Through this provocative case study of innovation and excellence lasting 200 years, the authors describe a surprising democratic organization that empowered thousands of individuals to work together for both noble purpose and hard-edged performance. This book offers timeless guiding principles for organizing and leading a self-governing enterprise.

Brook Manville is Chief Learning Office and Chief Customer Evangelist at Saba, a firm that delivers human capital development and management solutions. Josiah Ober is Chair of the Department of Classics and David Magie '97 Class of 1897 Professor of Ancient History at Princeton University. He teaches courses on participatory democracy and postmodern organizations; and on the politics of learning in Ancient Athens.