Review
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“Whether it is the alleged behavior of the recently deposed chief
executive of Uber, Travis Kalanick, the countless cases of road
rage and air rage, or the constant stream of stories of abuse on
social media, it is clear we are living in an age when many
people struggle to be civil towards each other . . . Sutton
offers a variety of techniques that people suffering the presence
of difficult individuals at their work, in their sports teams, or
just in everyday life can employ to deal with them or fight back.
There is even help with discovering whether or not you are an
asshole yourself — and what to do about it if you do something
that makes you one . . . This is a small book but it could play a
big part in making us treat others better.” —Forbes
“If everyone had paid attention to the Stanford business
professor’s best-selling 2007 management manifesto, The No
Asshole Rule, there would be no need for a follow-up. Yet here we
are.” —Esquire
“Sutton’s breezy writing style, combined with the wide array of
anecdotes and stories from people who’ve written him about their
difficulties, makes for an entertaining read . . . Consider that
the physical book itself might be a solution to an a-hole at
work. Much like the effect Sutton’s first book reportedly has
had, simply leaving The Asshole Survival Guide prominently on
your desk may send all the signal you need.”—SmartUp
“In this most-welcome sequel to Sutton’s best-selling The No
Asshole Rule, the author turns from an organization-wide
perspective to an individual one, outlining strategies for
dealing with difficult people at work. Readers will shake their
heads—both in horror and re—at Sutton’s real-life
examples of egregious behavior. However, Sutton also shares true
stories, provided by readers, of successful strategies for
thwarting the bullies. The book’s thoughtful, well-ordered
structure begins with the topic of determining how bad the
problem is. Later, Sutton discusses how to graciously exit a bad
workplace. If that’s not an option, then there are tricks for
coping, such as the one shared by a West Point cadet who changed
her perspective on her hazers’ behavior and came to think of it
as ridiculous rather than hurtful. Numerous strategies are
provided for decreasing exposure to jerks or mentally excusing
oneself when this proves impossible. The final strategy Sutton
shares is simply fighting back, while still weighing the
consequences of doing so. At the conclusion, Sutton turns the
mirror on his readers, urging them to recognize when they behave
badly and to stop themselves from contributing to the
workplace’s—and world’s—already too large population of
assholes.” —Publishers Weekly
“Bob Sutton is very wise and very funny, AND he can tell you
exactly how to handle the unfortunate reality that into every
life a few assholes must fall. The Asshole Survival Guide is
destined to become your go-to resource whenever you find yourself
dealing with people who would treat you poorly.”—Susan Cain, New
York Times best-selling author of Quiet
“At last someone has provided clear steps for rejecting,
deflecting, and deflating the jerks who blight our lives. Better
still, that someone is the great Bob Sutton, which ensures that
the information is useful, evidence-based, and fun to
read.”—Robert Cialdini, author of New York Times bestsellers
Influence and Pre-Suasion
“No matter what industry or profession you work in, you will
always encounter people who are unpleasant, off-putting, or
downright self-centered. Thank goodness Bob Sutton has provided
us with such a well-crafted guide for surviving these jerks. It
is mandatory reading for anyone who strives to endure, escape,
fend-off, and bring them down.”—Chip Conley, founder and past CEO
of Joie de Vivre hotels, advisor and former head of global
hospitality and strategy at Airbnb, and author of four books,
including the New York Times bestseller Emotional Equations
“With humor, understanding, and comprehensive research—and an
ah-ha moment on every page—this is a must-have for leaders and
climbing stars alike, from the expert on the subject.
Bravo!”—Marshall Goldsmith, author of the #1 New York Times
bestseller Triggers
“This is the guide you need for handling the worst people in
your life—and making sure they don’t rub off on you. If you’ve
ever had a horrible boss, client, or colleague, this book is
bursting with advice that’s often ingenious and always
actionable. And if your world has been free of jerks, consider
this an insurance policy.”—Adam Grant, New York Times
best-selling author of Give and Take and Originals, and coauthor
of Option B
“Assholes are like the weather—everybody complains about them
but nobody ever does anything about them. Until, that is, Robert
Sutton’s Asshole Survival Guide. Sutton offers a wealth of
helpful, and dare I say wise suggestions about how to identify
and deal with the assholes in your organization, or at least
minimize the damage they do to the well-being and productivity of
others. (I’d also suggest bringing it along to family reunions
and PTA meetings.)”—Geoff Nunberg, University of California,
Berkeley, author of Ascent of the A-Word: Assholism, the First
Sixty Years.
“One of the biggest impediments to achieving a great workplace
is assholes. Their behavior creates a hostile work environment
that leads to decreased engagement, productivity, and employee
loyalty. Bob Sutton has written a fantastic book that explains
the severity of the problem and provides useful strategies for
dealing with it.”—Paul Purcell, chairman and former long-time CEO
of Baird, ranked fourth on Fortune’s Top 100 Companies to Work
For and renowned for its long-time “no assholes” policy
“Reading The Asshole Survival Guide made me wistful. If only Bob
Sutton’s book had been available to help me deal with the full
complement of first-class assholes I’ve encountered in my 50-year
professional life. No names shall be mentioned.”—Tom Peters,
coauthor of the bestseller In Search Of Excellence
“First, The No Asshole Rule alerted us to the problem. Now, The
Asshole Survival Guide offers the solution. This book is a
contemporary classic—a shrewd and spirited guide to reducing our
exposure and protecting ourselves from the jerks, bullies,
tyrants, and trolls who seek to dispirit and demean. Now more
than ever, with civility and decency under attack, we desperately
need this antidote to the a-holes in our midst.”—Daniel H. Pink,
best-selling author of To Sell Is Human and Drive
“As much as we try to avoid assholes, inevitably they appear in
our lives. Bob Sutton gives us a menu of clear, thoughtful, and
practical solutions for surviving and thriving in those painful
situations. With cutting-edge research and real-life examples
that are thought-provoking and often hilarious, The Asshole
Survival Guide is an indispensable resource.”—Gretchen Rubin,
best-selling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than
Before
“It’s hard to know how to react to a jerk, so The Asshole
Survival Guide is a godsend. Obnoxious behavior is a double
whammy. First, you feel mad at the other person. Next, you feel
mad at yourself for your response / lack of response. It’s being
mad at yourself that is both hard to be aware of, and is most
debilitating. With this brilliant and funny book, Bob Sutton
saves you from fear, loathing, and self-loathing!”—Kim Scott,
author of the New York Times bestseller Radical Candor, cofounder
of Candor, Inc, and former executive at Google and Apple
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About the Author
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ROBERT SUTTON is a Stanford University professor and author of
six management books, including the New York Times
bestsellers The No Asshole Rule and Good Boss, Bad Boss. He is an
IDEO Fellow and cofounder of the Stanford Technology Ventures
Program and the Stanford Design Institute (known as the
d.school). He lives in Menlo Park, California.
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