This book investigates the cultural and ideological influence of the Harvard Business School on the American corporate landscape and the broader societal values of the late 20th century. Peter Cohen, a journalist and observer of the business world, utilizes his access to the institution to analyze how the case-study method and the school's specific pedagogical approach shape the professional identity of its graduates. He argues that the school functions as a secular seminary, producing a specific class of leaders who carry the institution's distinct worldview into the highest levels of government and industry.

Critics and readers often note that the book provides a critical, journalistic look at the institutional culture of elite business education. It is frequently cited by those interested in the sociological impact of business schools on American leadership structures.