The New Machiavelli: The Art of Politics in Business: Alistair McAlpine
Books offering instruction on how to succeed in business have drawn inspiration from diverse sources. Recent titles include Jesus CEO, The Kabbalah of Money, Zen and the Art of Making a Living, and of course, Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun. Now comes a volume of career tips loosely based on the ideas of Niccolò Machiavelli. A citizen of Florence during the height of the Renaissance, Machiavelli scandalized moralists with his now-classic work of political theory, The Prince. In it, he calmly describes and appears to justify the lies and cruelty of effective leaders. He may have been the world’s first exponent of Realpolitik.
The New Machiavelli quotes liberally from The Prince and imitates its quaint style throughout. The book offers thoughtful perspectives on many modern business topics–starting a business, mounting an unfriendly takeover, managing people, controlling costs, handling public relations. Yet, Machiavellian it is not. Where the master endorsed dishonesty as though he had read Bill Clinton’s popularity ratings, McAlpine warns would-be tycoons that cheaters never prosper. In The New Machiavelli, moralism lives.
Its imitation of Machiavelli’s rhetorical style keeps it wonderfully free of modern management jargon. Occasionally its insights strike home with eloquence. Surely everyone in business has sometimes lain awake at night running spreadsheet numbers in his or her head. All will recognize the wisdom of McAlpine’s advice, “Under no circumstances should the businessperson engage in mental arithmetic after sunset.” –Barry Mitzman
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Much like Machiavelli’s The Prince, the premise of this book can be debated. Is it a clever satire of how-to-succeed business manuals or a straightforward attempt at offering business advice? It’s hard to say, but what is clear is that McAlpine, former treasurer and deputy chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party under Thatcher, has written an entertaining guide to maneuvering through today’s extremely political landscape by relying on The Prince. And why this book? Because of the “striking similarity between the city-states of 15th-century Italy and the great corporations of the last half of the 20th century.” If that is true, then what better inspiration than Machiavelli? McAlpine (The Servant) quotes from The Prince at the beginning of each chapter to offer a jumping-off point for discussion of how to create a new business (your odds of success are much greater if you don’t innovate too much), how to construct your business (the simpler the better) and how to negotiate (never attribute your motives to the opposition). The advice is sound and, while occasionally wordy, witty.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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