This is the classic treatise on acquiring and wielding power in human organizations. Those that read it lose their innocence and become aware of the consequences of their actions. Subtle, sublime, and amoral.

A long time ago in a country far, far away, Nicolo Machiavelli authored up a classic work that documented the entirety of the human political condition. No stone was left unturned. Every aspect of how to build alliances, when to remove opponents, and how to respond to the various challenges to a leader’s power is covered in detail.

The entire book is written as a letter to a prince who needs this advice. In fact, this is exactly what the work is, and this is what it was used for. It has since become published in every country of the world and is considered the definitive work on human politics and the management of power.

This book is amoral: it does not attempt to differentiate between right and wrong. Instead, it simply states the facts. The book contains passage after passage of “If this happens, and you do this, you will fall from power. If this happens, and you do that, you will increase your power.” In it is advice on how to set up enemies and frame them for wrongdoing alongside how to project the image of a true King in order to be annointed as one as a matter of natural course.

This is a must-read and a good first-read for an aspiring leader.

Purchase The Prince (Bantam Classics) from Amazon.com.