The Prince by Niccolo Machivelli is a misunderstood work of history. Maybe for it's time it was unthinkable to think like a person in the age of reason, but that's really what this book is about.
Supposedly an amoral treatise on how to screw others out of power and how to be a tyrant, the actuality is far from that.
Perhaps this is the original Richard Dawkins, dropping for once in the time of the Medicis the conceit that God, Morality and Power are all linked, Machiavelli dares to suggest that there are many shades of grey and that assessing your situation and reacting accordingly is the "right" thing to do.
Also the idea that perhaps psychology and behavior can be predicted and our actions can affect them in others. Best quote, a man who relies on fortune for good will be at it's whim when fortune turns foul (or something like that).
Surprisingly good read for an old Italian book.
Next Week - something short, less wordy and archaic.
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