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Intelligent Disobedience
Nearly every week we read about a tragedy or scandal that could have been prevented if individuals had said no to ill-advised or illegitimate orders. In this timely book, Ira Chaleff explores when and how to disobey inappropriate orders, reduce unacceptable risk, and find better ways to achieve legitimate goals. The inspiration for the book, and its title, comes from the concept of intelligent disobedience used in guide dog training. Guide dogs must recognize and resist a command that would put their human and themselves at risk and identify safer options for achieving the goal. This is precisely what Chaleff helps humans do. Using both deeply disturbing and uplifting examples, as well as critical but largely forgotten research, he shows how to create a culture where, rather than “just following orders,” people hold themselves accountable to do the right thing, always.
Hardcover
First published July 7, 2015
41 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Ira Chaleff
16 books17 followersIra Chaleff is an author, speaker, workshop presenter and innovative thinker on the beneficial use of power between those who are leading and those who are following in any given situation.
His groundbreaking book, The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to & for Our Leaders, is in its third edition, has been published in multiple languages and is in use in institutions around the globe including educational, corporate, government and military organizations. He is coeditor of The Art of Followership: How Great Followers Create Great Leaders and Organizations, part of the highly regarded Warren Bennis Leadership Series. He has written on the appropriate use of power in non-traditional settings in his creative non-fiction work, The Limits of Violence: Lessons of a Revolutionary Life.
Ira’s latest book, Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong, is once again breaking new ground by exploring the deep cultural roots of obedience and how to equip individuals of all ages to resist inappropriate orders and find better ways and ethical means of achieving legitimate goals.
Ira is the founder of the International Leadership Association’s Followership Learning Community and a member of the ILA board of directors. He is also the founder and president of Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates, which provides coaching, consulting, and facilitation to companies, associations, and agencies throughout the Washington, DC area. He is chairman emeritus of the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation and has provided facilitation to nearly one hundred congressional offices to improve their service to constituents. He is adjunct faculty at Georgetown University, where Courageous Followership is part of the core curriculum in its professional management training for staff.
Ira holds a degree in Applied Behavioral Science and is a Board Certified Coach from the Center for Credentialing and Education.
His groundbreaking book, The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to & for Our Leaders, is in its third edition, has been published in multiple languages and is in use in institutions around the globe including educational, corporate, government and military organizations. He is coeditor of The Art of Followership: How Great Followers Create Great Leaders and Organizations, part of the highly regarded Warren Bennis Leadership Series. He has written on the appropriate use of power in non-traditional settings in his creative non-fiction work, The Limits of Violence: Lessons of a Revolutionary Life.
Ira’s latest book, Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong, is once again breaking new ground by exploring the deep cultural roots of obedience and how to equip individuals of all ages to resist inappropriate orders and find better ways and ethical means of achieving legitimate goals.
Ira is the founder of the International Leadership Association’s Followership Learning Community and a member of the ILA board of directors. He is also the founder and president of Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates, which provides coaching, consulting, and facilitation to companies, associations, and agencies throughout the Washington, DC area. He is chairman emeritus of the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation and has provided facilitation to nearly one hundred congressional offices to improve their service to constituents. He is adjunct faculty at Georgetown University, where Courageous Followership is part of the core curriculum in its professional management training for staff.
Ira holds a degree in Applied Behavioral Science and is a Board Certified Coach from the Center for Credentialing and Education.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 9, 2017
This was an enjoyable and interesting book. I have faced many situations where intelligent disobedience would have clearly saved me some pain and anguish. I was taught to obey those in authoritative positions and the cost of my blind obedience was far worse in the long run. As a soldier I was forced on many occasions to disobey and some of those situation meant life or death. With the information supplied in this book, I am confident that I can have this discussion with my grandchildren and I will be able to assist them in making the right choices as they progress along in life. I recommend this book to everyone. At least it will start you thinking in this direction.
