Niccolò Machiavelli 
The Prince 

The Prince was first published ca. 1512 and quickly became a sensation in the court of the Medici. The book is now seen as a manual for those interested in learning about, obtaining or keeping various levels of power and influence over a population. Machiavelli originally presented his book as a gift to Lorenzo the Magnificent, son of Piero de Medici. Machiavelli’s keen observation and study of human behavior, political power, and corruption grace the pages of his time-tested manual for princes, CEOs, presidents, upper-level managers and other power-hungry figures.