Rating: 
Summary: A marginally clever parody of a tired theme.
Review: Back in the early 90's, the world was presented with LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ATTILA THE HUN, which, as I recall, was a book with some serious points to make that happened to have a cute title. WHAT WOULD MACHIAVELLI DO?, also with a cute title, is apparently a parody of the former volume and others of the same ilk. At least I hope it's a parody. The author, Stanley Bing, can't be serious, can he? The book is a do-it-yourself guide to getting ahead by being the most paranoid, meanest, most selfish, most amoral, most secretive, greediest, most narcissistic, and most treacherous SOB on the block.Assuming this is a parody, it's written with a modicum of cleverness and twisted humor, eminently suitable for those moments dedicated to light reading in the bathroom. Bing's brief reference to the virtue of patience is typical: "You know ... I could go on about this but screw it. Patience is for pussies. We don't need to spend a lot of time on this concept, do we? Good. Let's move on." And, concerning rudeness: "Rudeness: Watch people reel back when you put your hand over their faces and push real hard." Okey-dokey. How about these for your library: NERO'S FIRESIDE CHAT COLLECTION, or UNCLE JOE STALIN'S FOLKSY ADVICE ON RURAL IMPROVEMENT, or, my personal favorite, TIPS FROM THE REICHSKANZLER ON POLITICAL CORRECTNESS by A. Hitler.
Rating: 
Summary: Yeah, Right
Review: A wonderful broadside against Western Civilization as we know it today. Is it essential to your corporate survival to be completely demented at the outset of your career, or do you only become more and more demented the higher you rise in your organization? Clearly Stanley Bing, tongue in cheek, is praying to the gods for some rescuse from our current corporate structures(s. Do NOT do what he recommends in this book. Instead, have a good a laugh at all of human kind. And let's all of us figure out some alternatives to this madness.
Rating: 
Summary: very Lame Book
Review: I have read 3 books for the Prince, this is the wrost book ever.
This Book doesn't teach you anything other than being mad
It's written in street language with lots Fwords which makes me think that a 16 years old wrote that book.
The name is catchy, but it doesn't have any relations to the Niccolo Machiavelli's teachings, all he talks about is how rich
poeple treat the lower class, by being rude or get angry every now and then.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate wake-up call
Review: I'll have to write this review anonymously, because one can't publicly admit to enjoying and agreeing with this book. Bing speaks too many unspeakable truths about the business world. His writing style is bracingly frank yet witty. The drill sergeant for business world recruits. With each new chapter, Bing reminds us that the reality of business is more horrible and ruthless than we can comprenend. Do you think he's exaggerating? Hardly at all. Beneath the cynicism and dark humor, the overall thrust of the book MUST be taken seriously. Fresh out of college, I worked for a businesss owner who acted just like the bosses he describes in this book. Within two months, he fired me and ruined my career. You ignore Bing's cyincal advice at your own peril. There are no real workplace rights. With weak labor unions and "Employment At Will" as the rule, bosses are free to act this way and get away with it. Everything he describes about the business world goes against my nature. I now know that I'm doomed.I must give you a warning, though. Following Bing's advice can just as easily get you fired as advance you. If you're at the bottom of the corporate ladder, or in a job with no ladder, following his advice WILL get you fired! This advice is only for people who are already on their way up. Use his advice judiciously. Reading this book is like having a bucket of ice water dumped on your head. It's painfully shocking, but you MUST endure it if you hope to survive and advance in the business world. Ultimately, you'll be glad you did.
Rating: 
Summary: fun...empty..dishonest
Review: This book could help you wile away the time in entertaining fashion in a waiting room somewhere. And there's enough truth in it for the jokes to work as well. Reservations? Well, Bing doesn't know his ancient history. (I was reading a history of the caesars @ the same time, also know a bit of history.) Or if he knows it, then he's deliberately slanting his facts to make his book's thesis work. (Believe me, I do feel ridiculous using the word 'thesis' on this fun book.) Machiavell's recipient of his book neglected it; didn't laud its contents or its author and forgive him as Bing Claims. Also has his Nero facts wrong. I wonder if I caught these mistakes, which ones did I miss? Of course, Bing might argue that this bit of sophistry is what being Machiavellian is all about. I mean, he was able to sell it wasn't he and profit from how he presented the facts? He wouldn't be wrong there. His points about business are worth noting, though. I work in a cutthroat environment and know that some of these tactics ARE useful. Besides, Bing IS pretty urbane. Bottom line: I wouldn't trust Bing to get the facts right. But I would trust him to get me laughing and convey a certain flavor of certain workplaces to us. Read it for fun, NOT a desert island read. Mentally, you won't be splitting the atom...breezy read.
Rating:
Summary: What day does your trash man come?
Review: If you bought this book already don't forget to put it out with the rest of your junk.
If you have not - Don't & save your money
It isn't funny or informative.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: The author does a nice job of pulling together some concepts
of Machiavelli, who wrote about how a Prince could keep alive
and in power, while stepping over the dead bodies of his opponents, with some modern-day business leaders. He liberally
quotes from "leaders" who obviously live by the selfish,
self-aggrandizing concept of "me-me-me," and he puts those
concepts together in a very intearesting, readable way.
