The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince, is the best known work by Italian diplomat, Nicolo Machiavelli. It is, in essence, a manual for rulership. The Prince was a distinctly original work, written in the late Renaissance, and characterized by a realistic, perhaps even ruthless perspective, of both human nature and politics. It inspired the term "Machiavellian", and brought it into common use to describe unscrupulous politics. Machiavelli is seen as the father of modern political theory. His perspective in The Prince reflects a unique insight into human nature, and the nature of statecraft, offering clear, and powerful instructions for anyone in the field of politics, from the Renaissance to the modern era.

The audiobook version of The Prince is prefaced with a biography of the author and a background of the work itself, shedding some light on the mind that produced it, and the era which shaped his perspective. Also included are an overview, synopsis, and analysis of the work. The summary is capped with a brief look at the historical context of Machiavelli's work, as well as the criticisms it has evoked, and the impact he has had on society. This is an ideal work for those interested in history, politics, or sociology, a unique and useful work, which offers a plethora of instructions for dealing with power on any level.