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Corruptible
Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us | Brian Klaas
3 posts | 1 read | 7 to read
A provocative and revelatory look at what power is, who gets it, and what happens when they do, based on over 500 interviews with those who (for a while, at least) have had the upper handfrom the creator of the Power Corrupts podcast and Washington Post columnist Brian Klaas. Does power corrupt, or are corrupt people drawn to power? Are entrepreneurs who embezzle and cops who kill the result of poorly designed systems or are they just bad people? Are tyrants made or born? If you were suddenly thrust into a position of power, would you be able to resist the temptation to line your pockets or seek revenge against your enemies? To answer these questions, Corruptible draws on over 500 interviews with some of the worlds top leadersfrom the noblest to the dirtiestincluding presidents and philanthropists as well as rebels, cultists, and dictators. Some of the fascinating insights include: how facial appearance determines who we pick as leaders, why narcissists make more money, why some people dont want power at all and others are drawn to it out of a psychopathic impulse, and why being the beta (second in command) may actually be the optimal place for health and well-being. Corruptible also features a wealth of counterintuitive examples from history and social science: youll meet the worst bioterrorist in American history, hit the slopes with a ski instructor who once ruled Iraq, and learn why the inability of chimpanzees to play baseball is central to the development of human hierarchies. Based on deep, unprecedented research from around the world, Corruptible will challenge your most basic assumptions about becoming a leader and what might happen to your head when you get there. It also provides a roadmap to avoiding classic temptations, suggesting a series of reforms that would facilitate better people finding a path to powerand ensuring that power purifies rather than corrupts.
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review
Lauredhel
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Corruptible is an examination of power and corruption : it attempts to answer the "which came first" question (tl;dr: both /neither), and proposes some possible mitigations and solutions.

I thought it started stronger than it finished, but it was still quite fascinating. I would have liked some more in depth portraits of the people he interviewed, as I found those the most interesting parts but some were barely more than glimpses.

shanaqui I'm very curious about this one!

Also, how are you finding the Kobo Libra?
2y
Lauredhel @shanaqui this is the Libra 2 and I absolutely love it! The display is fabulous. There's a bug in the latest kobo firmware but rolling back fixed it. 2y
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quote
Lauredhel
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This book about power, power-seeking behaviour, and corruption is very readable.

Chrissyreadit I downloaded it to listen to when I‘m driving. Looking forward to see your thoughts as you read it. 2y
Lauredhel @Chrissyreadit the Mueller She Wrote book club will have an interview with the author at the end, I think 2y
Lcsmcat This quote alone makes me want to read the book! 2y
Chrissyreadit Is there a website for that book club? 2y
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blurb
Lauredhel
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Starting a new read for the Mueller She Wrote book club podcast readalong. #politics #nonfiction

On my hook : "Ardith" blanket in Twirls Pastello cotton. #litsycrafters

AND: GUESS who found a new Kobo Libra 2 in her Xmas stocking??

FlowerFairy Oh wow! You crochet beautifully! 2y
Lauredhel @FlowerFairy thanks! I've put a lot of work into learning some of the more challenging techniques. 2y
Lauredhel @FlowerFairy (NY resolution : try to take compliments instead of downgrading myself) 2y
Catsandbooks That blanket is absolutely gorgeous!! 😍 2y
61 likes4 comments