Niccolo Machiavelli is a character many have heard of, but few really know much about. The name itself conjures up images of power-hungry politicians, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, and deceitful, diabolical acts. But we forget that Machiavelli was a real, flesh-and-blood person.
As a general rule most of us are taught about the men and women who ruled our country and occasionally we learn something about the rulers of other countries both modern and historical. One thing that is rarely talked about is the people who put the ruler in that position, helped them hold the position or made their legacy something worth remembering.   Dr. Kerwin Swint‘s book, The King Whisperers, tells us about the people who stood behind the throne, for better or worse, giving examples from across the globe and throughout time of the people who influenced the course of power like no others.
I really liked this book a lot. I love reading books on history and I’ve always been interested in the where a nation/people/religion makes a shift in the direction they are heading. The King Whisperers gives us a look at some of the people who were responsible for those changes or fought to prevent them. Dr. Swint breaks up the book into different sections that take a look at the different kinds of king whisperers that can be found throughout the world and history. The oldest example falls back to biblical times while the most recent examples reach into recent American presidencies, but the author makes all of them relevant and interesting. When I finished this book I knew more about the politics of France, India and Italy/Rome then I had learned through all of my other reading.
The book takes a look at the various individuals by placing each within categories devised by Dr. Swint. This approach works pretty well since it allows you to see different shades of the same modus operandi all lumped in close proximity before moving on to the next group. While you could argue that some of the individuals should fall into one category or another, in the end I feel that Dr. Swint did a pretty good job in separating out the various political players he uses as examples.
The one thing I felt was missing from the book was a wrap up at the end, a conclusion if you will. You are reading along, devouring personality after personality until WHAM!…you’re hit by the end notes. Dr. Swint lays out his thoughts and premises in the beginning of the book, but that sudden ending left me feeling a little cheated. Perhaps it has more to do with something that I am comfortable with or just used to, but it was a bit jarring (honestly I tried going back and double checking to make sure I hadn’t just missed it somehow).
With all of that being said, I really enjoyed this book and I have already suggested it to a handful of friends and family, and here is where I suggest it to you as well. Pick up a copy and give it a read, you will learn some great history, understand a little more about how politics really works and be better off for it.
Tour Notes:
Please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official King Whisperers blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.
The next word for the book give-away is ENJOYS. Learn more about the give-away and enter to win 1 of 3 copies on the official King Whisperers blog tour page. The other 2 copies are being given-away courtesy of the GoodReads author program, go here to enter. And don’t forget to stop by the Q&A with Kerwin Swint Group to discuss the King Whisperers (including questions from the official book club guide), the author, and his previous works.
Book Trailers for the King Whisperers:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC9-vbJRZto&w=600&h=368]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoL6BULItWA&w=600&h=368]
Useful Links:
Kerwin Swint’s Facebook page:Â www.facebook.com/kerwinswint
Kerwin Swint’s homepage:Â www.kerwinswint.com
Related Articles
- The Prince – Machiavelli (thenewroyalty.wordpress.com)
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- Misunderstood Books #1: Machiavelli’s The Prince (themalaysianreader.com)
Kay Camden
This makes what I read for pleasure look like mindless garbage! lol
I might have to check it out just out of curiosity. Off to vote for you now.
Eric Swett
Pleasure books come in all forms and none of them is mindless garbage as long as you enjoy it. My current entertainment reading tends to be on the violent and depressing side where few if any of the main characters are still alive by the end of the book…apparently I’m going through a masochistic phase. 🙂
Thank you for the vote and I appreciate any more votes you might send my way. 🙂
Paula Tohline Calhoun
Great job, Eric! Even though I’m the last stop on the tour, I’ll vote for you today! I also have really enjoyed this book – it has lots of info and it’s delivered in a very readable manner.
Eric Swett
Thank you Paula. I look forward to reading your review as well.
Rebecca
Great review. I am enjoying seeing what other bloggers have to say about this book as I really got into it. Going to pop on over and vote for you!!
Eric Swett
I am glad you liked it and appreciate the vote. I look forward to reading yours.