Have you ever stopped to consider why no one gives you a break? If so, what did you conclude?
(This is a serious question, not a snipe).
(This is a serious question, not a snipe).
Merit doesn't always count. Look at it this way, a manager is likely to promote a guy who for example... takes him out for lunch, looks after his interests at work and else where. Managers trust 'yes men'. So if you work hard but don't quite really act like their closest associates in the gang, you are done. Nerds with high self worth, who can actually be something by themselves by their work and sweat alone can't do all this. They always lose out like edw519 even if they have done 3x the work.
Lose out might be the wrong word. Because though you lose out on the shorter run. On the longer run, the 'yes men' lose capability to do something on their own (Read:Retire on their middle management job). The hard working nerd, if he really sticks to his guns and doesn't give up will make it big someday.
Also, is this book something you'd recommend to someone who's just casually interested in the subject?
Edit: Though it's been a while since I read it last, I remember finding it very informative and insightful. I don't think you need to be a psychologist or neuroscience expert to read it and benefit.
[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Tha...
If you write a bunch of code but don't test it before shipping, it doesn't matter how hard you worked on it -- if it's got a ton of bugs, you can't really expect a pat on the back.
Similarly, if you accomplish stuff for the company and nobody knows, what credit can you expect for it?