Customer Reviews

Seducing the Boys Club: Uncensored Tactics from a Woman at the Top

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was hooked by the title, naturally, and curious, had to determine what was in the book.

The most interesting book I have read about a woman succeeding in business. Ok, the only book, yet it would be difficult to imagine one more entertaining, and informing, and controversial.

As you might expect from an advertising professional, she knows how to hook you emotionally, and, if you care to look beyond the entertaining story, you will discover the information and the many strategies she employs successfully, and how to match and outperform as a female in an alpha male environment.

Men listen like dogs, and hear only what they want. I found this controversial, but when she says we only hear what we want to hear, I know exactly what she means. Women, though look beyond the content and look at body language and tonality, and pick up on nuance. She has actually trained some of these alpha males to develop some of these superior qualities.

Some of her strategies on how to butter up men I found really entertaininng. I can just imagine myself puffing myself up and responding to the handshake workout opener, and had to laugh at its brilliance, or the tie comment. Simple but so effective.

She talks of the different communicating styles of men and women, and how to adapt. Definitely more interesting than most business books you will read. Fascinating.

Hope this is helpful.

I'm a female copywriter/sweatshop worker at an agency that's a veritable glue factory of old-school, three-legged creatives, still riding the wave of their last great commercial (produced in '82). Admittedly, I was filled with glee when I spotted this title at the bookstore (great title BTW)...and absolutely elated when I saw that it was written by the chair(wo)man of McCann Erickson. I bragged to my family and friends, who are well aware of (and sick of hearing about) my personal struggles with the Boy's Club, "Get this--I found this book yesterday that was literally written for me!"

I really, really, really wanted to like this book. But the reality is I couldn't finish it.

First of all, the majority of the author's struggle takes place when she's already "made it." Not when she's an underling, working under men who incessantly steal her ideas. I wanted to hear how she handled that, not how she honed her management skills. And with all the, "When I was at JWT...hee, hee, hee...oh I used to work with him at Y&R...yuck, yuck, yuck...I hear on a daily basis at work, I could have done without Nina's "shout outs" to Boy's Club cronies every other page. Boys she hated at first, but now loves (well, it was nice of them to write five-star book reviews on Amazon for her.)

Maybe I'm just bitter. I'll spare you the retort. I'm a bitter unsuccessful copywriter who writes long, boring reviews on Amazon. There you have it.

(But I still didn't like this book.)

Indeed, there are two kinds of copywriters. People who learned to write ads. And writers who work/ed in advertising. Nina Disea is the former. Augusten Burroughs is the latter. (Sorry to compare you to a man, but I know you can handle it).

I'm still going to try to get through this book. What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment.

As an aspiring copywriter I too have to agree with Chovaleoni who wrote, "I really, really wanted to like this book..." Granted, DiSesa is a skilled writer, but instead of this being a savvy insider's view on how to handle the boys it seemed more like an opportunity for DiSesa to vent and brag about the trials and tribulations of her life.

Given her outlook and response to opposition I found it hard to sympathize with her and I was quickly turned off by her character. The bitterness she holds against her ex husband gets old really fast and the deceptive practices she occasionally employs when it works to her advantage sincerely disappointed me. I could not even finish the book.

Being a woman myself, I'm happy for and proud of the women who've managed to reach the top in their respective fields, but as this book is a perfect example of, it's no wonder women in power can get labeled as [expletives]. I would not recommend this book as a guide to any woman who aspires to climb the ladder of success unless she planned to compromise her integrity, morals, and self-respect and if that's the case, why the entertainment industry has plenty better examples.

Like a man who likes to go on and on with "fascinating" stories about himself, the author goes on and on with "fascinating" stories about herself that are of interest to no one but someone also in her own profession.

Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover - the title promises an entertaining read, and the book delivers that and much more, including some genuine "aha!" moments!

For example, my poor testosterone-deprived mother taught me that modesty is a virtue. Ms. DiSesa, without compromising her own virtue, explains how Mom unwittingly hindered my career by raising me as a "quiet achiever". (Can I get a do-over?) And a compelling story the author tells to perfectly illustrate effective use of "stimulus and response" had me running to my email to forward to friends.

This is not just another new-age, gender-specific, self-help exercise from an earnest liberated woman, but witty, insightful, down-to-earth advice for women and men alike. It's a sharing of her wisdom and experience by a woman whose resume and accomplishments prove she knows what she's talking about. The book is enlightening, entertaining, and worthwhile.

I'm with Anna Lester. You've gotta give this DiSesa woman credit for total honesty. She really "turns herself in" and spends as much time talking about her failures as her successes. Although clearly she's a very successful woman. While I would not be able to resort to some of her tactics, this book is full of helpful insights. I found this book very refreshing and a delightful read.

Perhaps the best business book I have read and I have read many. It reads nothing like a traditional business book though. Ms DiSesa has done a masterful job of entertaining while educating. Her honesty is refreshing; her insight dead-on and her style??? I couldn't describe her charm and wit. if I tried. Just read the book.

And while I may not agree with every one of her tactics/strategies for getting ahead....one thing is for sure, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Clearly, she's a smart and sassy woman and funny as hell.

I just closed the last page of the book.
I hate that it ends.
I never once bristled at Nina's portrayals of manipulation.
Why?
Maybe because I'm now old enough to 'get it'.
Maybe because I came to McCann straight from Italy, the boys' club capitol, where chauvinism was so overt yet feminine qualities were appreciated.
Maybe because anyone in their right mind has to realize that all the "seduction and manipulation" (Nina calls it S&M) would have gotten her just so far - if she didn't also have the brains, insight and instincts for the top.
Nina gives consciousness to what many of us do instinctively, and she validates those qualities as skills.
I thank her for that.
And for reminding me that corporate life does not have to be devoid of humanity; that, in fact, it can't thrive without it.

If I had a sex change and was 22 years old, I'd emulate Nina DiSesa and at least try her prescriptions.
As it is, I am four decades removed from that age and possessing the handicap of malehood.
But it is a good read. For males. For females. For hermaphrodites.

I'm a female service member, and I've read a lot of management/leadership books. I've never found one that entertained me or one I could really relate to until now. I definitely work in a boys club, and I've figured out one or two of these tactics on my own--but even just reading the authors' experiences made me feel like I wasn't alone. I highly recommend this book to my female friends, and I've assigned it as mandatory reading to my department. This book is great!