Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Don't waste your time on this book. Convoluted and concepts poorly strung together. Lacking substance, condescending tone, and not realistic. I recommend: Gail Evans' Play Like a Man Win Like a Woman.
Rating:
Summary: Only for that restless PEACE
Review: I've almost give up with this book. Is not a practical guide, it's not an spiritual manual, is not even an essay to share new ideas. Is has the vague thread of unargumented feminism. BUT there's something worthy in this book: THE EPILOGUS The epilogus summarizes a NEW IDEA, the definitin of that RESTLESS PEACE which means in other words: To be hapy with your own self. To have internal peace BUT this peace should be active, generating new comfortable feelings, new ideas, new adventures and new projects. The savour for this last chapter is the only deep part of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: I was struck by the stark contrast of the reviews
Review: In reading over some of the reviews of this book I was struck by the stark contrast of them. To me this is evidence of the "power" of this book. I think the women (and men) who have read this book and say they hate it are true Princes and Princessas who have no need for what is obvious to them-and are discounting this book in order to maintain their own personal "power". Good for them!The ones who love it are learning some new valuable ways of thinking from this book. Whether or not all of the historical references are correct or incorrect doesn't really matter to me. The references did interest me in finding out more about those historical figures, while her "interpretations" of them and her views on how a woman should apply Machiavelli's theories got me thinking about strategy more consciously than I had in the past. My point is, whether I agree or disagree with what she says in this book, and whether you agree or disagree, reactions are strong. This is the sign of something successful, something which is stirring emotions and inciting some actions. I am a woman who has been in business for myself for the past 8 years. I have a Master of Science in Communication. I think her points are basically good ones. Some I think are questionable, such as the crying one. I do think that crying is either a manipulative tool or a weak reaction, and not one of true power. If one does cry it has to be honest and uncontrollable crying (a weak reaction). That has happened to me in the past and I found it much more disempowering than empowering. True, I did get what I wanted in the end, but there was no sense of satisfaction in getting it that way. There was shame. It puts a fear in the person(s) witnessing the crying- of hurting that person, and a shame in the person doing the crying -that they will be thought of as weak and unbalanced. There is no true power without balance. But, I found most of her other points good ones and noticed that in my business I do apply many of them. In business I have been successful with the men I work with by using (though unconsciously to this point) many of the tactics she describes. It is still difficult for women to make it in the business world. That is a definite. I think she is right when she says that women should not try to simulate men, but use their tactics without losing ones femininity. I don't believe that many women who have reviewed this book really understand what she is trying to say. Either that, or they don't have the sex appeal to use on men (some women don't). And I don't mean flaunting ones sexuality or dressing it up or anything like that. I just mean being attractive-in a sublime way. That's enough. Therefore they are angry that it is an advantage to have. And believe me it is an advantage. And it is awful that women need to have this trait while men don't. But that is because women are trying to break through a barrier of men who do put a value on attractiveness, like it or not. Men only have to deal with one another-so attractiveness never mattered. If the tables were turned and it were a matriarchical society I'm sure that women would not be impressed with unattractive, unkempt, spitting, fat, badly dressed men who were outward women haters and who would blame every woman for holding them back. Women would surely hold those men down from achievement. And men, similarly, are not impressed with radical feminists who place blame on men. Women have an intrinsic power over men which men don't have over women. Unfortunately, until there are many more women in positions of power, it is our only ace in the hole in such a patriarchical society to get to that point. Any way we can get their attention and get them to let us into their "boys club" is an advantage. But ultimately we want them as partners, not as submissives. We have to play a smarter game than they have! ;)
Rating:
Summary: Historical figures?
Review: Seeing how Harriet Rubin misrepresents history, I don't really see what difference it makes that she didn't have many female figures to draw from. She'd have distorted the facts on them just as she did with Sun Tzu, Walt Whitman, her own self, and Jerry Jones (though she's pretty cagey--probably for legal reasons more than anything--about the last two.)
Rating:
Summary: Worst Book I Have Ever Read
Review: Here, at last, is the worst book I have ever read and am likely to read. Harriet Rubin has collected a few childish anecdotes and added some misreadings of Machiavelli to produce her " Princessa". It is clear that she has never read "The Prince". It is also clear that she knows little about the women she mentions, including Benazir Bhuto, who is presented as " former President of Pakistan", and Anna Akhmatova. It was a painful read. Fortunately, I skipped a lot. It would have been wiser to skip the whole lot! A Reader from Lndon, Great Britain.
Rating:
Summary: Great For All Women Who Want to Make It -- As Women!
Review: I loved this book! There were many examples of women "turning a man's world into a woman's battleground." They were inspiring! Women, I now realize because of this book, can make it through femininity. Beautiful. Absolutely wonderful! Thank you, Ms. Rubin!
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.
Rating: 
Summary: A wetstone for the psyche.
Review: As a male it was necessary to turn off much of my "programming" to absorb and reflect without judgement. This text will push your buttons and stretch your envelope. I cannot honestly say I agree with the author on every point, but then that would make for a boring world wouldn't it ? The test of theory is in the application. The bottom line ..... put the shared consciousness offered in the book to the test and you will find most of it is valid.
Rating:
Summary: A book that is inspirational for women everywhere!
Review: Harriet Rubin goes places that many people, including women, do not dare to go---good for her! It is encourging to know that other princess's exist in this world of male dominance. It was helpful that the author laid out effective ways of expressing women's place in this world---a place of power.
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.
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