“The Rules for Whistleblowers” by Stephen Martin Kohn, Esq.

The Rules for Whistleblowers

Stephen Martin Kohn, Esq.
Lyons Press (2023)
ISBN:  978-1493059263
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (11/2023)

“The Rules for Whistleblowers: A Handbook for Doing What’s Right” by Stephen Kohn is an eye-opening book that will lead you to a better understanding of the important role whistleblowers play in our lives. In fact, whistleblowers are all about saving lives, and in order to do that, sometimes you have to blow the whistle. Besides saving literal lives, whistleblowers save jobs and are rewarded for doing the right thing at the right time. Whistleblowing sounds easy, but it’s risky business. They may put their jobs, reputations, and sometimes even their lives on the line for the greater good.

Blowing the whistle for environmental causes can leave lasting effects for future generations. The author outlines 37 rules, 1 rule per chapter, that explain the benefits and traps that occur with today’s whistleblowers, and then wraps up with some checklists and useful resources. The charts, graphs, and maps go a long way in illustrating the author’s points. It isn’t a subject to be taken lightly, and being an informant in most cases is probably not an easy thing to do. If whistleblowers advocate for us, who advocates for them? In a world that can give whistleblowers a hard time, it’s good to know that support for individuals and families is available through this book.

Kohn’s all-encompassing dive into whistleblowing is as engaging as it is informative. If you’ve ever been an informant, or have thought about doing so, then this book will resonate strongly with you. You will learn in this book how to remain anonymous and receive rewards (if that is your aim). Kohn shows how intricate and complicated the rules and laws are for the average whistleblower. In the world of loopholes, this author is a master at showing you what they look like and how you can work with or around them. One important point of the many you will find in this book is that whistleblowers have rights as employees, and you should know them. This book is a resource for all human resource offices. Consider it a handbook for any kind of employee because the need to use it could arise at any time. If you want to read a dynamic book on the world of whistleblowing, “The Rules for Whistleblowers: A Handbook for Doing What’s Right” by Stephen Kohn, is required reading.