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Books that Matter: The Prince
- Narrated by: William Landon
- Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
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Books that Matter: The Prince
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Summary
Should leaders be feared or loved? Can dictators give rise to democracy? Should rulers have morals or wear them like a mask? Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince puts forth unsettling questions like these, whose answers redefined centuries of political wisdom. But what does it really mean to be Machiavellian?
These 24 lectures are more than just a close reading of one of the great books of Western history. They're a revealing investigation of the historical context of Machiavelli's philosophical views, his tumultuous relationship with Florentine politics, his reception by his contemporaries and by 20th-century scholars, and his lasting influence on everyone from William Shakespeare to Joseph Stalin.
Throughout the lectures, you'll dive deeply into the work's most important chapters to survey their main insights; read between the lines to uncover hidden meanings, inspirations, and ironies; learn how scholars have debated their historical inspiration and importance; and discover the author's startling imagery and sometimes beautiful language. Going beyond the commonly held vision of Renaissance Italy as a place of creative genius, Professor Landon reveals the drama and terror of Machiavelli's life and world, including his relationships to the city of Florence, the powerful Medici family, and the villainous Cesare Borgia (Machiavelli's ideal prince).
For those who have already heard The Prince, prepare to engage with the text on a deeper level than ever before. And for those who've always wanted to listen to this important book, this is your introduction to one man's revolutionary beliefs about achieving - and maintaining - power.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Books that Matter: The Prince
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deiter Putton
- 30-11-16
excellent overview of the Prince.
The lecture series supports understanding and gives context to The Prince, which is mostly impenetrable when read raw.
The delivery is pleasant.
The organisation of ideas flows logically and is very engaging.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Silvija Jarnjak
- 12-04-19
Excellent overview
This is excellent to read while reading the book or before to be able to follow up and understand The Prince!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sebastian Jönsson
- 29-05-22
A complete potrait
A very good summary of the work, the inspirations and man behind 'the Prince'.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Vincent Humphries
- 13-01-23
An in depth lecture on the life and times of Niccolò Machiavelli
A really enjoyable and studious delve into not only the work but the history, life, influences & thought process of Niccolò Machiavelli.
I can honestly say I’ve come out the other end with an altered view of the man and a greater understanding.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Steve
- 20-01-17
Didn't get it
I get Machiavelli try to see the world as it is and do what he thought was necessary to get what he wanted, but how does that make him a genius? The author tells that Machiavelli is such a genius but does not show it.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- The Phantom Agent
- 24-08-20
Stating the obvious
Far too slow and repetitive. Just repeating what the author says in different words does not constitute analysis.
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