July 29, 2024
This is a fantastic book, and I’m kind of blown away I didn’t hear about it sooner. Far too many problems happen in this world due to complicity when something terrible is happening. It’s why the #MeToo movement had to start and why there’s corporate and political corruption and so much more. One of the reasons people don’t speak up is because they’re afraid of the consequences or going against the group. Chaleff explains how we can be disobedient while also protecting ourselves.
The analogy Chaleff gives throughout the book is a guide dog. Guide dogs are trained to obey, but they also have to disobey at the right times. For example, if a blind person wants to walk across the street and a car is coming, the guide dog doesn’t just obey. The dog knows when to disobey so neither the dog nor the person is harmed.
The author discusses situations like the torture at Abu Ghraib, plane crashes because the co-pilot didn’t speak up, and other real-world scenarios throughout history. Chaleff dives into different studies like the famous shock experiments and others and provides readers with practical tips for how to utilize intelligent disobedience.
This is an incredible book that everyone should read, and I’ve added this to my list of books to read with my son.
The analogy Chaleff gives throughout the book is a guide dog. Guide dogs are trained to obey, but they also have to disobey at the right times. For example, if a blind person wants to walk across the street and a car is coming, the guide dog doesn’t just obey. The dog knows when to disobey so neither the dog nor the person is harmed.
The author discusses situations like the torture at Abu Ghraib, plane crashes because the co-pilot didn’t speak up, and other real-world scenarios throughout history. Chaleff dives into different studies like the famous shock experiments and others and provides readers with practical tips for how to utilize intelligent disobedience.
This is an incredible book that everyone should read, and I’ve added this to my list of books to read with my son.
May 20, 2024
Cool, basically about how guide dogs are trained to disobey so that their owner can't accidentally walk into a busy road, and how that concept extends to people so that they won't do something stupid just because a superior tells them to.
January 29, 2016
Saying no can be a good thing; yet there may be an art to doing it. This book looks at the times when it is absolutely correct and possibly essential to disobey “inappropriate orders” or otherwise cut risks.
It was an interesting read, particularly noting the source of the inspiration for the book and its title since it came from a method of guide dog training. When you think about it, it makes sense. A guide dog must at times go against the orders of its master in order to protect the person who cannot see a source of danger. Yet why do we often fail to do the same sort of proactive disobedience in our own life when things are likely to go wrong? Instead, the temptation to follow orders can be great.
The author summarises the concept as this: “If we distil Intelligent Disobedience down to a formula, it would look something like this: 1. Understand the mission of the organization or group, the goals of the activity of which you are a part, and the values that guide how to achieve those goals. 2. When you receive an order that does not seem appropriate to the mission, goals, and values, clarify the order as needed, then pause to further examine the problem with it, whether that involves its safety, effectiveness, cultural sensitivity, legality, morality, or common decency. 3. Make a conscious choice whether to comply with the order or to resist it and offer an acceptable alternative when there is one. 4. Assume personal accountability for your choice, recognizing that if you obey the order, you are still accountable regardless of who issued the order.”
It need not necessarily require a radical change or a shouting match. It might just be a case of stating your case and reasoning and letting the person in charge take the decision. It can also give them space to manoeuvre, save face, and allows them to “reconsider” matters.
The core sentiments of the book can be applied almost anywhere, when things just don’t feel right and warning lights may be flashing. The author gives advice about identifying a problem and helps empower the reader to taking what might be the best overall decision, even if it doesn’t feel it at the time and neither is the opposition necessarily welcome. The author does not pretend that disobedience is necessarily easy or something to do half-heartedly, but then again swimming against the tide is not easy either, but sometimes it has to be done.
All in all it was a different, engaging book that added value to a complex picture.
It was an interesting read, particularly noting the source of the inspiration for the book and its title since it came from a method of guide dog training. When you think about it, it makes sense. A guide dog must at times go against the orders of its master in order to protect the person who cannot see a source of danger. Yet why do we often fail to do the same sort of proactive disobedience in our own life when things are likely to go wrong? Instead, the temptation to follow orders can be great.
