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Rating: 
Summary: good book for beginners
Review: I recommend this book for the politically naive as it showed all the tips and tactics to get ahead in the workplace and beware of heavy handed office politics tactics.
Rating:
Summary: best I've ever read, by far!
Review: I'm half way through reading this book, and am surprised by the diversity of reviews and ratings. This is a "foundation of basics" type of book, that provides a workable framework to then enhance one's skill set. It's fast, short reading, and, unlike most business books, worthy of being reread. I think highly of this book because I'm one of the politically challenged type of person--no idea what's going on. One of these guys walking around the world, wondering why everyone else is doing the funny things they're doing. And I think it takes someone who is from outside the social-realities world to really appreciate this book. This isn't Plato or Machiavelli that describe the full implications of power, but this is the best I've seen on how to get power. Most of the popular how-to-get-power books describe common-day tips and anecodotes. This book though, gives a set of simple principles, hence a framework, that one can use to assess a situation and oneself to then deploy how to get and use power. As such, I'd say that it's a better book on how to get power than (dare I) Machiavelli's the Prince, which claims to teach about power, but doesn't really say much on how, in my opinion. I find it's actually very difficult to "see properly" without a framework. Most people learn about power naturally. I had to read this book, before I could see. Perhaps that explains the wide range of opinions here--some reviewers who understand power think this book is obvious and silly. Others, like me, believe it's simply the best set of principles to use to start learning about power. A truly fast reading book--I've learned more that's valuable about business, politics, and social relationships in the estimated 3 hours it'll take me to read this book than I've learned about anything in semester long textbooks.
Rating:
Summary: best I've ever read, by far!
Review: I'm half way through reading this book, and am surprised by the diversity of reviews and ratings. This is a "foundation of basics" type of book, that provides a workable framework to then enhance one's skill set. It's fast, short reading, and, unlike most business books, worthy of being reread. I think highly of this book because I'm one of the politically challenged type of person--no idea what's going on. One of these guys walking around the world, wondering why everyone else is doing the funny things they're doing. And I think it takes someone who is from outside the social-realities world to really appreciate this book. This isn't Plato or Machiavelli that describe the full implications of power, but this is the best I've seen on how to get power. Most of the popular how-to-get-power books describe common-day tips and anecodotes. This book though, gives a set of simple principles, hence a framework, that one can use to assess a situation and oneself to then deploy how to get and use power. As such, I'd say that it's a better book on how to get power than (dare I) Machiavelli's the Prince, which claims to teach about power, but doesn't really say much on how, in my opinion. I find it's actually very difficult to "see properly" without a framework. Most people learn about power naturally. I had to read this book, before I could see. Perhaps that explains the wide range of opinions here--some reviewers who understand power think this book is obvious and silly. Others, like me, believe it's simply the best set of principles to use to start learning about power. A truly fast reading book--I've learned more that's valuable about business, politics, and social relationships in the estimated 3 hours it'll take me to read this book than I've learned about anything in semester long textbooks.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book. Nasty Subject
Review: I've noticed a wide variation of reviews, with most of the negative reviewers unable to separate the book and the subject. Office politics IS a distasteful activity...it wastes time and prevents many skilled workers from getting the rewards they deserve. But--as the author herself notes, it is here to stay, so either arm yourself or be robbed. I have read a number of office politics/OB books. What sets Reardon's book apart from the others is the following: --Self-evaluation tests...of your workplace and your personal style. Knowing yourself is the first step to optomizing yourself.
--Relevant anecdotes...Reardon is an academic, and academic politics is really the second worst out there (the military is the worst). Furthermore, her experience as a consultant means she sees more politics in a year than most of us will see in a career.
--She covers all aspects of the game. When to fight, when to give in, how to make up, how to build bridges, how to recognize barriers. This is a good overview of a nasty, brutish subject. Was it useful? Ask me in five years, when I'll have either made it or not.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book. Nasty Subject
Review: I've noticed a wide variation of reviews, with most of the negative reviewers unable to separate the book and the subject. Office politics IS a distasteful activity...it wastes time and prevents many skilled workers from getting the rewards they deserve. But--as the author herself notes, it is here to stay, so either arm yourself or be robbed. I have read a number of office politics/OB books. What sets Reardon's book apart from the others is the following: --Self-evaluation tests...of your workplace and your personal style. Knowing yourself is the first step to optomizing yourself.
--Relevant anecdotes...Reardon is an academic, and academic politics is really the second worst out there (the military is the worst). Furthermore, her experience as a consultant means she sees more politics in a year than most of us will see in a career.
