The No Asshole Rule

Critical Praise

"This meticulously researched book, which grew from a much buzzed-about article in the Harvard Business Review, puts into plain language an undeniable fact: the modern workplace is beset with assholes. Sutton (Weird Ideas that Work), a professor of management science at Stanford University, argues that assholes-those who deliberately make co-workers feel bad about themselves and who focus their aggression on the less powerful-poison the work environment, decrease productivity, induce qualified employees to quit and therefore are detrimental to businesses, regardless of their individual effectiveness. He also makes the solution plain: they have to go. Direct and punchy, Sutton uses accessible language and a bevy of examples to make his case, providing tests to determine if you are an asshole (and if so, advice for how to self-correct), a how-to guide to surviving environments where assholes freely roam and a carefully calibrated measure, the "Total Cost of Assholes," by which corporations can assess the damage. Although occasionally campy and glib, Sutton's work is sure to generate discussions at watercoolers around the country and deserves influence in corporate hiring and firing strategies."
-Publishers Weekly

"I couldn't put it down 'till I was finished. I really enjoyed the read and found myself thinking over and over what a relief it is that I get to work with a great team of not-assholes and in an organization that, so far, hasn't needed an explicit rule to keep itself on the level."
-Asa Dotzler, Mozilla Corporation

"Sutton's new book is a quick and easy read, the perfect volume for a transcontinental flight (or a flight of any scheduled length where they board, close the airplane doors and then don't take off for a couple of hours). As always, Sutton is as fine a writer as he is a thinker. If you read for practical advantages, I recommend The No Asshole Rule."
-ManagementByBaseball.com

"The No Asshole Rule" is a great read and a crucial addition to any business library. Read it if your workplace is beset by assholes, if you're afraid you might be one or if you just want to be convinced once and for all that jerks have NO place in a modern business.",br> -Positivesharing.com

"What can I say about a book that so clearly describes the consequences of working with nasty people? Or of being a nasty person? It isn't often that I feel gut-level resonance with a business book."
-LifeAtTheBar.wordpress.com

"Bob spells out the cost of tolerating assholes in the workplace, and dispells the myth that high-performing assholes are worth putting up with. There's data that shows that when the asshole leaves, everyone does better, and overall results improve. I think life is too short and I don't work with assholes anymore. And sometimes people can't leave a job for a variety of reasons. Bob offers some strategies for surviving assholes at work. If you are working with an asshole, read my article, read The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't and check out The Workplace Bullying Institute. If you are in management and are tolerating a bully or asshole on your staff, do a little calculation on the costs generated by the bully--coaching, turnover, lost productivity for others, loss of collaboration, etc. I suspect you'll find that your abrasive star is costing the company much much more than his or her salary."
-Estherderby.com

"I found The No Asshole Rule not just an enjoyable read, but required reading for anyone who thinks they may not have such a civilized workplace and is intent on building one."
-Pinkslipblog.blogspot.com

"Bob Sutton makes research relevant and fun. This book weaves together important research on why powerful people behave badly, how workplaces can become toxic, and why bad behavior spreads like a virus (but optimism can as well). For anyone who has put up with nasty bosses and demeaning coworkers, Sutton also shows how organizations ranging from law firms to retail stores, from JetBlue to Google, protect their employees and their workplaces."
-Chip Heath, Professor, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Co-author of Made to Stick.

"Bob Sutton's new book, "The No Asshole Rule," is one you will want to read. Witty, irreverent, and frequently spot-on, it is full of useful advice for anyone who has ever suffered from having to work with the kind of mean-spirited, aggressive, small-minded, obnoxious jerks who ruin the working day for everyone else. Just like us here at Slow Leadership, Bob's objective is to help create a more civilized, less stressful, and more enjoyable workplace culture, free from the actions of those who are so blinded by short-term profit that they can't see the mess they are making of everyone else's life."
-Slowleadership.org

"The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One that Isn't. It's funny, human, and helpful. My favorite takeaway: "the da Vinci Rule" for avoiding "asshole poisoning." Leonardo da Vinci said, "It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end." In other words, Bob writes, "the more time and effort that people put into anything—no matter how useless, dysfunctional, or downright stupid it might be—the harder it is for them to walk away. . . Although most people know that sunk costs shouldn't be considered in making a decision, the 'too-much-invested-to-quit syndrome' is a powerful driver of human behavior." I especially like the fact that Bob doesn't address to book solely to the victims, but compels readers to face their own "inner jerk." Finally, he says, it's everybody's responsibility "to build and shape a civilized workplace." If general goodwill isn't motivation enough, Bob offers a framework for calculating your organization's "TCA"—"total cost of assholes." Great stuff!"
-Polly LaBarre, Mavericksatwork.com/blog

