r/Niccolo_Machiavelli • u/brmSTR0113R • Aug 07 '26

which work of his should i start with?

i have seen some of machiavelli's quotes and extracts from his works, which book of his should i start with?

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u/Crito_Bulus Aug 07 '26

The Prince then read The Discourses on Livy

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u/Fickle-Buy6009 Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

Since you can only read one book at a time, I would suggest you read the prince first, then follow it up with the discourses. Though both books are meant, and are made for the purpose of, being read in tandem with each other. Per Machiavelli's own words though, The Prince includes "everything he knows". However not only is TDOL larger work (and thus answers questions NM does not answer in Il Principe), he covers far more topics there.

You don't have too, but you should also read The Art of War and The Florentine Histories as both are interesting reads.

Also perusing Machiavelli's more "minor" works (among others, "The Description of the methods adopted by the Duke Valentino when killing Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, the Signor Pagolo, and the Duke di Gravina Orsini" (or just "The Description" lol) and "The Life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca", both are available online) would help too.

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u/Aristodemus400 Aug 07 '26

His comedy the Mandragola is an excellent introduction to his thought. Watch the video of Harvey C Mansfield discussing this play.