From the Introduction...

“The pages ahead are filled with moving, sometimes astonishing real-world stories of people facing both ordinary and extraordinary pressures to compromise their values. You will meet business executives, nonprofit leaders, nurses, police officers, soldiers, and lawyers. Some of the examples come from headline-grabbing corporate scandals and some from terrifying moments in history. Many others are everyday examples drawn from the personal and professional lives of my students. You’ll learn about some who failed to stand up for their values and later regretted it, and others who successfully pushed back.

All of these examples—even the ones that Hollywood made into “whistleblower” movies—involve ordinary professionals trying to get on with the business of life. I have assembled them to help you better understand your own character, values, fears, and personal aspirations. If a given issue is not a problem for you, move on. When it comes to learning about the important things in life, one of my favorite mantras is also one of the simplest: “Take what works and leave the rest behind.” ”