The Prince

The Prince is a pragmatic guide to power and statecraft. Machiavelli strips away idealism to reveal how rulers maintain authority through shrewdness, strategy, and sometimes ruthless action. It is often misunderstood as a manual for tyranny, but its deeper lessons focus on realpolitik and the complexities of leadership.

What I found most eye-opening was the unvarnished look at human nature and the limits of morality in politics. It compels readers to question the ideal versus the practical, and what it truly means to hold power.

Books to continue this path:

• Discourses on Livy, Machiavelli