Personal alternative, started to work for a family business with a grey collar culture where people know each other. No need to read weird self-help literature. If 'networking' is a central part of anyone's job personally I'd start picking a less Patrick Bateman-esque workplace.

The best way to not have to deal with backstabbing and conniving is just to work with people who are in it for the long term and where that behavior does not pay off.