Rating: 
Summary: Obviously a Classic
Review: "This is the basic difference between the leader and the organizer. The leader goes on to build power to fulfill his desires, to hold and wield the power for purposes both social and personal. He wants power for himself. The organizer finds his goal in creation of power for others to use." "Rules for Radicals" Vintage Books 1972 edition, p. 80.
It seems to me that some of the conservative leaning reviewers of this book--as is too often the case--haven't actually read this book, or if they have, they've read it incompletely or incorrectly. They put certain ideas and words in Alinsky's mouth that he clearly does not say or mean. And the "Alinsky was Hillary's mentor" comment is not even worthy of a response. Alinsky clearly states in this book how much he detests dogma, either from the right or left.
How useful is this book? For novices, it serves its introductory purpose fairly well. You're not really going to understand the details of the Alinsky IAF approach unless you take the time and spend the money to get trained, preferably in Chicago.
Some people do have a problem with Alinsky's heavy handed tone, and that approach does filter down in some ways to his acolytes. We live in even more emotionally and psychologically fragile times today than in Alinsky's time, and one update I would make would be to rework the "communication" chapter of the book to include this factor.
Is the book too long? In a word, no. It is barely 200 pages and is a quick read. It's choice of language is direct and strives to be honest and useful. The anecdotes aren't detailed and could hardly be considered anthropological, but they suffice.
It is also true that anyone could use many of the techniques included in this book. Surely the Christian Right has used and continues to use the material in Rules for Radicals for its purposes.
They might wish to read Alinsky's advice about "morality" in the book. It will help explain why their tenuous hold on power is almost up.
Rating: 
Summary: Alinsky broke ground....
Review: ....against the square establishment of his day. He was the first, for instance, to initiate shareholder protests -- which went on to be a significant influence on corporate change within the system. This book is an autobiography/manifesto, in which Alinsky's voice comes through terrifically strongly. If you like his personality, you'll like this book; it's abrasive, matter-of-fact, and very funny. ("Look, God, you're God," he imagines Moses saying at one point. "There's nothing I can do to you. But do you REALLY want me going back to the people and telling them you're not worth the stone you're printed on?") Reading this made me wish I could have known him.
Rating:
Summary: If only...
Review: ...Americans had read "Mao's Little Red Book", China would be a democracy today. Do not let the same thing happen here -- read Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals". Understand how your opponent thinks, and how to shape politics.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, thought-provoking book
Review: Alinsky accomplished much for many downtrodden people. This book explains his methods.Some of his methods are controversial; his language is from the 70's; but his analysis of power--and how the have-nots can get power--is must reading for anyone who would buck the status quo.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless classic by Alinsky
Review: Alinsky could have said everything of importance in this book in about 25 pages. The remaining 200 pages are war stories and examples he uses to show how much smarter he was than the rest of us. And he does it in a very paternalistic fashion, much in the style of the older professor tutoring a freshman. Tedious.
Rating: 
Summary: ...
Review: Barbara Olson, in her book on Hillary Clinton, claims that Hillary was a disciple of Alinsky's and used methods from his book, the consequence of which has been the massive corruption that defines the Clinton administration.
Rating:
Summary: Tools for Change
Review: Excellent appraisal of the difficulties in changing social relationships. Much broader application than one would suppose from a fire-brand radical of the sixties
Rating:
Summary: Want to be a student activist? Start with Alinsky
Review: I read this book for a class in Active Citizenship in college. It was the only book in college that I would read before I went to bed for enjoyment. If you want to learn how to change your university or institution, this book is the place to start. I use so much of the book in what I now do!
Rating: 
Summary: A throwback from long ago, but somewhat curious
Review: I'd say it's a throwback from 60s (if not 40s.) The book is full of terminology and general attitude, that I found rather annoying. Is it leftist? Hmmm .... not really, just annoying. Bad, platitudinous humour, although the good thing is there's not much of it. Very deficient logic all over the place. Many connexions seem missing--I contstantly catch myself thinking, "and how did you get there from here?" No answer. There are some good thoughts though, and also historical data (especially on "non-violence" of people like Gandhi and Nehru.) I didn't know of these and found it all enlightening (although you will probably dislike the lessons that Mr Alinsky suggests can be learnt from these facts.) I'll probably read a couple of books that are quoted in this one, which makes reading this book already worth it. Finally, whether you like it or not, it's not a big book, so I'd say peruse it. Parts of it may be useful. At the same time, I don't share the overflowing enthousiasm of the other reviewers here.
Rating:
Summary: INTERESTING
Review: In some of the reader reviews of this book, I read that Alinsky was NOT Hillary's mentor - OH, REALLY? Proof please! Another theorizes that he only wanted to make life better for the oppressed. Well there's few that don't. Another says there is a big difference between capitalism and democracy. Possible, and there's a gaping difference between Marxism and freedom, just ask those in Russia, as I have. Another leftwing reviewer remarks that Alinsky was "probably" a Marxist. Yeah, and the sun "probably" will also rise tommorrow.
In a nutshell this book tries to make the case of why the end justifies the means in the social revolution game, or how to nuke capitalism by "any means necessary," and learn to love the result. A sort of Dr. Strangelove type primer for the radical left, if you will. The bottomline is how to make things better in Alinsky's opinion. Such is classic Marxist trite due to the the fact that Marxism is contrary to human nature and invairably must be applied by severe totalarian methods.
This book is very useful and is rated 5 stars in "know thine adversary" terms. It was written for the 60s social radicals who have been frantically trying to save us from our sins ever since. Anyone who seriously thinks Hillary's current move to the center is permanant, is one in serious need to a thorough sanity check. Just remember, "by any means necessary."
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