The author summarises the concept as this: “If we distil Intelligent Disobedience down to a formula, it would look something like this: 1. Understand the mission of the organization or group, the goals of the activity of which you are a part, and the values that guide how to achieve those goals. 2. When you receive an order that does not seem appropriate to the mission, goals, and values, clarify the order as needed, then pause to further examine the problem with it, whether that involves its safety, effectiveness, cultural sensitivity, legality, morality, or common decency. 3. Make a conscious choice whether to comply with the order or to resist it and offer an acceptable alternative when there is one. 4. Assume personal accountability for your choice, recognizing that if you obey the order, you are still accountable regardless of who issued the order.”
It need not necessarily require a radical change or a shouting match. It might just be a case of stating your case and reasoning and letting the person in charge take the decision. It can also give them space to manoeuvre, save face, and allows them to “reconsider” matters.
The core sentiments of the book can be applied almost anywhere, when things just don’t feel right and warning lights may be flashing. The author gives advice about identifying a problem and helps empower the reader to taking what might be the best overall decision, even if it doesn’t feel it at the time and neither is the opposition necessarily welcome. The author does not pretend that disobedience is necessarily easy or something to do half-heartedly, but then again swimming against the tide is not easy either, but sometimes it has to be done.
All in all it was a different, engaging book that added value to a complex picture.
January 11, 2020
This book presents an interesting look at “intelligent disobedience”—challenging specific orders and instructions from a leader in a system that may not be fundamentally unjust—vs “civil disobedience”—challenging the foundations of an unjust system by breaking its rules to demonstrate the immorality of those rules.
The best takeaways from the book are the practical, concrete steps to practice and enact intelligent disobedience with poise, even in a high-stakes situation or a compressed window of opportunity for action.
1) Recognize cognitive dissonance as a flag that an order may be unjust or immoral;
2) Stop and step back mentally from the conditioned instinct to obey, reinforcing that halt with a word or gesture;
3) Examine whether, and how, carrying out the order would violate organizational or personal higher values, or would result in serious harm;
4) If intelligent disobedience is called for, immediately voice that you will not obey and explain why, offering a reasonable alternative if one if possible;
5) Accept the consequences of your choice to obey or not obey, recognizing that “just following orders” does not excuse you from personal responsibility for your actions.
The anecdotes about guide dogs and examination of various iterations of the Milgram shock experiments are interesting and illustrative. The book also delves a little bit into the psychology of decision-making, especially regarding how we weigh societal approval or disapproval when making a decision.
At times the language slides a little to the corporate-y side. You can practically hear the c-suite book clubbers nodding along. Even if the occasional jargon makes you glaze over, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater—this is a practical book and its suggestions can help you make more ethical decisions in all areas of life.
The best takeaways from the book are the practical, concrete steps to practice and enact intelligent disobedience with poise, even in a high-stakes situation or a compressed window of opportunity for action.
1) Recognize cognitive dissonance as a flag that an order may be unjust or immoral;
2) Stop and step back mentally from the conditioned instinct to obey, reinforcing that halt with a word or gesture;
3) Examine whether, and how, carrying out the order would violate organizational or personal higher values, or would result in serious harm;
4) If intelligent disobedience is called for, immediately voice that you will not obey and explain why, offering a reasonable alternative if one if possible;
5) Accept the consequences of your choice to obey or not obey, recognizing that “just following orders” does not excuse you from personal responsibility for your actions.
The anecdotes about guide dogs and examination of various iterations of the Milgram shock experiments are interesting and illustrative. The book also delves a little bit into the psychology of decision-making, especially regarding how we weigh societal approval or disapproval when making a decision.
At times the language slides a little to the corporate-y side. You can practically hear the c-suite book clubbers nodding along. Even if the occasional jargon makes you glaze over, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater—this is a practical book and its suggestions can help you make more ethical decisions in all areas of life.
