The Princessa lightly reflects the ideals of Machiavelli (and often negates them) while lightly presenting historic persons to animate her points. This sometimes comes across as being too superficial and fluffy. More substantial evidence, arguments, and examples would have been a wonderful addition to make this book a more solid guide.
Overall, The Princessa is a good read. I found it entertaining, enlightening, and even empowering. I came away with some new tools and strategies to use in my career and everyday life. Additionally, this book challenged some of my own closely held beliefs on negotiation and women in the workplace, so I appreciate it for what it's worth.
As an aside: To the reader who threw the book to Dorothy Parker - she's been dead since 1967.
I have had the pleasure of sharing this book with many women in business and later discussing the book with them. Clearly, the part of the book where Rubin argues that women should act like women in gaining and using power is very controversial with some women.
The most extreme example of this point in dividing women readers I know is the advice to cry in front of men. Many women feel like this will cost them power, rather than gain them power. Others want to play the game like a man, and don't want to remind men that they are women. Other women feel that they should cry if they feel like it. Why shouldn't they?
So, one of the interesting aspects of this book is that it helps the reader (female or male) to understand more about her or his assumptions about power. My experience is that coming to grips with assumptions is the essential first step to making progress, in this case towards more effective uses of power.
A fascinating aspect of the book is that there are so few female historial characters for Rubin to draw on. Though each one is full of useful insights. I only wish there could have been more.
An argument that Rubin makes is that many men would like women to take charge more. That makes sense to me. Why should women always hang back to see what the men want to do? Certainly, in our company the women who have done best are those who have taken charge. Unfortunately, opening the door and inviting people to step through it to set their own course is not enough for some.
I encourage any woman (or man) who works with people of the opposite sex to read this book and think about its implications. Then use it as a discussion base for helping power be used more appropriately in your organization.
Have a powerfully good time reading this book!