Review: I’ll Make you an Offer You Can’t Refuse
By Michael Franzese 
As a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program(http://brb.thomasnelson.com/) , I was sent the latest book from former Mafia boss, Michael Franzese. He shares tips on how to start a successful business. Many of the habits and tactics he used in the Mob can be used (legally) in the business world. In doing so, Franzese compares the business tactics and ethics of King Solomon to Niccolo Machiavelli.
This is a great book. I enjoyed every moment of it. Franzese may have written this book for people who wish to start or run a good business, but I do not feel the book is limited to only one audience. As a church planter, I found many valuable pieces of advice. Here are some points that really stuck out for me:
- Stop having meetings,
- Have a plan and stick too it.
- Work your plan hard.
- Surround yourself with good people.
- Stay legit and ethical in all your dealings. Don’t hide anything.
- Take only carefully, calculated risks.
These concepts are how Franzese raked in millions of dollars for the Gambino crime family. Many think being successful comes from some magic formula or by following five easy steps. Not so. It takes tons of hard work and in some cases, lucky breaks
Franzese never came off as trying to be smarter than the average consigliere. He simply (and in some cases bluntly) explains business matters in plain English. He uses humor and plenty of Mafia-related examples to clearly make his points.
I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to take a leadership role of any kind. I especially think this is a book church planters should read as well as businessmen. My only nitpick is that it could have been a little longer and maybe had some more examples of practical application. Of course, if I had anymore, I might get my knee caps broke.
I give it four our of five stars.
-Don-
