Robert Sutton “The No Asshole Rule”

The book is quite interesting. First, the author isn’t afraid to call things by their real names, without falling into political correctness. Second, through several examples, he shows why having assholes in a company is harmful.

The essence of the book is almost fully captured in its title: just don’t work with assholes. In the first few chapters, it seemed like there wouldn’t be much more than examples of why it’s bad to work with them. Yes, there’s a fair amount of fluff, but there are still valuable insights.

The author breaks down what makes a “certified asshole” in his view. This helps apply the criteria to anyone, making it easier to understand how bad a person can be for business and personal well-being.

Then, using additional examples, the author debunks another myth: that an “asshole” is a highly productive and professional employee. I tend to agree with the author here. When such a supposedly productive person is removed, the rest of the team often starts to be more efficient together.

The most useful chapter for me was the one where the author suggests looking at yourself. Even before diving into the details, I realized that I occasionally don’t behave very appropriately at work myself. It’s reassuring that this happens rarely and only recently, meaning it’s not too late to control it. The author offers fairly basic, surface-level advice on how to do that.

However, what seemed like the most important part—dealing with assholes when you have no choice—is underdeveloped by the author. While there are some interesting tips, if you’re deeply stuck in such a situation, the only real solution might be leaving for another team. The author acknowledges this as well.

Overall, I felt the book lacked a more balanced analysis. There are plenty of examples, but I expected some structured analysis or concept. Instead, you get examples and the repeated thesis: don’t work with assholes and don’t be an asshole yourself.