The Mafia Manager : A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli (Paperback)

by V. (Author) "The best way to enter our business is to be born into it..." (more)
Key Phrases: effective time management, Our Thing, Johnny Torrio, United States

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 the Hardcover edition.

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
-- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312155743
• ISBN-13: 978-0312155742
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5 x 0.5 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.com Sales Rank: #179,308 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 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 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

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

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.