creating
a personal code
to guide decisions
in work and life

about the authors
Ronald A. Howard, a professor at Stanford University, began teaching ethics nearly three decades ago. For many years, his ethics courses have been filled to capacity. He has made a name for himself among students for helping them recognize distinctions about right and wrong they had never before considered. Never one to stay quiet in the face of flimsy logic, he is a keen advisor about ethical decisions in work and life.

Clint Korver, a serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, has taught ethics as a visiting professor at Grinnell College. His position on the college’s board of trustees and head of the audit committee, combined with his broad business experience, puts him in constant touch with people facing thorny ethical issues.


ethics {for the real world}
For "good" reasons, we often make small ethical compromises: We lie to a customer because our boss asked us to. We exaggerate our accomplishments on our resume to get an interview. We salvage a promotion by taking credit for a subordinate’s work. Temptation blindsides us. And we make snap decisions we regret.

Minor ethical lapses can seem harmless. But they instill in us a hard-to-break habit of distorted thinking. Rationalizations drown out our inner voice, and we make up the rules as we go. We lose control of our decisions and become a victim to the temptations and pressures of our situations. We taint our character. We sour business and personal relationships.

In Ethics for the Real World, Ronald A. Howard and Clinton Korver explain how to master the art of ethical decision-making by :

  • Identifying potential compromises in your own life
  • Applying distinctions to clarify your ethical thinking
  • Committing in advance to ethical principles
  • Generating creative alternatives to resolve dilemmas

Packed with real-life examples, this book gives you practical advice to respond skillfully to life’s inevitable ethical challenges. Not only can you make right decisions: You can acquire new habits that will realize the best in yourself and transform your relationships.