Rating: 
Summary: The author just proved my point
Review: Take a look at Harriet Rubin's response to my criticism that she distorts history and legend in her ill-fated "Princessa." Rubin says that I allege that she misrepresents the Sun Tzu story. I do not. I pointedly acknowledge and reiterate that she does in fact misrepresent it. There is no room to "allege." There is no conjecture to this critism. It is a simple fact easily confirmed through light research. If the case were otherwise then perhaps Rubin would have forwarded an actual argument against my criticism. But she does not. Instead she offers a lame platitude. Harriet's logic leads me to believe that she has been dunking her tea-bags in the East River. Perhaps Princessa has shown a modicum of commercial success, and that is not a surprise. It is common knowledge in the publishing business that snappy titles, attractive covers, and bloated publicity blitzs achieve some public interest. However, thankfully, they do not guarantee any real longevity. And judging from reviews in Elle and Kirkus (see above) this title will be mercifully short-lived. Despite the author's efforts to toot her own horn.
Rating:
Summary: Try again Morris County
Review: The critics of this book don't like it because it's dishonest and incoherent, though, personally, I agree that it is hokey and even trite in it's attempt at erudition. As a woman and an executive, I believe that being a lying, manupulative b**** is ultimately bad for business (look no further than Rubin's now defunct Currency books as a prime example), and, more importantly, bad for the soul. But maybe that's just me.
Rating:
Summary: Study group? An excercise in futility.
Review: The study group idea has not grown out naturally from the popularity of this book. Don't be fooled. It is simply the author's last ditch attempt to save face. The book has been a flop so she (Harriet Rubin) has authored the "suggestions"--which are ironically exceptionally controlling--to the study group in a pathetic attempt to drum up some interest for the audiobook.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing to do with Machiavelli
Review: The worst book I've ever read on Machiavellian management/practices. The title alone must have propelled this book onto the bestseller list, because the content was severely lacking.
As stated by other reviewers, the author changed the outcome of historical stories relating to Sun Tzu to prove her own vague points.
I hope for her sake she made quite a profit off of this title and saved her money. I doubt she'll luck out again
Rating:
Summary: Pure tripe
Review: This book is living proof of why publishing houses should neverpublish their own editors. How Doubleday could embarrass itself byoffering up this half-baked fruitcake of non sequiturs is all too obvious to me. However for the purposes of this review I will focus on Rubin's God-given talent for taking classic literature out of context and distorting history. Take a quick look up at Amazon.com's short description of "The Princessa." In it you will see that they refer to a passage in Rubin's book where she supposedly recounts Sun Tzu's only defeat. That defeat, according to Rubin (and sadly reiterated by Amazon.com), happened at the hands of the emperor's concubines when they simply giggled at one of Tzu's orders. What Rubin fails to tell us, and what Amazon.com did not pick up, is that that is only part of the story. The story continues and ultimately ends when Tzu lops off the heads of the emperor's favorite concubines, who were at the time nominated lieutenants and put in charge of the actions of their colleagues. Because their "troops" didn't follow orders they lost their lives despite the emperor's pleas. New lieutenants were then chosen and Tzu's orders were followed with precision. In other words, Tzu didn't lose. Tzu won!!! (Please read the ART OF WAR for the full story.) There is no justification for Tzu's heinous act, but that is not the point. Rubin fabricates and distorts history and legend to suit her weak reveries, not only in this example, but throughout the book <sic>. How could Rubin attempt to get away with such a deception, or how could she make such an obvious oversight, when her own publishing house prints an illustrated version of THE ART OF WAR, with the "emperor's concubines" anecdote--as it truly is--as the lead story. All at once, Rubin destroys her credibility as a writer, an editor, and a scholar. I wish I could tell you not to buy this book, but I can't. It proves that anyone can get published. Anyone can be an executive editor. Anyone can run their own line of books. And if not, Princessa is certainly worth a few good laughs.
Rating: 
Summary: how a women can focus her energy to be more succesfull
Review: This book really thought me about do's and don'ts in proffessional life of a woman
Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: This book started out great. In fact, I considered buying it for several of my friends for Christmas. Then I read on. This book is not for women leaders...it is for women "leader wanna-bes"! So much chatter about "proving" your stength to your boss, strategies and tactics. And when she said, "A women who is unafraid to cry, who shows her tears, strenghtens her presence" to her superiors...oh my god! And then, Rubin retorts that "tears are a freedom of speech issue." Then to advise wearing bright colors and big jewlry to "stand out and get attention." What planet and what century is she from? Great start, very poor finish. I couldn't even bring myself to read the last 50 pgs.
Rating:
Summary: Error laden book of psycho-babble
Review: This book was a major dissapointment. It is filled with historical and factual errors. Worse it offer nothing of substance to the average woman to use in her career. Don't waste your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Strange but remarkable
Review: This book won't appeal to the professional victims of the world. It's for women who don't want to whine, but want to win. Sure, it's a little hokey, but it makes more sense to me (a woman) than say The Art of War. Women are not men, but we can play in the same battlefield and win. The folks who don't like this book are probably unhappy because, behind all the myths and hokey language, they are told that they are the ones who are responsible for their ultimate success.
Rating:
Summary: One for the toolbox!
Review: This one is the perfect companion book to Annette Simmons' "Territorial Games." I wish I'd gotten hold of it sooner. I'd give it 50 stars if I could. Exceptional.
|
