machiavelli is important in understanding large aspects of modern political, economic and business life, though. it has a large influence and you can trace aspects of machiavellian thought through all areas of modern life. 1984 by george orwell is, literarily, a boring and drab book with a hideously obvious and tiresomely-pressed political allegory: but it is important. discourses on livy by machiavelli is a good read, too.
libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual. http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/