How Many Pages Long Is The Prince by Machiavelli (& How to Read It in 100 Mins)

The Prince (II Principe) is one of the remarkable yet controversial literary works by an Italian diplomat named Niccolò Machiavelli. Simple and direct, the book is a realistic how-to-rule manual for leaders in a government. 

The book was published in 1532, five years after Machiavelli’s death. It has 164 pages with 26 chapters. With a speed reading of 500 words per minute, you can easily finish reading it in 100 minutes. 

It has stood the test of time and continues to be a relevant book. That is why it is included One Day, One Book Challenge series.

Find out more about why this book is still relevant even after more than 400 years since its release. We will also give you tips on how to read it faster and enhance your reading speed in general. 

About the book

The Prince is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian, and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. The Prince is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philosophy, especially modern political philosophy, in which the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal.

The book is written as a practical guide for ruling, but other scholars argue that it is a satirical book that reveals how not to rule. Machiavelli dedicated it to Lorenzo de’ Medici to give him direct advice on how he could stay in power. His dedication is also his effort to, though unsuccessful, gain Medici’s favor and land again an advisory post in the Medici government. 

There are 26 chapters of the book, which can be divided into four sections. The first eleven chapters talk about the types of principalities or states, while Chapters 12-14 are about the different types of armies and how a prince should rule as a military leader. 

Meanwhile, Chapters 15-23 discuss the character of a prince and how he must behave, and Chapters 24-26 explain the desperate situation of Italy with a plea to have a prince that can save Italy from humiliation. 

It was also in direct conflict with the time’s dominant Catholic and scholastic doctrines concerning how to consider politics and ethics. The types of political behavior which are discussed with apparent approval by Machiavelli in The Prince were perceived as shocking by contemporaries, and its immorality is still a subject of serious discussion.

Techniques to read Machiavelli’s The Prince faster

Here are the techniques you can try to read The Prince book faster:

Eliminate distractions

Distractions affect your focus, slowing your reading pace and disrupting your reading comprehension. 

When you find yourself distracted, identify the distractions you can control because these are the things you can minimize or eliminate. 

For example, your phone can be a distraction when you start reading it. To eliminate this distraction, you can turn it off or put it in silent mode. You don’t want to be bothered when you are already engrossed in reading The Prince, do you?

Use your hands to guide you in reading

Another technique to increase your reading speed is using your hands to guide you. Since eyes are easily attracted to anything that is moving, your eyes will naturally follow as your hands navigate through the page while you read. 

To do this, use your hand and go from left to write as you read. What’s the good thing about this is you can adjust the speed however you want. 

If this is the first time that you will do this technique, it might be uncomfortable at first. But, don’t worry because you will get used to it. You will eventually notice how this technique can improve your pace in reading over time. 

Scan through the book

Scanning through The Prince book before reading it will help you get an overview of the book, familiarize its content, and get its critical points. Although it is double work, this is an effective method to increase your speed in reading as well as your reading comprehension. 

To scan efficiently, you can highlight keywords, phrases, or sentences that convey important ideas in the book. This way, you get to familiarize the content, and you will not slow down to digest what you are reading. 

Focus on reading

Focus is a no-brainer in reading, especially reading a book like The Prince. Lack of focus will make you re-read sentences, which will slow down your pace. 

To increase your focus, eliminate external distractions. Find a quiet place to read and a comfortable chair to sit on. 

Your posture also matters because it can affect the level of your focus. So, adjust your posture when you read. It not only helps increase focus but also prevents poor posture. 

It’s also important to take a break after a long time of reading. Breaks can help you freshen your mind, which can help you understand more and increase your speed when you resume reading. 

Avoid re-reading

Although sometimes it is inevitable, re-reading can actually slow down your reading speed. It consumes your time and is less likely to help you understand the confusing parts. 

What you can do is lessen your time deciphering the meaning of every word you read. Instead, revisit the sentences or paragraphs that are challenging to you. 

Additionally, you can re-read the whole book instead of re-reading sentences. Reading it for the first time gives you an overview and general idea of the book. The second time helps you fully get the content. 

Take an online speed reading course

Another technique is to take an online speed reading course. The course is specifically crafted to improve your speed in reading. It has a comprehensive outline that guides you not only to increase your reading speed but also to maintain your focus and not compromise your reading comprehension. 

At Iris Reading, we offer Online Speed Reading courses to teach you practical strategies for enhancing speed reading, comprehension, and memory. It is an ideal course for both students and professionals. 

Check out more speed reading tips here.

One Book, One Day Challenge

The Prince is part of our One Book, One Day challenge. We’re going to speed read The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli at 500 words per minute (WPM) using AccelaReader.com.

Is 500 WPM Too Fast? Take Our Speed Reading Course To Keep Up!

See previous books in the 30-day Challenge

Here are the most common words in the book…

Book Stats:

Pages: 164

How Long To Read: 100 minutes (at 500 WPM)

Published: 1532

Conclusion

The Prince is a must-read book. It is revolutionary and offers a new outlook on what humans are when they are in power, their common traits, and their motives. It also offers a realistic and practical approach to leadership, but in a seemingly controversial way. 

You may have a lot of books piled up on your to-read list, but remember and use the techniques we presented above to help you finish books quickly. 

Remember to focus and eliminate distractions when you read. You also have to scan through the book first, use your hand as a guide when you read, and avoid re-reading. 

If these techniques are not enough, you can enroll in the Online Speed Reading Course offered by Iris Reading. 

The course offers a detailed guide and practical and effective techniques for enhancing your speed reading and comprehension. What’s more, it is accessible and convenient, ideal for students, professionals, and lifelong learners. 

Enroll in Online Speed Reading Course now!

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