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winotron's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
jamesloren's review against another edition
5.0
Yessssssss this is what I’ve been looking for it’s so good and important. Already need to re-read
dueconfusion123's review against another edition
5.0
A really fun political science read. The points are made entirely through stories, and it very easily be podcast episodes.
garukamesh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
People often debate which books should be part of the classroom curriculum. While I'm not entirely certain about the ideal age group for this book, if I had my way, everyone would read it without hesitation. The book offers both a compelling and accessible exploration of power (from dynamics in the workplace to the intricacies of politics) while debunking many myths and half-truths that shape our understanding of authority. It’s no coincidence that those at the top frequently lack humility and altruism; this outcome is a direct result of a system engineered with their self-interest in mind. It's also very compelling that the author very explicitly criticizes studies like the Standford Prison Experiment and avoids simplistic answers that could be biased or inaccurate.
Moreover, the book is both humorous and engaging, enriched with anecdotes that highlight our collective failure to fully grasp the complexities of power; a critical element for a stable and just society. Complementing the book is the author's excellent podcast, Power Corrupts, which delves into truly problematic and occasionally bizarre real-life stories of how power molds our world.
mazzeroo's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Colonisation, and War
leasttorque's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty excellent book covering many facets of power and corruption, with some mostly reasonable ways to improve things. I liked the early going most, with it getting a bit murky as it went on due to the uncountable number of variables in the human behavior equation. Nevertheless, reducing corruption and other abuses of power is vital and it was interesting to read about some strategies that have worked. I’m least confident in sortition (while liking the idea), most leery of any kind of surveillance, and fully confident in having a broader and deeper applicant pool and recruitment language that targets the desired goals, staff rotation to the degree possible, and transparency/oversight (including through independent journalism). As some of the standard guardrails continue to decline (such as that formerly widespread independent journalism), expanding and adding other strategies is key.
The early parts of the book did a great job of showing how and why so many people help create the problem. Anyone using their Stone Age brain to choose a strongman who has manipulated them into feeling existential threat needs to understand what’s being done to them and rise above it. There are lots of other sections on how so many people judge others inaccurately, causing great harm.
As far as the “science” goes, the author is pretty good at pointing out the possible flaws in the studies he quotes. And yet a couple of particularly dubious ones are left unquestioned. In some cases a study or anecdote is described at length, only to be critiqued later. I would prefer that fewer words were given to the dubious study in the first place.
Finally, a pet peeve. I appreciated the, at least occasional, use of “many people” to allow for the fact that not everyone behaves in a given way. But too many times the author’s language implies, probably inadvertently, that a behavior is universal. In a book that has as a primary goal pointing out that some people do indeed behave quite differently than others in the same circumstances, this feels especially unfortunate.
The early parts of the book did a great job of showing how and why so many people help create the problem. Anyone using their Stone Age brain to choose a strongman who has manipulated them into feeling existential threat needs to understand what’s being done to them and rise above it. There are lots of other sections on how so many people judge others inaccurately, causing great harm.
As far as the “science” goes, the author is pretty good at pointing out the possible flaws in the studies he quotes. And yet a couple of particularly dubious ones are left unquestioned. In some cases a study or anecdote is described at length, only to be critiqued later. I would prefer that fewer words were given to the dubious study in the first place.
Finally, a pet peeve. I appreciated the, at least occasional, use of “many people” to allow for the fact that not everyone behaves in a given way. But too many times the author’s language implies, probably inadvertently, that a behavior is universal. In a book that has as a primary goal pointing out that some people do indeed behave quite differently than others in the same circumstances, this feels especially unfortunate.
omcardle133's review against another edition
4.0
This is one I read after it was trailed on the New Statesman podcast with reference to politicians, so that was the frame of mind I had going into the book, and it turned out to be significantly broader in scope with a lot less politics than I anticipated. Certainly a very easy book to read, building up a picture slowly with anecdotes and studies, to set out some guidance on how to avoid corruption in positions of power.
bloomingbookworm's review against another edition
informative
5.0
Great book - very engaging and well-written. Highly recommend the audiobook (narrated by the author).