On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Merry Christmas! Have you been good this year? Or have you been bad? What’s the difference? Is there a difference? If you ask Niccolo Machiavelli, author of ‘The Prince,’ he would probably say whether you are quote-unquote “good” or “bad” is irrelevant – but it would behoove you to at least appear to be good. So long as you are not actively hated, you’ll probably be fine.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232

Music by Dan Mason. Check out and buy his music at https://danmason.bandcamp.com. For this podcast we’re using ...