Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.

The best thing about this book is that it is anecdotal which means that it is an easy read. The author tells the stories well. I found it hard to put down which is a striking achievement for a book on business ethics

The worst thing about this book is that it is anecdotal: you can draw any conclusions you like from anecdotes. The book is one man's opinion and no doubt the stories are chosen and interpreted to reflect that opinion. At the end of the book, he describes his "methodology" which draws heavily on second hand evidence (ie stories that have already been filtered through someone else's perceptions) and also includes drawing on fiction.

This book is also not really about leadership. The anecdotes generally describe situations from the viewpoint of a single protagonist, and we get little insight into the impact of their actions on the thinking of others. I came to this book hoping for insights into the success of leaders like Stephen Green (group chairman of HSBC, described by the Guardian as "An ordained Anglican priest...tall, bookish and self effacing") but I was disappointed.

Lastly the book for me sometimes flirted with the sleazy, with it's talk of political capital, rule bending and playing for time. The author does attempt to draw lines in the sand on all these issues, which I applaud; but I was hoping for guidance on transforming an organisation where these games are needed into one where they are not. I didn't get any.… (altro)