The Prince is a towering work of theoretical strategy, a must-read for military science and political philosophy students as well as anyone interested in understanding power, what true power is and how to acquire it.

This Reader contains the five most influential books ever written about political strategy and philosophy. Plato's "Republic" is a Socratic dialogue written c380 BC. It focusses on the definition of justice and the order and character of the just city-state and the just man. It is Plato's most famous work and is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory. Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is an ancient Chinese military treatise. It was written by a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician, probably between. 481 BC and 403 BC. The book has thirteen chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. It is the definitive work on military strategy and tactics of its time and has continued to inspire leaders through the ages. Thomas More's Utopia was published in 1516 and is a fictional work exploring political philosophy. The story depicts a fictional island society and its religious, social and political customs. Machiavelli's "The Prince" was published in 1532 and is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian and political theorist. It is one of the first works of modern political philosophy, in which the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. Hobbes' Leviathan is concerned with the structure of society and legitimate government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory. It was written during the English Civil War (1642-1651) and argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign.

Few political advisors have been as revered and reviled as Niccolo Machiavelli, and The Prince will show you why. Machiavelli, a diplomat, originally wrote The Prince as advice to the Florentine ruler Lorenzo de Medici. It is significant as one of the earliest political treatises to concern itself with the practicalities of getting power and holding on to it, rather than justifying a ruler's right to that power. Its clear-eyed defense of morally ��dubious practices has earned it both fierce criticism and praise, and it remains as controversial today as when it was first published in 1532, some five years after Machiavelli's death. The Prince is an indispensable book for all who wish to understand state politics or the history of European political thought.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May 1469. He was the second son of Bernardo di Nicolo Machiavelli, a lawyer of some repute, and of Bartolo-mmea di Stefano Nelli, his wife. Both parents were members of the old Florentine nobility. His life falls naturally into three periods, each of which singularly enough constitutes a distinct and important era in the history of Florence. His youth was concurrent with the greatness of Florence as an Italian power under the guidance of Lorenzo de' Medici, Il Magnifico. The downfall of the Medici in Florence occurred in 1494, in which year Machiavelli entered the public service. During his official career Florence was free under the government of a Republic, which lasted until 1512, when the Medici returned to power, and Machiavelli lost his office. The Medici again ruled Florence from 1512 until 1527, when they were once more driven out. This was the period of Machiavelli's literary activity and increasing influence; but he died, within a few weeks of the expulsion of the Medici, on 22nd June 1527, in his fifty-eighth year, without having regained office.