The No Asshole Rule

Robert I. Sutton, Ph.D., professor of organizational behavior, teaches management science at Stanford University. He is a learned, respected academic. Is it odd that such an erudite, sophisticated individual would write a book with the word “asshole” in its title? Not according to Sutton. Yes, mean-spirited, nasty people are weasels, jerks and dirty rats. But the word that ideally summarizes such a person, Sutton says, is in his title, so that’s what he uses. He first employed it in a much-quoted piece in the Harvard Business Review. He expanded that article into this book, which explains why the business world seems to be knee deep in ratfinks, how to avoid them and how to deal with them when you must. getAbstract suggests that if you work in an office or hospital or bank or submarine or massage parlor, or on a cement crew, loading dock, oilrig or spaceship to Mars, you probably must deal with your share of – let’s call them jerks. Sutton’s book teaches you how to do so most effectively and not get too banged up in the process.