Book Review: I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse - by Michael Franzese

I'll be the first to admit that I've had a long standing interest in the inner working of the mob and La Cosa Nostra. From the very first time I watched The Godfather, I was struck with a desire to understand how the organized crime families maintain and pass along these secret unwritten rules that these so called "made men" live by. Michael Franzese, a mob boss and second generation power figure in organized crime, is the perfect storyteller and he does so with an interesting twist. He takes the Machiavellian code of conduct that is understood as standard rules of engagement in La Cosa Nostra and he translates them into lessons that are portable to the business of large corporations and to life in general.
The book itself is very entertaining. Franzese, like many of the mob/mafia figures I’ve seen portrayed in movies and documentaries, has mastered the art of vivid storytelling. I also liked the way the author juxtaposed the philosophies of Machiavelli and Solomon to support his new found, post mafia view of the business world and how it should operate. All and all, the book is a very enjoyable read. If you looking for game changing, original business concepts and advice, you won’t get that in this book. The business lessons in the book are valuable, but they are fairly standard and can be found in most any good business book.