REVIEW: I’ll Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse by Michael Franzese ~ Nelson Free

Title: I’ll Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse
Author: Michael Franzese
Publisher: NelsonFree (Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 9781595551634
Genre: Business and Economics
Reviewer: Sassy Brit
Alternative-Read.com

Ex Mafia boss, shares insider business tips in an effort to increase your success in the business world. I have to admit part of me was thinking ‘Wait a minute, this is a man who was once a mob boss whose main business involved staying alive, while pulling in $6 to $8 million a week in both legal and illegal ways.’ But I must also admit he knows what he is talking about, and the effort he put into maintaining his status without getting ‘whacked’ -- all that power, money and danger -- must mean that his past tactics during his mobster days played a huge role in staying alive and keeping his business profitable for many years. Therefore, it follows that his now legit tips on being an experienced businessman can be easily backed up with his tenaciously focussed business plans, lots of hard work, discipline and a diplomatic, professional approach. Oh, and never putting his mouth before his brain!

I do believe this is an honest look of his past life, and much of what he says he learnt about mastering a business during his mob days can be put into place, and is already regularly used by successful business-minded people – just under another guise. For example, mastering the art of a ‘sit-down,’ a fundamental way of the La Cosa Nostra culture used to sit down to discuss and resolve issues, can replace the ‘business meeting’ and play an important role in being an effective negotiator, just by being prepared, a good listener and respectful. He also suggests that dumping the manipulative Machiavelli philosophy for Solomon’s (yes, he’s found God) to steer your course by a reliable moral and legal compass, without compromising either your value or integrity. With strategies for winning, ethical pitfalls, and information of the kind of people you need in your crew, plus more, he certainly appears to know how to get ahead in business, only this time on the level and there’s no beating around the bush, just intelligent hard facts. Although an alternative idea for a business book, I did enjoy Michael Franzese’s writing style and unique way of putting things in a way which made perfect sense.

This book also has an added bonus, it’s a NelsonFree, which means when you purchase the print (hardcover) version, you also get two additional formats, a free audio book and a free ebook. Now, that’s value for money! Wouldn't it be great if British publishers could take a leaf out of their book.