Sample Describes The Prince (4/11/2009 by TQM Doctor)
Sample (2002) introduced The Prince by Machiavelli as a supertext, being one of the few books over 400 years old that is still widely read today. A supertext, as defined by Sample, is a text that is so widely read that it has had and continues to have a considerable cultural influence. Of all the supertexts, Sample suggests that The Prince is the most valuable leadership resource. In describing selected portions of The Prince, Sample (2002) encourages a contextual understanding of Machiavelli’s literal words. When taken literally, The Prince may appear barbaric but Sample asserts that humanity of today is no different in nature from the humanity described by Machiavelli. Therefore, rather than take the words of Machiavelli exactly, a reader should attempt to understand the human nature of the leadership situations presented by Machiavelli.
Reference
Sample, S. B. (2002). The contrarian's guide to leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.