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Considered as one of the founding works for modern political philosophy, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is a classic treatise on the politics of power.  Summary Of The Book The Prince is a treatise that deals with the means of acquiring power and all the necessary requirements for maintaining it through princedom. The Prince uses several real life examples of people in power or those that usurped power, to explain the various requirements of an effective “prince”. Controlling the “state” is the main aim of this treatise. Machiavelli makes the distinction between hereditary princedom and an acquired one, with the latter being given preference by the author. The author makes no distinction between good and corrupt forms of rule, with the sole purpose of the treatise being maintenance of power by any means necessary. The ruthless attitude towards power showcased in this treatise gave rise to the notorious term “machiavellianism”. The use of political machinations, brute force, fear and absolute authority is encouraged in The Prince. Different kinds of kingdoms are then furnished with detailed instructions on how each type of kingdom should be dealt with. The various types of conquests are then detailed. Next comes the types of princedom such as the one supported by the people who wish to govern the general populace and the one supported by people who do not wish to be under other ambitious people. Defense and military are other important aspects detailed in The Prince. The qualities required by a “prince” follow, wherein the most famous principle namely it is better to be feared than loved is laid out. Generosity is discouraged, while a prince is encouraged to keep his word, avoiding outright hatred of the people. Flatterers are another key factor in this concept. Carrying out great feats, careful selection of staff and maintaining prudence in government are the remaining points that are discussed. The Prince is a shocking commentary on the politics of power, conflicting with the dominant Catholic doctrines about politics and ethics. It had a mixed reception, while shocking the audience at large, it had its fair share of admirers in Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII. Nevertheless The Prince stands as a lasting work that has powerful influence on politics, especially in the West. About Niccolo Machiavelli Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian author, diplomat, philosopher, historian and humanist. Some of his other works include Discourses on Livy, Discorso sopra le cose di Pisa, Del modo di trattare i popoli della Valdichiana ribellati, Sommario delle cose della citta di Lucca, The Life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca, Istorie Florentine and so on. His writings have received mixed arguments, with some praising his coherence and style while some criticized his inconsistency. Nevertheless, his influence, especially in the world of political philosophy, cannot be denied. Machiavelli was born in 1469 in Florence and died in 1527, at the age of 58.