GLASS JAW is a manifesto in the vein of art of war for an age where scandal can destroy a company's brand and reputation in an instant--from Eric Dezenhall, who runs an elite crisis-management firm in Washington. In this updated edition, Dezenhall examines the intersection of politics and business and the fallout from the corporate "woke" movement "cancel culture," and #MeToo movement. More importantly, he tells us why some players survive attacks in the town square and others do not. In boxing terms, a tough-looking fighter who can't take a punch is said to have a "glass jaw," and so it is these days with targets of controversy. Down the rabbit hole of scandal, the weak are strong and the strong are weak. In GLASS JAW, Dezenhall analyzes scandal and demystifies the paper tiger "spin" industry, offering lessons, corrective measures, and counterintuitive insights. From the boardroom to the parenting messaging board, scandals erupt every day. GLASS JAW explains this changing nature of controversy and offers readers counterpunches to best protect themselves.

In boxing terms, a tough-looking fighter who can't take a punch is said to have a "glass jaw," and so it is these days with targets of controversy. Down the rabbit hole of scandal, the weak are strong, the strong are weak. GLASS JAW is a manifesto for these times, written by crisis management warhorse Eric Dezenhall who has spent three decades inside of some of the most intense controversies in recent memory.
In the digital age of 24/7 news, information is easily acquired and quickly spread, and this has changed the fundamental nature of controversy, rendering once mighty organizations and individuals powerless against scandal. Think Toyota, Susan G. Komen, Paula Deen, Tiger Woods, Penn State and Joe Paterno, BP, the Duke Lacrosse players, Lance Armstrong, Manti Te'o, and Anthony Weiner. Here Dezenhall defines this new reality where information moves at the speed of light and reputations are tarnished ever faster. In GLASS JAW, he analyzes controversy and scandal from the perspective of the truth-telling crisis management veteran to demystify the paper tiger "spin" industry, offering lessons learned, crucial corrective measures, and counterintuitive insights, such as:
How there really is no getting ahead of a bad storyThe art of the public apology Why a crisis is not an opportunity and Hemingway's The Old man and the Sea is the I Ching of crisis management (because the old man survived and nothing more) The problem with "getting it all out there" and The Nixon Fallacy: if only he had just said "I screwed up," the whole thing would have gone away-not a chanceWhy you are the enemy: the self sabotage of technology, cameras, tweets, and emails

A thrilling tale of revenge set against the vibrant backdrop of sensationalist modern media Seasoned reporter Sanford "Fuse" Petty is old-school in every way--anti-technology, anti-Millennial (don't even mention Gen-Z), and anti-"gotcha" journalism. After Fuse is asked to leave his paper pending a disciplinary investigation, he has plenty of time on his hands. So when his oldest friend approaches him for advice after the man's daughter says she was sexually assaulted by her boss, a prominent media star, Fuse agrees to help. He gives his buddy the only options he feels are available: report the incident to the police and risk a huge "he said/she said" smear campaign against the girl, or plan something even better--revenge. As a journalist, Fuse has a colorful background investigating criminals, politicians, gangsters, drug lords, and all-around shysters--and knows plenty of shady sources--so he's the perfect person to enact a complex (and ultimately, entertaining) plan to bring the popular media mogul down in the court of public opinion . . . and make him pay.

The Governor: Gardner "Rebound" Rothman---married, family values New Jersey Republican with White House fantasies, a terrible secret, and a controversial position on young interns: he's for 'em!
The Tart: Simone Lava, the voluptuous Miss Little Egg Harbor Township. Rebound keeps her hidden away in Atlantic City's seedy Celebrity Motel where she practices waving like a First Lady---a title she's been promised, if she'll just lay low during election season.
The Fixer: Chief Willie Thundercloud, former pro wrestler who runs the Jersey Shore's most ruthless damage control firm. The chief digs up the macabre truth about the governor.
The Pollster: Jonah Eastman, maverick political strategist raised by his mobster grandfather, who gave Rebound his start. Jonah knows only one thing can save the congenitally deceitful governor: a whopping, heartfelt lie.
"Shakedown Beach" rips open the slats of the Atlantic City boardwalk to impart the big lesson of American politics: when forced to look into one's soul and confront the painful truths of murder, corruption, and sexual depravity, don't be an idiot---hire the nastiest operatives money can buy and duck, dodge, and spin to November.