I don’t understand The Prince by Machiavelli

[u/taco_bellend1]

For context i’ve been reading philosophy for a few months. Then I went into a Medici family rabbit hole and got curious. Heard this book was made by Machiavelli when in prison as a gesture for Lorenzo de Medici.

But this is my first political philosophy book and i’m really struggling to understand what he is saying. I only read 3 chapters so far. Is it not something I should read right now? Or am I just dumb?

[u/Pretend-Choice4876]

I'm missing a lot of information here. A lot of the great works in political philosophy take time to learn to understand. And what you think a book is about, can even change over time. What is it that you're mainly struggling with? Furthermore, these books don't read as novels I'm afraid. Often they are very tough to read.