Moral Mazes Book Summary

In 'Moral Mazes', Robert Jackall explores the complex ethical landscapes of corporate life, revealing how ambition often clashes with moral integrity. Through compelling narratives of executives and their dilemmas, he uncovers the subtle yet pervasive influences of organizational culture on personal values. The book challenges readers to consider the true cost of success in a corporate world where ethical shortcuts abound. Jackall's insights provoke thought on the nature of morality and the often-blurred lines between right and wrong in professional settings. This eye-opening examination invites you to question: how do our moral beliefs hold up in a maze of ambition?

By Robert Jackall

Published: 2010

"In the tangled web of corporate morality, where right and wrong blur and the quest for success eclipses ethical clarity, we find ourselves navigating a maze of conflicting values, searching for meaning in the midst of ambition."

Book Review of Moral Mazes

This updated edition of a classic study of ethics in business presents an eye-opening account of how corporate managers think the world works, and how big organizations shape moral consciousness. Robert Jackall takes the reader inside a topsy-turvy world where hard work does not necessarily lead to success, but sharp talk, self-promotion, powerful patrons, and sheer luck might. This edition includes a new foreword linking the themes of Moral Mazes to the financial tsunami that engulfed the world economy in 2008.

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In the tangled web of corporate morality, where right and wrong blur and the quest for success eclipses ethical clarity, we find ourselves navigating a maze of conflicting values, searching for meaning in the midst of ambition.

Moral Mazes

By Robert Jackall