Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong
They say the rules are made to be broken. But which rules? When should you break them? And how do you do it? Ira Chaleff explores when following orders does more harm than good and what to do about it.

Abu Ghraib prison. Enron. Abuse in the Catholic Church. NSA surveillance of blameless citizens. Needless deaths at Veterans Administration hospitals. These scandals could have been prevented if, early on, people had said no to their higher-ups. And why didn't they? Because, says Ira Chaleff, they didn't know how. It's much harder than it might seem. In this very timely new book, the author of the classic The Courageous Follower goes deeply into when and how to disobey orders and disagree with decisions in an intelligent, helpful, and ethical way.

Chaleff took his inspiration, and the book's title, from a concept used in guide dog training. Guide dogs must be able to recognize a command that would put the human and themselves at risk of serious harm, learn how to effectively resist the command, and identify alternate safer options for achieving a legitimate goal. This is precisely what Chaleff helps human beings do. He delves into the psychological dynamics of obedience, drawing in particular on Stanley Milgram's seminal Yale experiments where volunteers were induced to administer shocks to innocent people. Using dozens of vivid examples involving major historical events and everyday situations, he offers advice on judging whether a situation calls for intelligent disobedience, how to most effectively express opposition, and how we can create a culture where, rather than "just following orders," citizens are encouraged to think about whether or not those orders actually make sense.
1121670895
Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong
They say the rules are made to be broken. But which rules? When should you break them? And how do you do it? Ira Chaleff explores when following orders does more harm than good and what to do about it.

Abu Ghraib prison. Enron. Abuse in the Catholic Church. NSA surveillance of blameless citizens. Needless deaths at Veterans Administration hospitals. These scandals could have been prevented if, early on, people had said no to their higher-ups. And why didn't they? Because, says Ira Chaleff, they didn't know how. It's much harder than it might seem. In this very timely new book, the author of the classic The Courageous Follower goes deeply into when and how to disobey orders and disagree with decisions in an intelligent, helpful, and ethical way.

Chaleff took his inspiration, and the book's title, from a concept used in guide dog training. Guide dogs must be able to recognize a command that would put the human and themselves at risk of serious harm, learn how to effectively resist the command, and identify alternate safer options for achieving a legitimate goal. This is precisely what Chaleff helps human beings do. He delves into the psychological dynamics of obedience, drawing in particular on Stanley Milgram's seminal Yale experiments where volunteers were induced to administer shocks to innocent people. Using dozens of vivid examples involving major historical events and everyday situations, he offers advice on judging whether a situation calls for intelligent disobedience, how to most effectively express opposition, and how we can create a culture where, rather than "just following orders," citizens are encouraged to think about whether or not those orders actually make sense.
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Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong

Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong

by Ira Chaleff, Philip Zimbardo

Narrated by Dave Clark

Unabridged — 6 hours, 28 minutes

Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong

Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong

by Ira Chaleff, Philip Zimbardo

Narrated by Dave Clark

Unabridged — 6 hours, 28 minutes

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Overview

They say the rules are made to be broken. But which rules? When should you break them? And how do you do it? Ira Chaleff explores when following orders does more harm than good and what to do about it.

Abu Ghraib prison. Enron. Abuse in the Catholic Church. NSA surveillance of blameless citizens. Needless deaths at Veterans Administration hospitals. These scandals could have been prevented if, early on, people had said no to their higher-ups. And why didn't they? Because, says Ira Chaleff, they didn't know how. It's much harder than it might seem. In this very timely new book, the author of the classic The Courageous Follower goes deeply into when and how to disobey orders and disagree with decisions in an intelligent, helpful, and ethical way.

Chaleff took his inspiration, and the book's title, from a concept used in guide dog training. Guide dogs must be able to recognize a command that would put the human and themselves at risk of serious harm, learn how to effectively resist the command, and identify alternate safer options for achieving a legitimate goal. This is precisely what Chaleff helps human beings do. He delves into the psychological dynamics of obedience, drawing in particular on Stanley Milgram's seminal Yale experiments where volunteers were induced to administer shocks to innocent people. Using dozens of vivid examples involving major historical events and everyday situations, he offers advice on judging whether a situation calls for intelligent disobedience, how to most effectively express opposition, and how we can create a culture where, rather than "just following orders," citizens are encouraged to think about whether or not those orders actually make sense.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Reading this remarkable book has given me new hope for humanity.”
—from the foreword by Philip G. Zimbardo, creator of the Stanford Prison Experiment and author of The Lucifer Effect

“Intelligent disobedience is a core competency. This book provides an overlooked and essential element of ethical decision making and right action.”
—John A. Allison, retired Chairman and CEO, BB&T Corporation

“All of us have the responsibility to stand up for doing the right thing. Intelligent Disobedience offers the tools for doing this.”
—Beatrice Edwards, Executive Director, Government Accountability Project

Intelligent Disobedience provides practical advice for the workplace and has profound implications for preparing students for democratic citizenship.”
—Robert Bravo, Area Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District

Product Details

BN ID: 2940191009674
Publisher: Ascent Audio
Publication date: 07/07/2015
Edition description: Unabridged
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