The Prince

"It is better to be feared than loved… if you cannot be both." First published in 1532, The Prince is the seminal guide to real-world power, statecraft, and manipulation, written by political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. With piercing honesty and brutal logic, Machiavelli reveals how rulers rise and fall—and what it takes to govern effectively in a world of uncertainty and ambition. This timeless classic is not just a book about politics—it's a manual on influence, leadership, and calculated strategy, still quoted in business boardrooms and war rooms alike.