Inside Network Marketing : An Expert's View into the Hidden Truths and Exploited Myths of America's Most Misunderstood Industry by Leonard W. Clements

I had a difficult time reading this book. About 50% of the book made complete sense, while the other 50% seemed to be little more than the author making excuses for the MLM industry as a whole.

The author is certainly not unbiased. He is 100% pro-MLM, but at least he makes no attempt to hide that from the reader. As far as Clemments is concerned, not only should regulation be loosened on the MLM industry, but illegal pyramid schemes should be legalized as well. I kid you not.

Despite the fact that the author has some sometimes left-field opinions, the book actually has some really good information in it. Inside Network Marketing was not really written as an original piece of work, but is a collection of articles and essays that Clements wrote for various MLM publications. Despite that fact, it does its job of informing the reader of many facets of the MLM industry.

If you are just starting out in MLM, have been involved for awhile, or are just considering trying it out, this is a nice book to have. The author lays out some of the most common mistakes that marketers and MLM organizations make, and gives plenty of examples of MLMs that have succeeded and failed. This is not a book of mindless motivation, but of background and research on the MLM industry.

About the biggest problems I have with the book are the author's unconventional personal wisdom and numerous typos and spelling errors. Couple that with the fact that it isn't really written as a book, but as a loose collection of articles, and you end up getting a volume that is almost painful to read in one sitting. It is best read in small pieces, rather than as its disjointed whole.

Still, the raw information contained within makes it well worth reading, and its low price makes it well worth buying. A good addition to your bookshelf, if you want to learn more about multilevel marketing. - William Van Hefner

Amazon: $12.00
Barnes & Noble: $13.50
Powell's: $5.95 (used)