Robert I. Sutton Books

The No Asshole Rule delves into the problem of bullying or aggressive co-workers, who in many cases rise to management positions. Sutton provocatively labels them assholes.

The book lays out the effect these employees can have on a business, and gives advice on how to develop an asshole-free environment.

Scaling Up Excellence is the first major business publication that deals with how leaders can effectively spread exemplary practices in their organization. Readers can expect to learn about the latest research in the organizational behavior field, lots of instructive industry case studies, and many helpful practices, strategies and principles for scaling up.

The authors help leaders and managers understand major scaling challenges and show how to identify excellent niches, spread them and cultivate the right mindset within their organizations. They also set out scaling principles that guide leaders in their daily decisions.

The Asshole Survival Guide (2017) is a guide to how you can identify and deal with the assholes of the world. People who treat others badly come in all shapes, sizes and levels of awfulness, and the author provides the tools we need to recognize them, fight back and avoid becoming assholes ourselves.

Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense (2006) is a critical examination of how business decisions are often made based on flawed reasoning and unsupported beliefs. It advocates for evidence-based management, emphasizing the importance of relying on facts and rigorous analysis rather than popular yet unsubstantiated management practices. 

The Friction Project (2024) unveils strategies for how to make organizations run smoothly, beginning with identifying sources of both beneficial and detrimental friction. It introduces tools to address common friction troubles, empowering leaders to navigate and optimize organizational dynamics.