The Prince: Nicholai Machiavelli

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Erm.. it took me ages to get this book read. I just couldn’t focus on it. Now I know it’s a literally classic, I know its an essential tool for those studying leadership, political thought and medieval European history. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it does it?

Machiavelli focuses his thoughts on what a person (intrinsically male in this context) must do to retain power when they have managed to procure it. Famously he talks about the need to make the people fear you before letting them love you. A good adage perhaps for teaching, but I’m not sure its one I would like to live by.

Maybe I’m just not quite clever enough to get it, but I learned more about leadership from Watership Down (still vying for favourite book of the year!)

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