Money-minded readers who gaze longingly at their Monopoly boards' Broadway and Park Place properties will undoubtedly chuckle over Axelrod's irreverent entrepreneur's guide. The author (Elizabeth I, CEO) here playfully examines how to apply the game's strategies to real-life business situations. After an introductory historical chapter—Monopoly debuted during the Depression and has since sold about 200 million sets—Axelrod covers game strategies and how they can be applied in real life. His advice is generally sound, and at times comically simple ("Cheating and other unethical conduct are not sustainable... You can win a game or two by cheating, but unless you devote yourself to it, you cannot win consistently"). In discussing salary, Axelrod writes, "Successful business people understand salary much the way that good players of Monopoly understand 'Go.' Salary is about subsistence and survival. To get beyond this basic level in business, you need to get beyond mere salary. You need to put money at risk." In some ways, the game is a perfect example of how the business world works. For instance, the best Monopoly games are dynamic, with players putting up properties for auction, just as in real life. Cards that mimic the game's own are sprinkled throughout the text, carrying the sentiments of famous business leaders. While it's a bit of a stretch at times, the book is still fun and an ideal gift for the gaming entrepreneur. (Nov.)
Forecast:A launch party at Hasbro's New York showroom, national publicity and the appealing topic will help get this book off to a strong start for holiday gifts, but its concept may not have staying power.