--She covers all aspects of the game. When to fight, when to give in, how to make up, how to build bridges, how to recognize barriers. This is a good overview of a nasty, brutish subject. Was it useful? Ask me in five years, when I'll have either made it or not.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointed
Review: Not slim pickings, Kathleen Reardon's book is not as simple a read as the airport reads that I call 'the food books'--books about cheese and fish that you can barrel through before you even take out your boarding pass. While these books are fast and entertaining and make you feel great while you are reading them, let's face it, few readers take the time to consider how to implement the principles into their own real-world challenges. Reardon's book provides a validated base of knowledge with field-tested strategies that can help you maneuver life's political communications, which, when it comes right down to it, includes just about every communication including navigating your way to and through the airport. Kathleen Reardon is an expert who has translated reams of real-world data, along with her decades of expert knowledge regarding effective communication, into a readable, knowledge-packed book. Given that, it is amazing that it is not encyclopedic. It does take more time to get through this one than the airport fast food books. Still this book is remarkably understandable and a relatively simple read given all of the knowledge upon which it rests. Rather than implying that reading the book is enough to go forward in the world to implement the principles and strategies, the book provides a framework that readers can apply, with thought and consideration, to their real world political communication challenges. In reality, that includes just about every communication challenge we face--even navigating our way out of the house and through airport lines. While airport reads have provided us with the illusion that knowledge and inspiration can be attained in a nanosecond, this book confirms that it is a bit more complex and that with a valid knowledge base and the time to assimilate it into your own world challenges, you can inspire yourself to communicate effectively in any arena. If enough frequent flyers and the people who work to help those frequent flyers navigate the airports read this book and turn it into action, we may see the emotional intelligence and intellectual smarts improve on all runways of life.
Rating:
Summary: Practical, emperically based and thoughtful.
Review: There are several negative reviews posted for this book with which I would beg to differ. I found the book to be well written - it's an easy and quick read - with a good balance of analysis and allegory. This is a difficult subject that has been used and abused my many opportunists. It is very clear from the text that the author has plenty of experience in business politics - something that is rare. This is not just another trendy 'business communications' treatment of the topic. This is NOT a workbook - it is NOT a step-by-step book, it is NOT a 'list' book (7 habits?), it is NOT a 'success' book. This is a practical treatment of a complex topic by an expert in the field. As I read this book I was able to relate my experiences and see them in a different light - I was able to understand how I could have handled situations differently and perhaps better - not just once, but throughout the book. We've all heard of 'dysfunctional families', there are also 'dysfunctional offices' and this book will help you identify if you are part of one. For me this was a very worthwhile book, I will read it again and recommend it to friends.
That's my take - loopster - Chicago, IL
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: these methods are common sense-- it is a total waste of time and money.
Rating: 
Summary: a bit misleading
Review: This book is an easy read, but unsettling. The anecdotes are particularly engaging. Yet, several of the themes in this book seem more to mislead rather than help the reader understand the nature of organizational politics. Reardon implies that there is an exclusive insiders group, which one can enter using political savvy. It makes for a good marketing since everyone wants to know `secrets' to success. However, this exclusive insider's club is more myth than reality. More realistically, there are those who have high credibility with each other. One's credibility with others is worth its weight in gold and is indispensable for career success. Such credibility is earned, sometimes by favoritism but more often by competency and gaining the trust of others. Being part of several credibility networks can increase one's favorable visibility. Learning how to use these networks can amplify one's influence.
Reardon suggests that being politically astute is more important than job performance. Sometimes that is the case, but more often job performance is necessary, if not sufficient. Reardon seems to have bought into the amoral Machiavellian stereotype of organizational politics. She says, "Simply put, politics is an illegitimate means of getting things done." President Harry Truman said, "Politics is the art of getting things done." He was not known as an amoral man.
Getting active in politics without an ethical base creates the risk of coming across as a `shark'. This perception can actually lower one's credibility with important others. Reardon defines political savvy as an interpersonal skill. This definition unfortunately omits the strategic level. Charting influence strategies, people can make things happen by navigating issues through turbulent political waters. In contrast, this book seems more about local face-to-face politics than organizational politics and more about getting ahead than getting things done.
Where this book shines is when it comes to communication skills related to politics and political situations and in its balance of both genders in its anecdotes. In addition, it contains important insights for defending one's self against negative politics. The quizzes included in the book provide valuable diagnostics about one's negotiating and leadership styles.
Rating: 
Summary: A Decent Book on a Very Critical Career Development Skill
Review: This work had some interesting tidbits here and there, but I felt on the whole it was rather thin. I think the thing that disturbed me the most, is that no where is adding value to the business is mentioned. I suppose that one could argue between perceived value and real value and perhaps that is the crux of politics. However it rather rubbed me the wrong way as it seems seems terribly self serving. I have been in corporations where the politically astute do have their way, influence decisions, then move on to their next corporate challenge leaving everyone else to clean up. However, suppose that fall more into the realm of ethics rather than politics. This book might be helpful to someone who really needs the ground up basics, but don't look here for any insight into deeper political management.
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