Leadership and Self-Deception
- Tom Bronson

- May 12
- 3 min read
Almost 3 million copies sold. The classic that changed how we think about leadership—now fully updated.
What if the problem isn't your team, your boss, or your organization?
What if it's you—and you can't see it?
Leadership and Self-Deception reveals an uncomfortable truth: We systematically blind ourselves to our real motivations, then wonder why our relationships and results suffer. We tell ourselves stories that cast us as the hero and others as the obstacle. And those stories keep us stuck.
Through a compelling narrative, this book exposes the hidden patterns of self-deception that sabotage even our best intentions—in the workplace, at home, and in every relationship that matters. More importantly, it shows you how to break free.
For over two decades, this book has transformed how leaders, teams, and organizations work together.
The fourth edition is completely rewritten with
fresh stories and a broader, more diverse cast of characters;
new individual study and group discussion guides; and
practical tools for applying these insights at the personal, team, and organization-wide level.
The problem you can't see is the one you can't solve. This book will change what you see—and everything that follows.

FIND ARBINGER’S BOOK HERE: https://a.co/d/0c609jmQ
About the Author:
HISTORY
In the 1970s, a team of scholars led by philosopher C. Terry Warner embarked on an exploration into a core problem at the heart of the human sciences—the “problem of self-deception.” The research explored how we end up creating and sustaining problems we don’t know we are causing, and how and why people resist helpful solutions.
A DISCOVERY
Initially, all attempts to understand the phenomenon of self-deception failed, just as all attempts had for over 100 years. After years of work, however, the research team discovered a solution no one expected. They discovered the clear and surprising way that people begin to evade responsibility without thinking that they are doing so, and therefore end up blaming others or circumstances they, themselves, are helping to create. More importantly, they discovered how this could be corrected.
EARLY APPLICATION
Following this scholarly discovery, Arbinger’s founding members began teaching the principles in academic circles and within the university environment. This soon led to demand from individuals and families and then to requests for organizational applications. As more and more people and organizations experienced the profound changes that were enabled by Arbinger’s work, Arbinger evolved into a full-service consultancy that helps individuals and organizations solve the problems they have never been able to solve.
ARBINGER TODAY
Arbinger was founded in 1979. Since then, Arbinger has worked with thousands of individuals and organizations and helped them to transform their effectiveness and performance.
Early on, Arbinger’s growth was fueled solely by clients who spread the word about Arbinger’s impact. Arbinger’s public profile was then dramatically increased by the global success of its first book, Leadership & Self Deception, which was published in 2000. The book quickly became a word-of-mouth bestseller. It is now available in 27 languages and has sold over a million copies.
Arbinger’s second international bestseller, The Anatomy of Peace, was published in 2006. Available in 14 languages and having sold nearly 500,000 copies to date, The Anatomy of Peace demonstrates the power of Arbinger’s work in resolving conflict.
Arbinger is now recognized as a world-leader in improving organizational culture and conflict resolution. Arbinger’s clients range from individuals who are seeking help in their lives to many of the largest companies and governmental institutions in the world.
For more information, please visit www.arbinger.com




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