I’ll Make You An Offer You Can’t Refuse by Michael Franzese

I recently read ‘I’ll Make You An Offer You Can’t Refuse‘ by ex Mob Boss Michael Franzese as part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program. This book intrigued me for one reason, that fact that Franzese was once part of the mob! For one who loves the gangster movies like the Godfather, Good Fellas and even British films like Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, this book seemed to appeal as it would give a peak into the underworld of Organized Crime.

This book focuses on business principles Michael Franzese discovered, used and even abused while he was one of the leading Mob Bosses of the 1980′s. These principles include following the wisest person ever to live, King Solomon; learning to use your brain before opening your mouth; mastering the art of a one on one conversation; doing business by the book; learning from your failures and keeping your integrity. Throughout the book Franzese gives illustrations of situations he had to deal with during his time as a mob boss. These situations even though on the extreme scale of the business spectrum provides good (and humorous to the reader) insight to someone in business, in leadership or thinking about starting in a new endeavour.

Throughout the book Franzese is very evident trying to reassure the reader he is no longer part of mob life and has gone ‘straight’. However, it is clear that Franzese was at one time a big time player and he illustrates this by referring to an article ‘Fortune’ magazine published in 1986 called, ‘The fifty biggest mob bosses’ of which Franzese was number 18.

Some may think that life in the mob is very different from life in business but this book gives more than enough evidence that the same principles that worked in the mob will work even better in a legitimate business. The author quotes many times from the father of the proverb, King Solomon and these proverbs give more than insight into how to conduct yourself in the business world. One of these proverbs he used in the chapter called, ‘Use Solomon’s Solution’, to give an example of how one must work hard in business was, ‘Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor’ (p46).

One of my favorite chapters was, ‘Master the art of the sit down’ where a story is told about a business deal with maggot invested chickens. This was a story straight out of the Soprano’s itself. It was funny, interesting yet the principles learned were a treasure to hold on to.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an enjoyable read. Especially those who are interested in gangster movies. On a more serious note, if many businesses today had worked with these principles I am sure many would not find themselves in position they do not want to be in. This is a business book for the self employed right through to the CEO of a multinational company. I would not say this book changed my life, but it is a book I will not forget and one that does inspire me to push forward in my endeavours in the future.