Some of the business and entertainment "leaders" quoted are so self-absorbed, working with no concept of public good, or even
public interest, the reader has to wonder at times whether author Bing is being serious or trying to make his point with
satire. So the reader can wonder while reading some interesting
quotes and concepts for getting ahead in the modern business
world.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book to beware !
Review: Confession - I'm a fan of Bing's column in Fortune. Bing brings his style of humour to bear on all those behaviours which we've heard or seen megalomaniacs use, but hope we never get to experience them first hand, and of course we would never dream of applying them ourselves. So, this isn't a book to use to learn new torture techniques, but to learn to identify those traits in others and be aware (or should that be 'beware'?). Of the 45 or so Chapters, here is a selection of my favourites, giving excellent personal examples, naming names :
Responding to the question "What would Machiavelli do? He would ......"
- be a paranoid freak
- always be at war
- fire his own mother
- respond poorly to criticism
- have no conscience to speak of
- scream at people a lot
- establish and maintain a psychotic level of control
and lastly
- not be a jerk
Read the book to find the famous names who fit these profiles!
Rating: 
Summary: Should be 7+stars--Learn it! Live it! Love it! CONQUER!
Review: Career stalled out? Tired of being Mr. Nice Guy and getting savaged by all the young, smiling MBAs clambering up the sides of your cubicle with rapine, blood, murder and stock options in their eyes? Tired of seeing that snarling 30-something driving the Jaguar XJ8..., when it should be you? Fantasize about having that corner office on the 49th floor with the working fireplace, adjoining bedroom, and full washroom with a steam shower? In short, are you tired of being a chump, and are you ready to be King of the Corporate Jungle? Do you think that the people who succeed wildly in society are brigher than you? Of *course* they're not! They're just meaner. That is the central thesis of Stanley Bing's marvellous little book, "What would Machiavelli Do" which draws on classic philosophy to give you a primer for revamping your career, your outlook, and ultimately attaining your dream goal of wielding power, throwing money around, and making the corporate stiffs around you cower in their Guccis. Always witty and engaging, Stanley Bring distills the timeless wisdom of that Florentine master of Real Politik, Niccolo Machiavelli---and serves it up piping hot, with a dollop of poison..., right to your table! What could be better? A promotion, better corporate digs, a Dodge Viper to ride to work in, more stock options, and a golden parachute, for starters---but hey, you're learning. With Bing's invaluable little tome, you will be able to dust yourself off, start loving the only person on Earth who really matters (hint: you), and start building up a corporate career that would give Napoleon the shivers. Speaking of which, do you remember Machiavelli, the author of such bloodcurdling tomes of political realism as the "Prince" and the "Discourses"? If you don't, Bing will summarize for you quickly, as will I: Machiavelli was the guy who said "the Ends justify the Means." He also said that, presented with the quandary of whether it is better to be loved than feared, "the Prince should hope to be loved, but be sure to be feared." Bing draws from the guts of Machiavelli's writings to come up with 45 pithy little nuggets of wisdom, each reeking of brimstone and guaranteed to turn you into a better---or at least meaner---person. Don't believe me? Check out some of his headings on what Machiavelli might do if he were here----and in American business----right now: *He would think BIG
*He would move forward like a great shark, eating as he goes
*He would acquire his neighbor
*He would do what he feels like doing[]
*He would fire his own mother, if necessary
*He would realize that loving yourself means never having to say you're sorry
*He would follow the money honey
*He would have fun Guide for corporate success, sure---but a guide to life as well. When I first came across "WWMD", I was in a deep career funk; I had just graduated from my MBA program, the market was starting to tank, M&A activity was way down, and I was despondent that it might take me 3 years rather than just 1 to get my first Jaguar. Then I saw this little tome, read some of the titles, laughed myself silly, and was in high spirits again. Just the chapter headings are worth the price of admission. Bing has produced a modern classic, one of which the Master himself would approve. "What would Machiavelli Do" proves that you shouldn't just *climb* the corporate ladder---bring a few of your own (along with a few other siege engines), and capture the whole castle. Get this book---learn it, live it, love it---and watch the fear in your co-workers' eyes as you conquer the world.
Rating:
Summary: Great Parody
Review: This book is a great parody of all the thousands of self help books that promise the world but never deliver. They all tell you exactly what you want to hear (you deserve success, fame, riches, beautiful mates etc) but never what it takes to get all those things. This book takes a different tack and tells you how to get anything you want in life and what's really required ( most of the time ), in gruesome detail. For those seeking academic insights into Machiavelli, keep looking. This is a book better sold in the humor section rather than business sections of book stores. It is exremely light on history or scholarly detail. If you want a sarcastic, funny view of office politics try this book. For those readers who claim this is an "evil" book, get real. This book is meant for humor, not as a guide book on how to behave in Corporate America.
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