BOOK REVIEW
Machiavelli’s The Prince
by: Aimee Lara Bacallan
There is more to the killer heat, the halo-halo and the florals on a typical summer day. For busy bees who go to college and surrender themselves to hefty workloads and demanding deadlines, summer is the most opportune time to catch up on our reading. And, ah, there’s nothing like a good book on a hot summer day. And as much as summer is the perfect time to clad up in a bandeau bikini and enjoy reading chick lit while sipping raspberry smoothie, I choose to isolate myself in The Prince by Machiavelli. I try my best to be “intellectually fit”, even during summer (I’m kidding) But on a serious note though, this book is a must read before you die.
If you want to be a high ranking military officer, a political scientist, or a philosopher, this book is for you. But this book is also for anyone who wants to gain and keep power. And setting hypocrisy aside, it includes EVERYONE.
Machiavelli is best remembered today for his philosophy that the end justifies the means, a theory delineated in his most famous works, to the point that the word Machiavellian is synonymous to manipulation. But, there is so much more to the book,The Prince,than mere ruthlessness. The book promotes stabilization of state and a healthy princedom. Just right now, you might say “okay, this book is really boring and NOT that interesting.” But when you stumble upon this, “A Prince must be loved and feared, and since both are not possible, one must choose to be feared than loved.” Maybe, you might just change your mind.
This book is not your typical philosophical read. Unlike Plato or Nietzsche, Machiavelli is very succinct. If i could describe the book with one word, it would be PRACTICAL. It is merely a manual on how a prince might gain and keep power. Although this book is a political genius, it is also applicable in real life which definitely makes it more interesting to ponder about. I applaud his subtle understanding of human nature.
*****
Aimee is an incoming third year Business Administration major at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She’s currently on summer vacation in her home province, Ilo-ilo!
How about you? Have you read ‘The Prince?” What can you say about it? Hit us back and keep those ideas flowing on our comment box!
