The Mafia Manager : A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli [Paperback]

V. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Thomas Dunne Book | Publication Date: May 15, 1997

The world's oldest and best-organized conglomerate now reveals management techniques everyone can use. Unlike other guides to business, The Mafia Manager shuns theoretical verbiage to present the philosophy of leadership that founded and captained "The Silent Empire" through centuries of expansion and success. Some sample pearls of wisdom:

-"Be sure you understand what your boss has ordered before you act on his command. What if you whack the wrong guy, or bomb the wrong joint...Learn the art of asking questions."
-"Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."
-"Don't become involved in any office political battle without first asking yourself, 'What's in it for me?' and then 'What's in it for them?'"
-"If you must lie, be brief."

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In a manner that hints of power and money, author "V" lays down guidelines for business garnered from his years of service in the Mafia. Is he kidding? Perhaps. But the level of common sense displayed could fool the reader. Each of the three sections is filled with riffs on the main theme; part two, "Managing Others," covers such topics as hiring, firing, senior advisers, leadership, productivity, and rules, all sprinkled with appropriate company aphorisms and syllogisms. Machiavellian? You bet. Chauvinistic? For sure. But the book is also a great antidote to the disease of serious, boring, humorless corporate-speak tomes. Barbara Jacobs --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Whoever V. is, he offers the sort of advice it is dangerous to refuse." --Playboy

"A grimly brutally humorous book at the business world. Consider it a merger, or hostile takeover, so to speak, of How to Get Ahead in Business Without Really Trying by The Godfather." --The Washington Post

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (May 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312155743
• ISBN-13: 978-0312155742
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A realistic view of the business world, January 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mafia Manager : A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli (Paperback)

This book offers advice that is more practical than one would initially expect. Having worked in the bureaucratic jungle of D.C. for a few years, I can say from experience that the author does quite a good job in explaining the nuances of the business world. This book cuts through a lot of the b.s. that is taught in a typical MBA program and offers some interesting insights into managerial thinking (or lack there of). Also, the author has a style that makes retention rather easy. While I still value humility and compassion in the workplace, the "Mafia Manager" portrays an environment that is more truth than fiction. Most management books are absolute garbage - this isn't one of them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mafia Manager, September 17, 2001

By 

Wing Loke (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mafia Manager : A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli (Paperback)

It's entertaining with lots of advise - whether ethical or not - it resembles some people's behaviour in a corporate office. You don't need to learn how to do it, just be aware of the games that people play in the office. It will help you to identify some of them and avoid being caught in it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Straight and to the point information, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mafia Manager : A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli (Paperback)

V. keeps with the original theme of The Prince which is heavily founded on the basis of force capability. The author did make some updates to the 500 year old theories which are much needed to clarify and bridge the gap between politics in Machiavelli's days and modern business. Also the book goes straight to the point in all of the chapters, which many philosophy books avoid. A great time saver, and very effective in the way of retention.