This book investigates the discrepancy between idealized leadership theories and the practical, often messy realities of organizational life. Mats Alvesson, a professor of business administration, utilizes his extensive research in organizational behavior to challenge common management myths. He argues that leadership is frequently over-hyped and that the actual influence of leaders is often constrained by social dynamics, bureaucracy, and the limitations of human perception. The text provides a critical framework for understanding how leadership functions in complex, real-world environments rather than in abstract models.

Experts frequently cite this work as a necessary corrective to the overly optimistic literature surrounding corporate management. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which challenges conventional wisdom through a skeptical and analytical lens.