We all know someone we refer to as an asshole. Either they are someone unreasonable to deal with, or someone who generally treats people with contempt, or maybe it’s someone who maintains their own self-importance at the cost of others around them. Through extensive research, Professor Bob Sutton comes to the conclusion that the corporate world is overrun with people any rational person would consider assholes. Sutton’s latest book, The No Asshole Rule, examines this phenomenon and proposes a solution – eliminate the assholes from your work environment. Instead of tolerating the top performer in your organization when he or she is consistently a jerk, it might be better to send them packing. Chock-full of real world examples of good and bad behavior, The No Asshole Rule shed conclusive light on the costs of corporate jerks on productivity. Following the recent HBS Tech luncheon in Palo Alto, Jake talked with Bob Sutton about his motivations in researching and writing the book, some examples of asshole behavior, and why you might still find the book interesting even if you’re already well aware of the creeps in your respective cubicle hell.