The Asshole Survival Guide audiobook cover - How to Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt

The Asshole Survival Guide

How to Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt

Robert I. Sutton

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Corporate Culture

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The Asshole Survival Guide
Defining the Asshole+
Asshole Blindness+
The Contagion Effect+
Psychological Defenses+
Confrontation Strategies+
Self-Awareness+
The Asshole Test+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the book, what is a key distinction between a 'temporary' and a 'continual' asshole?
  • A. Temporary asshole behavior can sometimes be an effective leadership strategy, while continual asshole behavior has no excuse.
  • B. Continual assholes only exist in high-stress corporate environments, whereas temporary assholes are found in personal relationships.
  • C. Temporary assholes are entirely unaware of their behavior, while continual ones are always maliciously plotting.
  • D. Temporary assholes cause physical unease, while continual ones only cause emotional unease.
Question 2 of 7
How does the 'sunk cost fallacy' relate to enduring workplace assholes?
  • A. Companies refuse to fire assholes because of the high financial cost of training their replacements.
  • B. Victims feel they have already invested so much emotional effort into the job that they convince themselves they might as well stay.
  • C. Employees believe that if they spend enough money on gifts or favors, the asshole will eventually treat them better.
  • D. Victims think that reporting the asshole to HR will cost them their yearly bonus or promotion.
Question 3 of 7
What did researchers at the University of Florida conclude about rude behavior?
  • A. It is usually isolated to top-level management and rarely trickles down.
  • B. It only affects employees who already suffer from high stress levels.
  • C. It can be completely cured by implementing a strict company-wide HR policy.
  • D. It is highly contagious and can spread from just one incident, like the common cold.
Question 4 of 7
What is 'reappraisal' in the context of dealing with an asshole?
  • A. Formally evaluating the person's behavior with human resources on a quarterly basis.
  • B. Imagining a plausible, non-malicious reason for their behavior, such as them having a stressful personal life.
  • C. Confronting the person aggressively to assert dominance and reappraise the power dynamic.
  • D. Ignoring the person entirely until they realize they need to change their attitude.
Question 5 of 7
When is an 'aggressive confrontation' strategy shown to be most effective?
  • A. When dealing with clueless individuals who don't realize their negative impact.
  • B. When the asshole is a temporary offender who is just having a bad day.
  • C. When dealing with selfish, Machiavellian personalities who view others as tools for their success.
  • D. When you have no documented evidence of the person's past behavior.
Question 6 of 7
Based on a University of California study regarding drivers, what is identified as a significant risk factor for becoming an asshole?
  • A. Possessing wealth and power.
  • B. Working in a highly competitive industry.
  • C. Having a low level of emotional intelligence.
  • D. Being a victim of past bullying.
Question 7 of 7
Which of the following is a suggested test from the book to determine if someone is a self-absorbed asshole?
  • A. Asking them directly if they consider themselves an asshole.
  • B. Observing if they have a messy or disorganized workspace.
  • C. Checking if there is a healthy ratio between their statements and their questions during a conversation.
  • D. Seeing if they frequently take sick days off from work.

The Asshole Survival Guide — Full Chapter Overview

The Asshole Survival Guide Summary & Overview

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.

Who Should Listen to The Asshole Survival Guide?

  • Workers with a hostile boss or colleague
  • Readers interested in social or cognitive psychology
  • Managers who want to create a happier work environment

About the Author: Robert I. Sutton

Robert I. Sutton is a professor of management science at Stanford University, where he has contributed several articles to publications such as Harvard Business Review, the Financial Times and the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the best-selling author of The No Asshole Rule and Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best and Learn from the Worst.

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