I’ve just finished reading my book-on-the-go, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. It’s conveniently small enough so that it fits into the inner pocket of my coat so I always have it with me and can pull it out when I’m waiting in line or what not. It’s like, a poor man’s Gameboy Micro.

I first heard the term Machiavellian in English class, and while not knowing exactly what it meant, I knew that it was something evil-ish. Now, having read Machiavelli’s most famous work, I still don’t really understand why it is necessarily regarded as a bad thing. The Prince details how a head of state can manage to stay in power by controlling his soldiers and populace. It’s an explanation from Machiavelli’s point of view of how history has favoured those using the methods in his book while ending the reign of those who haven’t. Reading it in this day and age, I don’t really see it as amoral or evil, but perhaps bringing these methods to light in the days of old was a big deal.

In fact, I thought that The Prince would have been more interesting. However, it was limited to explanations using various European “Princes”, most of whom I had never heard of. I was expecting more evilness, more cunning, more deceit. I guess I will have to read a current political book to experience those.

Posted by Kevin in Blogs Tags: reading