April 9, 2018
When is the last time that you spoke up at work about something that you felt was wrong or refused to comply with what your boss told you do because it felt wrong?. How many instances have we watched a scene play out on TV where people stood back doing nothing when apparently there was immoral conduct going on? Have you ever witnessed racism or discrimination play out in a meeting and sat back in shock but did nothing? We all have. Throughout your life, you may continue to struggle to do the right thing when what you are told to do may be wrong.
Ira Chaleff’s book Intelligent Disobedience – Doing Right When What You’re Told Is Wrong is a book leaders should read. Sometimes we forget that there is a time and a place to step up and say no to a situation. So many tragedies could have been prevented if someone just dared to object or disobey orders. Ira offers a compelling analogy for when there are times it’s necessary to defy. Consider a guide dog. The dog is trained to understand yet resist a command that may hurt or kill its owner. Consider a blind woman that gives her dog a command to walk across the street. A well-trained dog will resist and refuse if he feels there is a danger. Sometimes we all need an inner guide dog to help us operate in a culture or situation where we are accountable for our actions even when we are instructed to “just follow orders”.
From an early age, we are taught to respect our elders and do what they tell us to do. Schools socialize us early on to sit in our chairs and be compliant and obedient. Don’t question, don’t talk back, do as you are told. Sadly, this follows us as we mature and the expectations are no different when we become employees. We “know” that we should do as we are told. Often, we are punished when we speak up even when it is the right thing to do. Few of us will rock the boat. Time and time again history has shown us how tragedies could have been prevented had someone spoke up. We live in different times where the moto is “see something, say something”.
Ira shares numerous examples and case studies that are shocking. They illustrate how humans will stand back in some situations and do nothing even though they know it is wrong. His stories are wake up calls. We need to find a healthy balance in our lives for functioning within a system of rules and expectations while being true to ourselves and be responsible for speaking up when we see something that is wrong. Just sitting back and not doing the “right thing” is no longer an option. We need to instill a sense of Intelligent Disobedience and act on it.
Effective leaders will guide their teams to learn and practice Intelligent Disobedience. Here are some starting points to consider.
• Identify certain risks and be willing to train people to give appropriate responses. Encourage alternative measures or correct violations by encouraging people to speak up.
• Train people to question the phases of obedience. These include cooperation, strain, divergence, divergence amplification or education, and how to do the right thing.
• Inform people that the earlier they question, the better.
• The process can be done with politeness but may need people to become more assertive.
• Orientate new employees about Intelligent Disobedience.
• Support people when they do the right thing and share their experience with others.
• Encourage, validate, and encourage people to do something even if it may go against the norm.
Intelligent Disobedience is a book that all leaders should read. Servant leaders lead from the bottom up and should train and encourage their people to do the right thing even when it may be perceived as the “wrong thing” to do. We should empower our people to think before blindly following “orders” or policies. We should push people to do what is right without the fear of repercussions. Most of all we need to offer our people the tools and training to take the first step in standing up.
Ira Chaleff’s book Intelligent Disobedience – Doing Right When What You’re Told Is Wrong is a book leaders should read. Sometimes we forget that there is a time and a place to step up and say no to a situation. So many tragedies could have been prevented if someone just dared to object or disobey orders. Ira offers a compelling analogy for when there are times it’s necessary to defy. Consider a guide dog. The dog is trained to understand yet resist a command that may hurt or kill its owner. Consider a blind woman that gives her dog a command to walk across the street. A well-trained dog will resist and refuse if he feels there is a danger. Sometimes we all need an inner guide dog to help us operate in a culture or situation where we are accountable for our actions even when we are instructed to “just follow orders”.
From an early age, we are taught to respect our elders and do what they tell us to do. Schools socialize us early on to sit in our chairs and be compliant and obedient. Don’t question, don’t talk back, do as you are told. Sadly, this follows us as we mature and the expectations are no different when we become employees. We “know” that we should do as we are told. Often, we are punished when we speak up even when it is the right thing to do. Few of us will rock the boat. Time and time again history has shown us how tragedies could have been prevented had someone spoke up. We live in different times where the moto is “see something, say something”.
