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Rating: 
Summary: A fascinating expose` of the multi-level scheme "industry"
Review: After watching friends squander hard-earned money on worthless "network marketing" schemes, I found this book and read it. Proving that there really is one born every minute, authors Fitzpatrick and Reynolds have lived the lie--that easy money is to be had, merely by offering "business oportunities" to all of one's friends and aquaintances--and to their credit have written this remarkable book to warn others. Most helpful was the authors' comparison of multi-level schemes and illegal pyramid schemes. The only difference between the two is that in the former, a product is exchanged. This distinction without a difference allows "upline" MLM racketeers to exploit the gullible legally. Very telling also, was the authors' description of the training these MLM's provide, the standard lines, the stock answers and finally, blaming the almost inevitable failure to produce the promised financial independence on the recruit "not having what it takes" to "succeed". Blame the victim...one of the oldest lines in the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering participating in a multi-level scheme.
Rating: 
Summary: Uninformed Expert
Review: After watching friends squander hard-earned money on worthless "network marketing" schemes, I found this book and read it. Proving that there really is one born every minute, authors Fitzpatrick and Reynolds have lived the lie--that easy money is to be had, merely by offering "business oportunities" to all of one's friends and aquaintances--and to their credit have written this remarkable book to warn others. Most helpful was the authors' comparison of multi-level schemes and illegal pyramid schemes. The only difference between the two is that in the former, a product is exchanged. This distinction without a difference allows "upline" MLM racketeers to exploit the gullible legally. Very telling also, was the authors' description of the training these MLM's provide, the standard lines, the stock answers and finally, blaming the almost inevitable failure to produce the promised financial independence on the recruit "not having what it takes" to "succeed". Blame the victim...one of the oldest lines in the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering participating in a multi-level scheme.
Rating: 
Summary: Not All MLM/Network Marketing Are a Pyramid !!! Research
Review: Alot of people think that network market is a semi-legal pyramid scheme, but not all network marketing companies are a pyramid. If many of you do your research, you'll see that companies such as life plus, melaleuca, market america, etc. are true network marketing companies they'll really compensate you if you refer people to their company & products. Before anyone pre-judges a network marketing company, do your research on each company, plan, products, etc. The true pyramid schemes are the one's that you get in the mail that ask you to send between a $1 - $5 to each name & address, and in return, you'll make millions within a few months...that's a true pyramid scheme, I know because I've lost money to these pyramids through the mail. I now know how to tell the difference between a pyramid & a real opportunity. These pyramid schemes give real & great network marketing companies a bad reputation. So again, do your research on a company before enrolling or sending out money. There are truly real gold mines out there, so please do your research by reading articles on them, and check the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) . Thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: Approaches MLM In A New Light...
Review: False Profits takes a fascinating look at the world of illegal pyramids and multilevel marketing. The book approaches MLM and the MLM industry like no other book I have read. Instead of explaining it from a pure business point of view, it explains it from a psychological, spiritual, ethical and social point of view. Make no mistake, the author of this book loathes MLM. As far as he is concerned, there is little distinction between most MLMs and pyramid schemes, other than the fact that the latter are illegal. Even if you are pro-MLM though, you must admit that many of his observations are correct, and that the MLM industry in general has a long way to go before it reaches any level of acceptance in our society. My favorite aspect of the book concerns its look at the psychology of many multilevel marketers and get-rich-quick schemers. It focuses on the guilt trips that these people lay on their own friends and family, their compromise of integrity and interpersonal relationships for the sake of greed, their deception of unsuspecting strangers, and the overemphasis on materialism that has made many of these people morally bankrupt. Of course, not all MLM participants behave like this. These are largely the actions of "MLM junkies" and hard-core recruiters. Unfortunately, MLM companies and the industry itself often encourage this type of behavior amongst their reps, which has helped to give the MLM industry a black eye over the years and made multilevel marketers looked upon as people to avoid. Hopefully, by recognizing these ugly traits, you can avoid becoming one of these people. About the only downside of this book is its occasional delve into spiritual and deeply philosophical theories of how MLMs and cults operate. While I have seen many MLMs that resemble cults, and many multilevel marketers that resemble little more than brainwashed zombies, I think that the author's view of all MLMs being tied (somehow) into the new age movement is a bit of a stretch. Not all people get involved with MLM for the same reason, and not all multilevel marketers become blathering idiots. Many do, but certainly not all of them. Despite the author's occasional forays into the esoteric, the book is quite enjoyable to read. It is obviously very well researched and the culmination of many years of hard work. Although it may go a bit far at times, I think that it should be read by anyone contemplating getting involved in the world of multilevel marketing. It will really make you question EXACTLY why you are getting involved, and whether your involvement is for the right reasons. Unethical multilevel marketers will absolutely HATE this book. Those involved in blatant pyramids and get-rich-quick schemes will probably want to strangle the author, since he will likely expose them for the shallow con-artists they are. Ethical multilevel marketers will learn how to avoid the pitfalls of becoming a participant in these types of schemes, and the book's lessons will serve as a reminder of how NOT to do business. Fitzpatrick explains exactly how illegal pyramids work, and exposes many MLMs for what they really are. After reading this book, you should be able to tell the difference between a quasi-pyramid and a legitimate business opportunity. You should also come away with a strong sense of what is ethical and right, and what is not. Ethics seems to be a dirty word to many in the MLM industry, but it shouldn't be. Read this book, and you will likely discover much about MLM, and yourself, that you did not already know.
