The Prince is a short political treatise written by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) instruction guide on how to acquire power, create a state, and keep it.

This book which outlines the strategies a ruler must follow to maintain his position and govern his state, is believed to be one of the first works of modern political philosophy, in which the "effectual" truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal.

Machiavelli's book continues to be a worldwide success and many business and political strategies are still based on it today.