Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great by Eric Ries
Incorruptible by Eric Ries, creator of The Lean Startup, is a business and management book about why successful companies can gradually lose sight of their original mission—and how leaders can design organizations to remain focused on their values as they grow. Ries argues that the problem is often structural rather than simply a matter of individual ethics, with ownership, incentives, governance, accountability, and decision-making systems influencing how organizations behave.
Drawing on two decades of experience working with founders, CEOs, investors, and institution builders, Ries presents corporate governance as a strategic design challenge rather than merely a compliance function. The book explores how businesses can protect their purpose, resist short-term thinking, and build organizations capable of growing and enduring without abandoning the principles on which they were founded.
Key Themes
- Business leadership
- Corporate governance
- Mission-driven companies
- Long-term business strategy
- Organizational design
- Entrepreneurship
- Ownership and incentives
- Accountability
- Sustainable growth
- Purpose-driven leadership
- Business ethics and values
- Institutional resilience
Why Read This Book?
Incorruptible is particularly relevant for entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs, executives, investors, managers, and business students interested in building organizations that can maintain their purpose as they become larger and more successful. The book connects governance and organizational structure with long-term company performance and mission preservation.
About the Author
Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Lean Startup methodology. He is the author of The Lean Startup, The Startup Way, and The Leader's Guide, and has worked with startups, investors, and established companies on innovation and long-term business strategy. He has also founded or helped build organizations including IMVU and the Long-Term Stock Exchange.
Product Details
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Book Title: Incorruptible
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Subtitle: Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great
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Author: Eric Ries
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Language: English
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Format: Paperback
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Genre: Business / Management / Leadership / Entrepreneurship
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Publisher: Penguin Business
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Publication Date: May 28, 2026
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ISBN-13: 9780241692028
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Pages: 432
The above specifications correspond to the 2026 Penguin Business paperback edition. The US hardcover edition published by Authors Equity has a different ISBN, 9798893311860, while other editions also have separate ISBNs.
