The Prince: The Original Classic

THE HANDBOOK FOR LEADERS The Prince is often regarded as the first true leadership book. It shocked contemporary readers with its ruthless call for fearless and effective action. With simple prose and straightforward logic Machiavelli's guide still has the power to surprise and inform anyone hoping to make their way in the world. This keepsake edition includes an introduction by Tom Butler-Bowdon, drawing out lessons for managers and business leaders, and showing how The Prince remains vital reading for anyone in the realm of business or politics.

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher and writer, and is considered one of the founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat and civil servant in the Florentine Republic in the sixteenth century, until arrested for conspiracy in 1513 after which he gave his time to writing. Tom Butler-Bowdon is the author of five bestselling books on classic self-help and motivational writing. He has been described by USA Today as 'a true scholar of this type of literature'. His first book, 50 Self-Help Classics, won the 2004 Benjamin Franklin award. www.butler-bowdon.com

Dedication 5 I Of the Various Kinds of Princedom, and of the Ways in Which They are Acquired 9 II Of Hereditary Princedoms 11 III Of Mixed Princedoms 15 IV Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered by Alexander, Did Not, on Alexander's Death, Rebel Against His Successors 31 V How Cities or Provinces Which Before Their Acquisition Have Lived Under Their Own Laws are to Be Governed 37 VI Of New Princedoms Which a Prince Acquires With His Own Arms and by Merit 41 VII Of New Princedoms Acquired By the Aid of Others and By Good Fortune 49 VIII Of Those Who By Their Crimes Come to Be Princes 63 IX Of the Civil Princedom 71 X How the Strength of All Princedoms Should Be Measured 79 XI Of Ecclesiastical Princedoms 83 XII How Many Different Kinds of Soldiers There are, and of Mercenaries 89 XIII Of Auxiliary, Mixed, and National Arms 99 XIV Of the Duty of a Prince In Respect of Military Affairs 107 XV Of the Qualities In Respect of Which Men, and Most of all Princes, are Praised or Blamed 113 XVI Of Liberality and Miserliness 117 XVII Of Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It is Better to Be Loved or Feared 123 XVIII How Princes Should Keep Faith 129 XIX That a Prince Should Seek to Escape Contempt and Hatred 135 XX Whether Fortresses, and Certain Other Expedients to Which Princes Often Have Recourse, are Profitable or Hurtful 153 XXI How a Prince Should Bear Himself So As to Acquire Reputation 161 XXII Of the Secretaries of Princes 169 XXIII That Flatterers Should Be Shunned 173 XXIV Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States 179 XXV What Fortune Can Effect in Human Affairs, and How She May Be Withstood 183 XXVI An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Barbarians 191