I'm jumping on the bandwagon. In the past two days the book The No Asshole Rule by Robert Sutton has been referenced by Guy Kawasaki, John Moore, Mike Rothman, Doug Mitchell, Andrew Luter, and MANY others … now me too."
-Acorncreative.com

"The most important lesson I take from the book as an entrepreneur is twofold: Watch to make sure that I don't behave as an asshole, and avoid them in the form of clients, partners or mentors."
-Escapefromcubiclenation.com

"What does the evidence say about being an a$@hol*?
I've just finished reading an advance copy of an upcoming book by Bob Sutton, called The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One that Isn't. I enjoyed it very much. He talks about some of the not-so-great stuff that happens to real people inside real organizations, and shows why it matters - without using academic-speak or a bunch of business buzzwords."
-Evidencesoup.com

"Fascinating, funny, insightful, helpful…"
-Happiness-project.com

"Interesting and entertaining!. My litmus test for how good a book is the number of times I find myself thinking about recommending the book to someone I know while I read it. Your book certainly passes the test for me. It's a book I'll recommend to my family members and to my colleagues."
-Brayden G King, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology Brigham Young University, Orgtheory.net

On an episode of Fox TV's "House"" series last year, the husband of a patient was talking with one of the doctors. Their conversation went like this:
Husband: "I assume that House is a great doctor."
Dr. Chase: "Why would you assume that?"
Husband: "Because when you're that big a jerk, you're either great or unemployed."
Professor Robert I. Sutton sets out to help us change that unfortunate fact of organizational life with his upcoming book, The No Asshole Rule. I like the way Sutton writes, I like his evidence-based view on life, and I loved this book. Buy it, read it, use it. You'll be glad you did.
-Kentblumberg.com

"The theme is clear from the title, but the chapter that really got me was "How to Stop Your 'Inner Jerk' From Getting Out." In other words, how to stop being an asshole yourself. Bob notes that we all act as assholes sometimes. "Most of us, even the most 'naturally" kind and mentally healthy, can turn caustic and cruel under the wrong conditions," he writes. He also points out that "once you unleash disdain, anger and contempt or someone unleashes it on you, it spreads like wildfire. ...If you join a group filled with jerks, odds are you will catch their disease." As you would expect from Bob, i's a terrific book – a true 'must read.'"
-Davidmaister.com

"The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't... it's the definitive guide to understanding, counteracting, and not becoming an asshole. I am qualified to make this judgment because (a) I've been an asshole a few times and (b) been a victim of assholes more than a few times."
-Blog.guykawasaki.com

"All in all a most enjoyable read, a source for many thoughts for a long time and even a kick in the butt to be much more aware of own (hopefully rather rare) stupid behaviour moments! And that makes it worth it, so look forward to February 22 next year, just go out and buy it."
-Thingamy.typepad.com

"Surely after many years in the work force I definitely could relate to the stories in the book. I have described many a past co-worker as a jerk, disrespectful and downright mean. I am sure the word "asshole" has entered my mind but I don't think I ever said it out loud. These are the stories that give the reader hope that the "grass may be greener."
-Armchairinterviews.com

"The No Asshole Rule is one hell of a book. I have loved Bob Sutton's work ever since I read "The Knowing-Doing Gap" years ago.
-Madetostick.com

"Robert Sutton's The No Asshole Rule is a book every manager should read, and indeed everyone should read. Those of us who enjoy healthy work environments tend to forget that others don't have the same luxury, and spend most of their lives surrounded by bullies, creeps, jerks, weasels, tormentors, tyrants -- assholes, in other words, who should be fired without second thought."
-Lorenrosson.blogspot.com

Bob Sutton, co-author of one of the best business books to be released in the past few years, "Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths And Total Nonsense", is back again with a book that will sure top the best selling lists of the year."
-Bizbooktalk.com

"This is a book like no other that I've read. Just the title alone should appeal to almost anyone. After reading it, you will be amazed at how your outlook on life literally changes. This book would appeal to the business professional or just about anyone who has to go to work each day. Chances are you already have your own asshole to deal with in your workplace. Let this book give you the ammunition you need to stomp out this obnoxious person and keep him or her from causing more workplace chaos."
-Myshelf.com

"The author sheds an analytical light on the way these things can affect a company's bottom line and make daily life a misery. At the same time, he offers strategies to eliminate these problems."
-Bookviews.com