Machiavelli: Renaissance Man
Niccolo Machiavelli's book The Prince is an influential book. It was written in 1513, and it deals with the concepts of power. These are due to the facts that it explains what power is, how to get power, and how to maintain power.
What is power? Power is the ability to perform or act effectively. It is also the capability to move resources as one sees fit. Our new president has the power to control the U.S. Although he cannot just make all the decisions he wants he has to run them by the senate's and government and all those people.
How do you get power? There are four ways to get power. They are heredity, crime, fortune, and election by peers. To get power by heredity u have to be born into a rich and powerful family. Crime is another way of getting power. By committing crimes people will fear you and will obey you. Fortune is basically luck, you need to either have friends that are rich and powerful or by some way gain power. And fourth is election by peers. People really need to like you to get elected. You need to fulfill their needs. If you do not fulfill their needs you will not be liked or elected again.
How do you maintain power? For a prince to maintain power he has to be strong. He will have to fight for his people. He cannot let them down, if he does they will see that he is weak, and that he does not deserve to be a king or have power. Also, he must keep everything organized. The ends justify the means it's the results that matter.
That is why Niccolo Machiavelli's book The Prince is an influential book. These are due to the facts that it explains what power is, how to get power, and how to maintain power.