Machiavelli, my mother and sons - or "Name your weirdest xmas gift"
 

I'd value your opinions on this one. I have two brothers - the three of us each received a copy of Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" for Christmas from our mother.

For those not in the know, "The Prince" shocked Europe (back in the day) on publication with its advocacy of ruthless tactics for gaining absolute power and its abandonment of conventional morality.

Do you guys think this is a little odd? I can't put my finger on it but something seems strange about it.

Seems fine to me. Kind of a book for the times one might say. Enjoy the christmas reading.

Your mother must be the president of Columbia Sportswear, go out and get yourself a new Ruf Turbo for Christmas, she's paying.

combine that with Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and you've got a nice 1-2 punch.

Is that Mothers little way of saying that you and your brothers are losers....and need to be wised up...

Anyway count yourself as fortunate....Mothers little aximom is that you never wise up a chump or give a sucker an even break.

LOL! :D

If you knew my family, you would understand just how funny that statement really is.

No Tabs - that is not possible coming from her.

I always get shirts from my mom that I will never wear. 3 sizes too small, tight collared pullovers with bright patterns.

But that feeling is the same. Weird present. I'd almost prefer the book!

Victor's mom is Gert Boyle? :D

Both books should be required reading for anyone working in corporate America. The principles are applicable even today - in fact, perhaps more so today than ever. . .

(Summary of "The Prince")
- There are only two ways to motivate people: fear and reward. Fear is better.
- It's better to be feared than loved.

(Summary of "Art of War")
- Know your enemy as well as you know yourself and you will always prevail in battle
- He who does his homework will always prevail in battle
- There is no such thing as overkill in war
- The greatest victory is the bloodless one in which your enemy is defeated before swords are ever drawn.
- "Head games" are more effective than all-out battle. (See above)

It's a "classic". Maybe or maybe not words to live by, but a classic. Maybe she just thought it would be interesting. Maybe she knows someone who read it and thought it was interesting/raved about it.

All good points - thank you. I will certainly give it a read.

.............still reckon BBQ tongues would have been better.

I never read "The Prince".

I tried to check it out in High School. Apparently, it was set aside and "restricted". After inquiring about the book, I found myself in a meeting with the vice-principal.

Maybe she thought it was "The Little Prince". I always get those two confused.

You could try asking her...


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I was told that I couldn't check out the book unless I needed it for research specifically for a school project. Never mind that we had discussed Machiavelli and his book in my history class, and I was curious enough to look into it myself...

I was also told that the same rules above held true for Mein Kampf and Steal This Book. (I think some other books were named, but I can't remember them.)

Pretty smart for a 911 pilot SmileWavy
#3 The Fountainhead
#4 How to Win Friends and Influence People

#5 Kama Sutra, but only after you have read and mastered the first 4.

My weirdest Christmas gift
 

My father just gave us this for the 2nd floor bathroom. He gave us one for the new bathroom on the 1st floor and it's so quiet and fast filling (about 10 seconds), that I really wanted to put a new one in the other bathroom. It's very practical (obviously), but it's still kind of weird to get one for Christmas!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1135726776.jpg

Any special little suprises inside?