Ira shares numerous examples and case studies that are shocking. They illustrate how humans will stand back in some situations and do nothing even though they know it is wrong. His stories are wake up calls. We need to find a healthy balance in our lives for functioning within a system of rules and expectations while being true to ourselves and be responsible for speaking up when we see something that is wrong. Just sitting back and not doing the “right thing” is no longer an option. We need to instill a sense of Intelligent Disobedience and act on it.
Effective leaders will guide their teams to learn and practice Intelligent Disobedience. Here are some starting points to consider.
• Identify certain risks and be willing to train people to give appropriate responses. Encourage alternative measures or correct violations by encouraging people to speak up.
• Train people to question the phases of obedience. These include cooperation, strain, divergence, divergence amplification or education, and how to do the right thing.
• Inform people that the earlier they question, the better.
• The process can be done with politeness but may need people to become more assertive.
• Orientate new employees about Intelligent Disobedience.
• Support people when they do the right thing and share their experience with others.
• Encourage, validate, and encourage people to do something even if it may go against the norm.
Intelligent Disobedience is a book that all leaders should read. Servant leaders lead from the bottom up and should train and encourage their people to do the right thing even when it may be perceived as the “wrong thing” to do. We should empower our people to think before blindly following “orders” or policies. We should push people to do what is right without the fear of repercussions. Most of all we need to offer our people the tools and training to take the first step in standing up.
July 20, 2018
What would you do? If faced with the choice to follow immoral orders or take a stand...Ira Chaleff's "Intelligent Disobedience" describes the challenges of accountability. In his book, he utilizes guide dog training to epitomize the needed skill of intelligent disobedience, so individuals can train their conscious in the heat of the moment. Chaleff provides humorous and heartbreaking examples and stories of those who succeeded and failed to intelligently disobey. I recommend this book to all organizations, both leaders, and followers, as it fosters a culture of accountability and work ethic that is vital to a respectful and effective organizational environment. Chaleff implicitly exposes the importance of situational and transformational leadership skills through self-assessment and situational awareness. He explains how leaders are not found on desk plates or door titles, but rather, true leadership is found within...but only if you let it. Great for anyone interested in professional and personal growth, specifically regarding ethical leadership. It truly separates the leader-follower domains into a leadership team of checks and balances.
December 28, 2017
Super!
The author has such a fabulous analytical and methodical approach and such a wonderful clear communication style.
Starting from setting the expectation of the reader, going on to defining what the book is about, explaining the topic with clear illustrations from different industries and wide array of what the topic would mean in different instances, to wrapping up the book with a question that would make the readers think and act. I even enjoyed reading the acknowledgements :-D.
A great book for widening ones awareness and education.
The author has such a fabulous analytical and methodical approach and such a wonderful clear communication style.
Starting from setting the expectation of the reader, going on to defining what the book is about, explaining the topic with clear illustrations from different industries and wide array of what the topic would mean in different instances, to wrapping up the book with a question that would make the readers think and act. I even enjoyed reading the acknowledgements :-D.
A great book for widening ones awareness and education.
June 11, 2018
This book can be summed up in a single thought. Teaching those we lead to learn the ability to comply when necessary and to not fear speaking up when it is not. Additionally, to maintain the ability to express concern when following an order would do harm. The seeing eye dog analogy used throughout the book really drives home the point as too what intelligent disobedience is and what it is not in a concise manner.
July 25, 2017
We’re taught from a young age that we should obey authority, however there are times when you should say no to the ones in charge. This week on Viewpoints, Ira Chaleff discusses when and how to say “no” effectively for the benefit of the individual and others. Listen here: https://viewpointsradio.wordpress.com...
August 1, 2020
Some really great insights and anecdotes of intelligent disobedience. While the examples and insights are great, the author doesn't really offer a system or larger overall approach to teach and engender intelligent disobedience short of some singular examples and parallels to training seeing-eye dogs, which is insightful but not a one to one comparison to teaching/training people.
