Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 In 1475, Bartolommea went to church with her serving girl Nencia. She found her husband, Bernardo, in his study, studying Titus Livy’s histories of Rome. She told him that Nencia was with child, and that the father was their neighbor Nicolò di Alessandro Machiavelli. #2 When dealing with people who are likely to lie, you should appeal to their self-interest. Most people care more about their own gains than about doing the decent thing. #3 The sinews of a common human life are contracts, informal agreements, and reciprocal duties. They are the basis of any human relationship, and they play a large role in Bernardo’s daily life. He had inherited a few small farms outside the city, as well as a tavern in the village of Sant’ Andrea in Percussina, near San Casciano. #4 The world that Niccolò grew up in was full of promises, and people depended on them to function. If they didn’t keep their promises, it was too risky to sell, buy or borrow anything.
