The Art of Fairness

We often hear that 'nice guys finish last', but this is far from the truth. In reality, across a huge variety of situations, professions and time periods, the key elements of successful leadership are in fact a potent combination of listening to others, being generous with power, and mounting a proportionate defence.





From preventing the details of the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony leaking from any of the thousands of volunteers, to constructing the Empire State Building, to the Allied victory in the Second World War - THE ART OF FAIRNESS takes a selection of thrilling case studies from history and weaves a sparkling tapestry of lessons that demonstrate the surprising components of great leadership. As David Bodanis reveals with deft storytelling, while bad behaviour might seem like the quickest route to success, mastering the art of fairness is the most reliable, sustainable - and rewarding - path to integrity and influence.'David Bodanis is an enthralling storyteller. Prepare to be taken on a surprising, wide-ranging and ultimately inspiring journey to explore what makes us human' Tim Harford

Can you succeed without being a terrible person? We often think not: recognising that, as the old saying has it, 'nice guys finish last'. But does that mean you have to go to the other extreme, and be a bully or Machiavellian to get anything done?


In THE ART OF FAIRNESS, David Bodanis uses thrilling historical case studies to show there's a better path, leading neatly in between. He reveals how it was fairness, applied with skill, that led the Empire State Building to be constructed in barely a year - and how the same techniques brought a quiet English debutante to become an acclaimed jungle guerrilla fighter. In ten vivid profiles - featuring pilots, presidents, and even the producer of Game of Thrones - we see that the path to greatness doesn't require crushing displays of power or tyrannical ego. Simple fair decency can prevail.


With surprising insights from across history - including the downfall of the very man who popularised the phrase 'nice guys finish last' - THE ART OF FAIRNESS charts a refreshing and sustainable new approach to cultivating integrity and influence.