January 19, 2021
Timely and important book.
Press reports a spike in whistleblowers to federal authorities. As people work from home during a pandemic, they can reorient themselves to what is right and what is unethical.
This practical book helps "courageous followers" speak up when an action or approach is not right.
Press reports a spike in whistleblowers to federal authorities. As people work from home during a pandemic, they can reorient themselves to what is right and what is unethical.
This practical book helps "courageous followers" speak up when an action or approach is not right.
March 9, 2018
The short stories did most of the explanation and were nicely picked. Reading them is like reading the complete book. Mostly self-explanatory.
The rest of the text is, sorry to say, boring.
Ratan
The rest of the text is, sorry to say, boring.
Ratan
June 30, 2020
I bought this book for insight prior to speaking at a conference and a paper I am writing for an academic journal. I really thought Chaleff presented a lot of material that is worthy to ponder and then put into action.
June 13, 2017
I found it bore, took long time to finish it. Only one example is taken in complete book, that is, training the dog. Can be made more relevant to corporate world.
November 13, 2017
Children need to taught intelligent disobedience to prevent people from exploiting them.
August 16, 2018
A very readable text on a topic that people wouldn't normally think about on their own. This should be a valuable part of any leader's bookshelf.
June 13, 2020
This is a little-known book, which is a shame.
August 3, 2022
Alternative title: 'common sense for those lacking a spine'
June 6, 2022
Obedience is not inherently good or bad. Subordinates, and especially children/juveniles, need to be taught, trained (repeatedly), and made psychologically safe to decide when to push back, for their good and the good of the organizations (teams, families, etc.) of which they are a part.
This book is based on lessons from Guide Dog (Seeing Eye Dog) training as well as lessons from the notorious Stanford Prison Experiment and other lessons.
See also: Ordinary Men, by Christopher Browning.
This book is based on lessons from Guide Dog (Seeing Eye Dog) training as well as lessons from the notorious Stanford Prison Experiment and other lessons.
See also: Ordinary Men, by Christopher Browning.
February 28, 2017
Really interesting book and probably something I should read in full since I only read it through Blinkist. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was the idea that teaching blind obedience is not a good idea, but better to recommend thinking for oneself. That lingers with me since I often struggle with the idea of ultimate authority, but have been shown again and again that isn't always true or wise.
February 24, 2017
I agree with everything the author says, but I think you have to be a moron not to figure these things out on your own.
July 10, 2015
The Vital Responsibility of the Subordinate
When should you disobey an order or command from a senior or authority?
Short answer: When you have a better grasp of the situation and the potentially damaging (economically, culturally, morally, etc.) effects of the order than does the issuer of that order.
Long answer: This lucid and very well-written book on the subject by Mr. Chaleff.
In his book Mr. Chaleff makes a very persuasive case for instilling true responsibility for our actions, whether ordered to perform them or not, and outlines many possible and workable approaches to accomplish this end.
Written in a comfortable and conversational style, the book is a joy to read, while it also delivers its message clearly and convincingly. Anyone who has faced the dilemma of whether or not to obey will benefit from this guided journey through the territory; and any authority or senior who has suffered the chagrin of having a wrong directive blindly carried out by well-meaning juniors—much to everybody’s embarrassment or sorrow—will here recognize the resolution to such problems.
When should you disobey an order or command from a senior or authority?
Short answer: When you have a better grasp of the situation and the potentially damaging (economically, culturally, morally, etc.) effects of the order than does the issuer of that order.
Long answer: This lucid and very well-written book on the subject by Mr. Chaleff.
In his book Mr. Chaleff makes a very persuasive case for instilling true responsibility for our actions, whether ordered to perform them or not, and outlines many possible and workable approaches to accomplish this end.
