Profiles in Folly

Using the same engrossing anecdotal format that proved so popular in Profiles in Audacity, bestselling author Alan Axelrod turns to the dark side of audacious decision-making and explores historys most tragic errors. While Axelrod looks at the hopelessly dumb and the overtly evil, the main focus is on smart people who had the best of intentions—but whose plans went disastrously wrong. The 35 compelling stories include: the sailing of the “unsinkable” Titanic; Edward Bernayss 1929 campaign to recruit women smokers; Neville Chamberlains appeasement of the Nazis; Ken Lays deception with Enron; and even the choice to create a “New Coke” and fix what wasnt broke. These are cautionary tales—albeit with exquisite twists ranging from acerbic to horrific.