Rating: 
Summary: Getting Ripped Off and Liking it
Review: Chin-Ning Chu hits it hard with this book. She shows the concept of depeption hidden behind a smile. She attempts to teach us that we can do this as well. Although it may not be the thing for Americans to do to succeed in business, it may be good to know how our counterparts approach life. Where the Asian approach is one of strategy, American or western thinking is more intuitive. It is a good introduction to eastern philosophy and doing things on a day to day basis.
Rating:
Summary: Getting Ripped Off and Liking it
Review: Chin-Ning Chu hits it hard with this book. She shows the concept of depeption hidden behind a smile. She attempts to teach us that we can do this as well. Although it may not be the thing for Americans to do to succeed in business, it may be good to know how our counterparts approach life. Where the Asian approach is one of strategy, American or western thinking is more intuitive. It is a good introduction to eastern philosophy and doing things on a day to day basis.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Amazing.
Review: I consider Chin-Ning Chu a parent of the mind. She has delved into one of the best kept secrets of the eastern ways of thought. As a business owner, the courage and power I have felt mass up inside of me since reading this book has been absolutely amazing. All aspects of my life are improving daily, and can feel I am starting to become a true Thick Face Black Heart Practitioner. Being a heavy reader of many 'new-age' style motivation, personal growth, business management books, I would have to say, this is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Eastern Civilisation has spent hundreds of years mastering the body and mind, they have tried to keep their ways secret from the western world. Chin-Ning Chu has exposed all their greatest assests. This is my first ever review of a book, and was eager to write it after reading all the small minded reviews that were posted before. Remember: with change comes rejection. I am in ever debt to Chin-Ning Chu, I am so grateful to have this knowledge at such a young age, 19. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Stuff
Review: I have enjoyed reading out of Thick, Face Black Heart. It is about knowing your safe distance from others, how to represent yourself in the best ways, and get ahead through deceit. BUT not deceit as most of us think. There are positive strategies that teach us how to do what is right or good no matter the consequences around us and keep a cool head. It helps detach ourselves from negative elements around us. It is a book for warrior souls in business and in life. It's for a success-oriented person.
Rating:
Summary: excellent stuff
Review: I have enjoyed reading out of Thick, Face Black Heart. It is about knowing your safe distance from others, how to represent yourself in the best ways, and get ahead through deceit. BUT not deceit as most of us think. There are positive strategies that teach us how to do what is right or good no matter the consequences around us and keep a cool head. It helps detach ourselves from negative elements around us. It is a book for warrior souls in business and in life. It's for a success-oriented person.
Rating: 
Summary: Hampered by Bad Writing
Review: I must say I've seen the same philosophy explained better elsewhere. You would be well advised to go to the primary sources, because this book is so poorly written it's unreadable. Check out my reviews and you will see I give as many 5-star reviews as 1-star reviews, but I can't recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Get to the point!
Review: I was highly disapointed by this book. The ideas presented can be summed in in one sentence... To get whatever you want, do what ever it takes. The problem is that it takes Chin-Ning Chu several hundred pages to say that and she does so by telling stories which have little relevance to anything. Save yourself the money.
Rating: 
Summary: Generally correct, but said better elsewhere.
Review: I was highly disappointed by this book, particularly given the glowing reviews seen here. The "two star" rating is deserved only because the basic message of the book is correct: detachment and ruthless adherence to reality (not wishful thinking) is a valuable life philosophy. The problem is that all the ideas here are better read elsewhere, in far less space and thus far more efficiently. Indeed, I am convinced that the important message of this book can be gleaned (and then some) in the first 40 or so pages of Robert Ringer's classic, Winning Through Intimidation (despite its cheesy cover art and misleading title). Perhaps not surprisingly, Chin-Ning Chu herself cites Ringer's book. Further, Ringer's book is highly entertaining. This book, by contrast, is full of drivel and self-important but irrelevant chit-chat from the author. In sum, the ideas are old--which is ok--but the style silly, and the time to completion too long. Do yourself a favor, and read Ringer instead.
Rating:
Summary: Generally correct, but said better elsewhere.
Review: I was highly disappointed by this book, particularly given the glowing reviews seen here. The "two star" rating is deserved only because the basic message of the book is correct: detachment and ruthless adherence to reality (not wishful thinking) is a valuable life philosophy. The problem is that all the ideas here are better read elsewhere, in far less space and thus far more efficiently. Indeed, I am convinced that the important message of this book can be gleaned (and then some) in the first 40 or so pages of Robert Ringer's classic, Winning Through Intimidation (despite its cheesy cover art and misleading title). Perhaps not surprisingly, Chin-Ning Chu herself cites Ringer's book. Further, Ringer's book is highly entertaining. This book, by contrast, is full of drivel and self-important but irrelevant chit-chat from the author. In sum, the ideas are old--which is ok--but the style silly, and the time to completion too long. Do yourself a favor, and read Ringer instead.
Rating:
Summary: Machiavelli meets the Dalai Lama
Review: I went through my motivational book stage in the late high school years and haven't really gone back since. But I picked up this one after getting a recommendation from another trader, and also out of sheer curiosity based on the novelty of the title. In terms of originality, refreshing writing style and pure punch, this book is simply great. I envision Chin-Ning Chu as sort of a cross between Deepak Chopra and Richard Marcinko (talking about personality here, not looks- as far as I know she is an attractive Chinese woman). If her philosophy is taken seriously in the Asian business world, then America is going to have some very respectable competition down the road (unlike the socialist backwater of Europe, where entrepreneurs are treated like dirt and it's still taboo to fire someone for incompetence). Thick Face, Black Heart takes a lot of the typical self-help pap you find in 95% of other motivational books and throws it out the window. Being a motivational book, it does have its moments of sappiness, but they are few and far between in comparison to what you would expect. If you are sensitive to philosophical or theological issues, her blend of Western and Eastern thoughts on the divine might tweak you a little, but they don't play a major role in shaping what Thick Face, Black Heart is about. Like most of the good books I read, I enjoyed this one because it was so insightful. Speaking as someone who is committed to shaping my world and my perception of reality to the way I see fit, rather than passively accepting the random beliefs and limitations that were handed to me by life, this book provided some real food for thought. I agree with a previous reviewer, who threw away his entire self-help library after reading this book. Thick Face, Black Heart nails it.
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