Rating: 
Summary: Reads like a pseudo-intellectual Cosmo article (but longer!)
Review: Tired of being walked on, discrimated against, and generally treated like I'm invisible, I bought "The Princessa" with much anticipation. "Finally," I thought, "a book that can help me steely and cunning; someone not to be messed with. Someone to be respected, feared even. Yippeee!" Within the first few pages of the book, I realized the true purpose of the book: to make the women reading it mad enough to gather up all of their assertiveness, hop in the car with vengeance, and with a confident gait......TAKE IT BACK TO THE BOOKSTORE!!! (Or in the case of amazon.com, send it back.) Oh my God, what a piece of ----! Pass this one by! It is impossible to find a coherent thought in this book
Rating: 
Summary: courageous and upbeat
Review: To paraphrase another reader, as a woman and an executive I don't think lies and manipulation are good policy. But that reader and I must have read a different book. The Princessa's advice is quite the opposite: Rubin urges women to be moral, honest and thoughtful. Not to get attached to the outcome to the expense of one's character; and to resist evil. I've had the book for two years. I go back to it frequently, when I feel I'm doing something wrong and can't place my finger on it, when I need a boost, when I need to take a wider view. I found it easier to forget Machiavelli when reading Rubin: the Princessa, while taking the Prince as a starting point, is not in any way a "reading" of the classic text, nor even a variation. It is an attempt to counter its influence amongst would-be movers and shakers, who, whatever Machiavelli's ironic intention, take his "screw them to rule" advice as gospel. I found her examples illuminating; given the size of the book, I couldn't expect a detailed dissertation on each character she chooses as a role model - if you want to know Gandhi in shades of grey, read a biography of Gandhi; if you want inspiration from his essential strategy in getting the British to "quit India" without resorting to violence, then you will find it, alongside many other sketches. This book is not a replacements for our own instincts and learning, nor for more sustained arguments on women and the role of the feminine, rather it encourages us to look at prevailing orthodoxy, and see how this orthodoxy has failed women. For my money, Rubin gets it right - not everywhere, but in the main. And her chapters on power anorexy and tension hit the mark particularly. It has set me thinking in many different ways, it has helped me in others, it has guided some of my decisions to good effect, and it has challenged some of my assumptions. Not perfect in spite of the 5 stars, but a little gem all the same. Sceptics beware - this book is not for you. But if you are open-minded and want more from life than other people's rules...read it, return to it and pass it on.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute Drivel
Review: When I first saw this book in a local bookstore the inner voice told me to run away--far far away from it. I listened. While on vacation I found I could purchase it cheaper than at home. So, ignoring my first instincts, I bought it. I should have left it at the shop. The book contains "knowledge" which any person with an iota of common sense already has. It made me angry--not that I wasted perfectly good money on it, but because I felt that the author is preying upon the stereotypical uncertainties of of a few women. The 45 minutes I took to complete the book are 45 minutes I will never get back. Do not waste your money; do not waste your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Yikes! Y'all either love it or hate it, don't you?
Review: While reading The Princessa, I found certain ideas about power made me very uncomfortable, which is usually a sign that something is hitting a nerve. I absolutely adored this little book, and like another reader, keep picking it up to go over pieces of it. Obviously, you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I'm amazed at the vehemence with which certain reviews wrote. I thought Rubin's expression of ideas was fascinating, and I think she's a fine writer. I also liked the manner in which she presented these ideas about women and power; like a myth, like a story, like a fairy tale. Seductive but deadly. I'd save my griping for the drivel John Gray writes; I mean, how many times is he going back to his word processor to "fix up" Mars and Venus?
Rating:
Summary: A Strong, Feminine Voice
Review: While The Princessa isn't flawless, the author presents some wonderful options for women on how to become stronger negotiators and how to play by their own rules. The Princessa lightly reflects the ideals of Machiavelli (and often negates them) while lightly presenting historic persons to animate her points. This sometimes comes across as being too superficial and fluffy. More substantial evidence, arguments, and examples would have been a wonderful addition to make this book a more solid guide. Overall, The Princessa is a good read. I found it entertaining, enlightening, and even empowering. I came away with some new tools and strategies to use in my career and everyday life. Additionally, this book challenged some of my own closely held beliefs on negotiation and women in the workplace, so I appreciate it for what it's worth. As an aside: To the reader who threw the book to Dorothy Parker - she's been dead since 1967.
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