The Prince

By: Niccolò Machiavelli

Narrated by: Rider Strong

When Lorenzo de Medici seized control of the Florentine Republic in 1512, he fired the Secretary to the Second Chancery of the Signoria, Niccolo Machiavelli, which set in motion a fundamental change in the way we think about politics. Suddenly finding himself without a job after 14 years of patriotic service, Machiavelli set a precedent for many a politician to come—by becoming a pundit and commentator through one of the only means available to him at the time: writing a book. In The Prince, Machiavelli set forth the then-revolutionary idea that theological and moral imperatives have no place in the political arena. He asserted that it is, "often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state."

Public Domain (P)2008 Phoenix Books, Inc.

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The Prince and the Art of War by Machiavelli are must reads for any DOD or DOS member. One does not have to like his conclusions but his observations are right on. Plus it is a must read to understand the realist point of view.