Why do we care what other people think? The answer is our reputation. Its influence is enormous but, worryingly, often out of our control. So what is the secret of being held in esteem? As John Whitfield shows, there is more to it than being a nice person or being good at what you do. Our position in the world is really in the hands of other people, because its created by what others say and think. People Will Talk uncovers the critical importance of reputation, and what happens when it goes wrong, even explaining the surreal dynamics behind todays misbehaving celebrities, expenses-fiddling MPs and risk-taking bankers.
