Review of The Platform Prince

[Josephe-Anne]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Platform Prince" by Kevin Eslinger.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Niccolò Machiavelli has long been vilified for the shrewd political tactics he provided in his book, The Prince. Drawing inspiration from the exiled Florentine diplomat, The Platform Prince by Kevin Eslinger applies Machiavellian principles to our modern world in a socio-economic structure called “techno-feudalism.” Under this system, Mr. Eslinger compares social media platforms and digital marketplaces to medieval and Renaissance kingdoms. He also draws parallels between private technology firms and the papacy during those aforementioned eras. The author explains that the feudal system has transitioned into the Information Age by replacing monarchs with influencers and subjects with followers/subscribers. He then offers advice on how a present-day “Prince” could harness online tools and psychological concepts to rule the virtual world. These methods may seem ruthless and manipulative, but in this game called life, only the strong can thrive and leave a legacy. After all, we are still studying Machiavelli’s writings centuries after his death.

The cover features one of the author’s paintings. It depicts a blurred, childlike face, consisting of an earth tone palette with unusual green and red eyes. This work of art possesses an ethereal, dreamlike quality. This brief publication consists of 10 chapters and an epilogue. The themes of this book include political philosophy, psychology, sociology, technology, and self-improvement. There is no profanity, violence, or lewd content in the text. However, Roman Catholic practices are discussed and analyzed for the purpose of comparison, but the religion is not actually promoted in this book.

As someone who is entertained by watching YouTube videos and scrolling through Instagram posts on a daily basis, I found myself nodding along in agreement with the author’s analysis of social media platforms and content creators. Mr. Eslinger certainly has a way with words. He uses vivid, powerful, and almost poetic language. The text reads like a well-written speech that was designed to inspire the masses. The author provides the information in a neutral manner, allowing readers to come to their own conclusions. He uses many comparisons between the past and the present to drive home the point that human nature has not changed, but our methods of doing things have evolved along with technology. He also recounts recent events, including President Donald Trump’s Twitter ban in 2021, to provide examples of the power that these media platforms have and how their censorship aligns with the dominant political narratives of the platforms’ shareholders and advertisers. I also learned that high-tech companies, like Amazon and Google, are involved in the United States’ national security operations.

However, there was some repetition in the text. For instance, the use of flags as symbols of allegiance to one’s king and country is mentioned no less than 9 times, and the concept of structural shifts from tangible to digital systems is mentioned several times across multiple chapters. Apart from that, and a few (less than 10) minor errors, the book was both informative and entertaining.

In summation, The Platform Prince by Kevin Eslinger is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the realm of digital media platforms. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I award this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The minor issues I mentioned where not significant enough for me to lower my score. I only wish that Mr. Eslinger had included more of his striking artwork within these pages. I look forward to reading more from this talented author and artist. So, I shall end this review with one of his most memorable quotes: “In this era, control of narrative is control of fate. And the ruler who can write the story writes the world.”

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The Platform Prince
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[Kibet Hillary]

The book sounds really captivating and enlightening. I like this statement:

The author explains that the feudal system has transitioned into the Information Age by replacing monarchs with influencers and subjects with followers/subscribers.

It appears the more things change, the more they remain the same. Many thanks for the amazing review, @Josephe-Anne.

[Spoorthy S]

Nicely done! Your review was clear and engaging. I enjoyed reading your take on the book.

[Onyemuwa-dave]

It's clear that Eslinger's vivid, almost poetic language and his neutral analysis resonated with you, especially as you found yourself "nodding along" with his observations on social media. Your appreciation for his use of historical comparisons and recent events like Donald Trump's Twitter ban underscores the book's relevance and thought-provoking nature.