The Prince

Machiavelli’s handbook for acquiring and keeping a state, written in 1513 during his exile from Florence and published posthumously in 1532.

Why it’s on the list: Named in the “explains an entire industry” thread — the industry, presumably, being politics. The founding text of the tradition that describes power as it is rather than as it should be.

Where I saw it: In Kyle’s “Books To Read” Apple Note, recovered from the reply thread to @WillManidis asking “what is the single best book you can read that will explain an entire industry?” (June 2, 2025). The full recovered list lives on what is the single best book… (tweet).

Connections

• what is the single best book… (tweet) — the thread this came out of; the full recovered list lives there.
• People Over Politics — the portfolio idea this sits under.
• Marcus Aurelius — the other classical text that gets recommended in the same breath and argues the opposite way.