Corruptible

Corruptible by Dr Brian Klaas delves into one of the most compelling and age-old questions in political and social science: does power corrupt, or are corrupt individuals simply drawn to power? Through an engaging and thought-provoking narrative, Klaas explores how power is acquired, wielded, and abused, offering a sophisticated understanding of the intoxicating lure of authority and its implications for our modern world. The book unveils the hidden mechanisms and psychological factors that determine why some individuals become tyrannical, while others remain just and fair.

Based on over 500 interviews with a wide range of leaders—including presidents, war criminals, cult leaders, terrorists, psychopaths, and dictators—Klaas presents captivating anecdotes and groundbreaking research. These stories reveal how power dynamics can corrupt systems and individuals, highlighting startling findings such as how children can predict election outcomes based on politicians' faces, why narcissists often accumulate more wealth, and what makes certain species of bees exhibit corrupt behaviour. The book also tackles whether the quest for power is a genetic predisposition and why being the second in command can sometimes be the savvier choice.

Klaas combines cutting-edge research with astonishing real-life encounters—scanning psychopathic brains, examining the effects of power on monkeys' drug use, and sharing eye-opening moments like a ski lesson with the former viceroy of Iraq, tea with a former UK prime minister, and breakfast with Madagascar's infamous yogurt kingpin president. These fascinating stories are interwoven to provide deeper insights into the structural causes and personal desires that lead to power corrupting so pervasively.

Penned by the creator of the acclaimed Power Corrupts podcast, Corruptible challenges our core beliefs about how power operates—from corporate boardrooms to global war rooms. Klaas's writing is passionate, insightful, and occasionally jaw-dropping, offering readers a blueprint for identifying and promoting better leadership at every societal level. By questioning why we give power to the worst among us and what we can do to prevent such tendencies, this book becomes essential reading for anyone interested in the ethics of power and leadership.

If you've ever pondered whether we are doomed to be governed by the unscrupulous or if we can foster a world led by paragons, Corruptible offers a resonant and rigorously researched examination. By the end of the book, readers will be equipped with the knowledge to better navigate the complexities of power and its profound impact on our lives.