Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As a retired CEO and now university professor, I cannot disagree more strongly with the premise of this book and the tactics promoted within. The ideas espoused here are ruthless, amoral, manipulative nonsense -- a dose of pure utilitarianism for the stupid and greedy. Glaring examples of this twisted ethos were apparent in the management teams at Enron, Tyco, Worldcom, Arthur Anderson, Adelphia, and a host of other dysfunctional corporations. The unsustainable paths these organizations chose, and the disastrous outcomes that resulted, exemplify the distorted ideas celebrated in this sadly popular writing. Once again, Greene reminds us that no social question is so complex that a simple-minded solution can't be offered. For those interested in reading works on this subject with substance, I can recommend the following: * "Power, Influence and Persuasion" by Harvard Business School Press & Society for Human Resource Management * "Power and Influence" by John P. Kotter (at Harvard) * "Managing with Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations" by Jeffrey Pfeffer (at Stanford) * "Power in Organizations" by Jeffrey Pfeffer (at Stanford) Addendum March 7, 2012: My original review was written six years ago. From the many comments posted, my remarks have obviously generated numerous responses -- some rather thoughtful and supportive, others less so. From these postings, it seems that many folks simply don't get it... and perhaps don't want to get it. Yes, it is indeed possible and certainly preferable to use influence with integrity. Rational and sincere persuasion always trumps raw coercion. It is an established sociological fact that all our individual and collective actions carry with them ethical obligations and ethical consequences. "Might for right" is ultimately far more powerful and sustainable than "might makes right." Given the global events and economic catastrophes of these six intervening years, it is ironic that so many folks continue to reject these notions and hold on so fervently to their dog-eat-dog ethics (perhaps too much FOX News)? It is truly unfortunate that Greene's book offers little more than an unsophisticated rehash of the self-serving and empty ethics put forward over 500 years ago by Niccolo Machiavelli in his renaissance publication "The Prince." At the time, these ideas were considered radical, defiant, irresponsible and nonsensical and ultimately cost Machiavelli his life. Today's media saturates us with these same ethics as held by Bernie Madoff, Dick Cheney, Jack Abramoff, Tom Delay, Lehman Brothers, AIG and the entire political theater involved in our current ethical and economic debacle. Those who so belligerently subscribe to Greene's distorted 48 laws might want to ask themselves that famous question, "How's that working for ya'?"