Whether you’re managing teams, solving problems, or just trying to stay human at work, this May’s newsletter is for you.
Allow me to recommend two books I consider to be golden oldies.
- One examines what it takes to build a healthy workplace–and the true cost of toxic behavior.
- The other borrows thinking tips from the world’s most famous detective.
You’ll find reasons to pick them up, as well as reasons you might not want to.
The No A$$hole Rule (*)
Robert Sutton
Balance (September 2010)
(*) I’m using the double $ sign to avoid any potential issues with the algorithm. 😉
“Be slow to label others as a$$holes, be quick to label yourself as one.”
It was nearly two decades ago that Stanford professor and organizational psychologist Robert Sutton first published this book; the fact that it still hits home speaks volumes.
Part management guide and part behavior manual, the book is rooted in real-world anecdotes, behavioral science, and case studies. Sutton’s central idea is clear: Toxic behavior hurts more than just morale, it’s expensive. One of the sections that stood out to me features the “Total Cost of A$$hole” calculation, which is an estimate of the financial impact one toxic employee can have on an organization. Sutton shows how a single individual’s antics can cost a company over $100,000 in a single year.
The first part of The No A$$hole Rule is intended for managers who want to foster a healthier work culture, while the second part offers survival tips for employees who are dealing with difficult colleagues.
Sutton lets no one off the hook. We’re all capable of bad behavior, and recognizing that is part of the point.
Read this book because:
- Sutton provides practical strategies for identifying and avoiding toxic people at work, as well as for preventing yourself from becoming one.
- You may not care about being nice, but you’ll care about wasted hours, attrition, and HR drama.
- Sutton doesn’t moralize. Instead, he observes and comments with humor and empathy.
Why you might want to skip it:
- Some advice feels basic. Strategies like “reframe the situation” or “imagine you’re elsewhere” may not cut it if your workplace is particularly hostile.
- This book is mostly US-centric. If your organization’s policies differ significantly from those described, some of the advice may feel less applicable.
Also worth checking out:
Don’t want to read the book? Here’s a video lecture by Dr Sutton
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes
Maria Konnikova
Viking Adult (January 2013)
“We want to learn to pay attention better, to become superior observers, but we can’t hope to achieve this if we thoughtlessly pay attention to everything. That’s self-defeating. What we need to do is allocate our attention mindfully.”
Can we think like Sherlock Holmes? Maria Konnikova, a psychologist, journalist, and professional poker player, thinks we can.
In her book “Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes”, Konnikova argues that Holmes’s famous powers of deduction aren’t just fictional; they can be taught. Blending neuroscience, psychology, and the detective stories she loved as a child, Konnikova discusses how specific mental habits (such as mindfulness, curiosity, and structured thinking) can improve our ability to process information and solve problems both in our business and personal lives. But does this literary-meets-scientific approach hold up?
3 reasons to read Mastermind:
1. It makes cognitive science accessible. Konnikova breaks down complex psychological concepts into understandable insights.
2. It reframes classic stories as tools for modern thinking. Konnikova uses the Sherlock Holmes stories to point out cognitive traps and illustrate smarter thinking strategies.
3. It encourages mental discipline. This book is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and think deliberately, all of which is backed up by science.
3 reasons why you might want to skip:
- If mixing fiction and psychology isn’t your thing, you may prefer a book that sticks to real-world examples in cognitive science.
- Those with an academic background might find themselves craving more citations, especially for fascinating studies like the one about boosting creativity through color.
- Those expecting a hands-on guide with memory tips and exercises may be disappointed, as this book focuses more on mindset than on practical tools.
Also worth checking out:
Maria Konnikova’s Substack newsletter (Paywall)
Want to work on your decision-making skills? Try Konnikova’s podcast, “Risky Business”.