
Enjoyed it. I think if you want your fill of Machiavelli I'd recommend The Prince. However, this one's an easy read and may change the view of most non historians, towards the man whose name has been misued for a few centuries now. It was light and entertaining.
January 26, 2016
Read in conjunction with "The Prince" and fascinating insight into not only Machiavelli but the history of Italy and the Catholic Church. Machiavelli's controversial books are certainly placed in a better context.
PB
PB
April 5, 2016
It was great to see more of Machiavelli's life laid out for me. Plus I found out from the book that I am currently living in his neighborhood, so that made my year!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews