Author Tobias Sturesson spent his childhood in a toxic religious cult that had captured his mother’s loyalty. Sturesson’s realization that this was a harmful group, and his courageous break from it, gave him a deep curiosity about healthy and unhealthy cultures that finds expression in this leadership book.

The book’s foundation rests on Sturesson’s practical experience consulting with companies, large and small, interviews with experts and business leaders, and secondary research. From these, the author describes four habits essential to healthy cultures: “Get Humble,” “Get Clear,” “Get Listening,” and “Get Integrity.” To cultivate each of these habits, the author describes concrete practices. For example, getting humble includes “embracing vulnerability” while “taking ownership” for unhealthy manifestations of culture, while also taking “action to repair broken trust.”

The author dedicates a section of the book to each of the above habits, devoting a chapter to each practice he claims will bolster these habits. He then breaks down each practice into actionable steps which, together, form a complete plan for transforming a company’s culture. As each chapter wraps up, he provides reflections and suggested actions related to each practice, a key quote to remember, and resources, such as books and podcasts, to help readers build healthier cultures.

Rich in anecdotes, personal and professional, the book emphasizes that culture isn’t a project that can be entrusted to a single person or department, such as HR. It’s everyone’s responsibility, and that includes, but isn’t limited to, organizational leaders. Culture, the author notes, is not what an organization says it values or espouses – it’s revealed in people’s day-to-day behavior and in what companies actually incentivize.

Well-organized and edited, with a range of practical wisdom, Sturesson’s book will appeal to business leaders and managers from start-ups to established corporations. An easy and pleasant read, packed with insights, the book offers a wealth of information for organizations dedicated to the important work of creating or maintaining cultural health.