Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.
Welcome back to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. In today’s thought-provoking deep dive, Tom tackles a provocative question: What if the very things we’ve been told are destroying our system – waste, fraud, and abuse – are actually the glue holding it all together? Using compelling analogies and referencing both modern monetary theory and historical perspectives from Machiavelli, Tom reveals the foundational flaws in America’s economic and political system. He explores why deficit spending isn’t just common, but required, and exposes how our reliance on debt has created a cycle that keeps the rich getting richer and the poor falling further behind.
From biblical wisdom to the hidden mechanics of the Federal Reserve, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about power, politics, and the economy. Tom dissects the real reasons behind recent political theater — including the rise and fall of Doge and Elon Musk’s controversial moves — and warns about the dangerous cliff our system is heading toward.
SHOWNOTES
00:00 Politics: Power, Control, Illusion
03:28 "Doge vs. Machiavellian Politics"
06:58 "Housing, MMT, and Societal Unrest"
12:26 Debt Repayment and Deflation Risks
14:44 "Inflation: A Flawed Wealth System"
17:35 Politicians, Promises, and Economic Cycles
19:55 "Doge: A Necessary End"
CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS
Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com and entering promo code IMPACT at check out
ButcherBox: New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive their choice between steak tips, salmon, or chicken breast in every box for a year + $20 off their first box at https://butcherbox.com/impact
Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at https://monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year!
Netsuite: Download the new e-book Navigating Global Trade: 3 Insights for Leaders at http://NetSuite.com/Theory
iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu
Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to https://jerry.ai/impact
FOLLOW TOM BILYEU
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory 