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Summary: Oh, come on people....do the research.
Review: I agree with a number of the responses here about the spectrum of information and OPINION in this book. The sad thing is that everything is made so generic and stereotyped. There are good and bad examples of most all business models and distribution methods. MLM, Networks Marketing has had more than many others since it is so open to "everyman" to get involved. There are bad examples at the corporate level too - obviously Amway comes to mind as do the many "businesses" that became illegal pyramid schemes. But that's not it!
Network Marketing is, in fact, taught in some business schools now (marketing). Check out the presentation at "Brilliant Money" web site.
Yeah - the name sounds "typical", but it is a good review by Tim Sales and University of Illinois at Chicago Professor of Marketing - Dr. Charles King.
Rating:
Summary: Not All MLM/Network Marketing Are a Pyramid !!! Research
Review: I truly do not believe that all MLMs are evil and are new age adaptations. I believe Mr. Fitzpatrick and Ms. Reynolds are some what off tangent, although I do agree with some key aspects. I do believe that there are a lot of unethical MLMers that take advantage of people. I hope their business comes to an end. But there are a lot of Network Marketing companies that are ethical, neutral businesses. People choose to make these companies look bad or good. The companies themselves are of good reputation and credibility. A lot of people stamp the company based on their independent business owners who act unethical and cult-like. I am in one and I for one use God's truth in my dealings and my approaches. In our organisation, we teach principles of Godly values, not materialism values. But let me reitirate one thing here - understanding that the internal affects the external was, never has been and never will be, new age practise. God has mentioned this many time over in His Word. But let me set things straight here - only with God can we become better spiritually and mentally. It seems that a lot of people, without realising nor knowledge, just tend to believe what others perceive without much research and understanding. People cannot accept change and new bedazzling things like a thousand people rising up and being estatic about freedom. Why? Most people have given up being free. So when they see this and hear of principles that boggles their minds (which are not new but old with the ancients), they tend to deduce it to cult-like mannerisms.
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Summary: Useful tool to fight the MLMers
Review: Many free market advocates have held up Amway as a role model, a modern success story of how American free enterprise can allow anyone to rise to economic success. Amway, we are told, has created more millionaires than any other company. Amway is the bastion of "compassionate capitalism", they say. But is any of this true? The philosopher-novelist Ayn Rand identified an unbreakable link between nature, knowledge and morality. She said that the true is the good, and the false is the evil. In other words, valid knowledge helps people, while invalid knowledge harms them. Ayn Rand saw reality as a world open to our senses and comprehensible to our minds through logic. The foundation of her entire philosophy rests on Aristotle's principle of non-contradiction: A is A, reality is what it is, and wishing or hoping or praying will not affect the laws of nature. She called this metaphysical idea "the primacy of existence". Contrast this view with the one that religions advocate, especially New Age religions: the idea that your internal thoughts affect external reality -- not just your ability to focus and choose goals and take actions, mind you, but the idea that THOUGHTS THEMSELVES can reshape reality. Ayn Rand called this metaphysical idea "the primacy of consciousness", and she rejected this notion as completely mystical, irrational and destructive. Unfortunately, the idea that thoughts themselves reshape reality has permeated our culture in countless ways. They have especially made themselves prevalent in today's MOTIVATIONAL MATERIALS produced by such notables as Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and AMWAY. What happens when private companies employ this mystical concept in their training materials? What harm is brought to people when they accept false ideas as true -- specifically, the New Age idea that "if the dream is big enough, facts don't matter"? This book explores the myriad deceptions and harms brought to people who accept this single, major false premise. Free market advocates not fully grounded in objective reality can especially fall easy prey to MLM deceptions. Only an acceptance of the primacy of existence can protect them. Despite its own mystical "puritanical" flaws, this book can help people to see through MLM's lies and get them on the road to recovery.
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