Written in a comfortable and conversational style, the book is a joy to read, while it also delivers its message clearly and convincingly. Anyone who has faced the dilemma of whether or not to obey will benefit from this guided journey through the territory; and any authority or senior who has suffered the chagrin of having a wrong directive blindly carried out by well-meaning juniors—much to everybody’s embarrassment or sorrow—will here recognize the resolution to such problems.
April 4, 2022
When a policeman tells you what to do, do you do it? Most likely yes, you jump to it. What about an air steward who tells you to switch off your cellphone just before takeoff – do you? Yes, of course. In both cases you obey their commands.
And society expects you to. In order to facilitate its smooth running, we are encouraged to do what people, especially those in positions of authority, tell us. But should we?
These blinks show you that, whatever society might suggest, it is often necessary or even right to disobey an order, especially when that order could lead to harm and disaster. By understanding the right conditions for disobedience, we can make the world a better place.
While we have been socially programed to respect authority and follow orders, not all orders should be obeyed. Sometimes you have to apply Intelligent Disobedience in order to help leaders stay consistent with everyone’s goals and values.
And society expects you to. In order to facilitate its smooth running, we are encouraged to do what people, especially those in positions of authority, tell us. But should we?
These blinks show you that, whatever society might suggest, it is often necessary or even right to disobey an order, especially when that order could lead to harm and disaster. By understanding the right conditions for disobedience, we can make the world a better place.
While we have been socially programed to respect authority and follow orders, not all orders should be obeyed. Sometimes you have to apply Intelligent Disobedience in order to help leaders stay consistent with everyone’s goals and values.
October 29, 2015
Ira Chaleff's "Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told To Do Is Wrong" is a timely book that addresses an issue that is very relevant to our modern society, and that is doing the right thing even when you're being told to do otherwise or everyone else is doing the wrong thing.
I really like the premise of this book and think it should be mandatory reading in high schools. It is well-written and easy to follow along with. The author did an excellent job of getting his points across and the book is detailed and thorough without being tedious and boring.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially high school students. I won my copy from the Goodreads.com website and appreciate being given the opportunity to read and review this book.
I really like the premise of this book and think it should be mandatory reading in high schools. It is well-written and easy to follow along with. The author did an excellent job of getting his points across and the book is detailed and thorough without being tedious and boring.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially high school students. I won my copy from the Goodreads.com website and appreciate being given the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 9, 2015
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of his novel for GoodReads Giveaways.
Being active duty military, I found the topic of when to disobey very interesting. We are always told if is morally or ethically wrong, or will get yourself or others killed, then don't do it. I really don't need my subordinates following an order that will put Soldiers in danger, and is possibly illegal. This is a great book for young Soldiers, people coming out of high school and college, and anyone starting at the bottom in business. The author has an easy writing style and the book was a great fast read. Definitely one to keep in my collection.
Being active duty military, I found the topic of when to disobey very interesting. We are always told if is morally or ethically wrong, or will get yourself or others killed, then don't do it. I really don't need my subordinates following an order that will put Soldiers in danger, and is possibly illegal. This is a great book for young Soldiers, people coming out of high school and college, and anyone starting at the bottom in business. The author has an easy writing style and the book was a great fast read. Definitely one to keep in my collection.
November 12, 2016
This is a good topic and there is a lot of detail and a lot of examples in here about it. The reasoning seems to follow conventional lines. My problem is the imprecision of language. Here's a sentence from page 120: "Evolutionary genetics postulates that obedience to authority became a survival trait of our species." Apparently the author and his editors do not understand the meaning of the word "postulates." This sort of thing is at best a distraction from the text.
November 18, 2015
Great short read! I did a book report on it for my college Psych class. I would recommend this book to anyone under 30 or anyone with a job. Ira is an interesting writer and knows how to keep the reader’s attention.
December 9, 2015
Great stuff. I highly agree that you shouldn't obey every authority. Also learning to say no is crucial as well
While we have been socially programed to respect authority and follow orders, not all orders should be obeyed.
While we have been socially programed to respect authority and follow orders, not all orders should be obeyed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews