Fair or Foul considers different aspects of ambition and its place in our lives. It asks: what does success mean? When is enough enough? And is Lady Macbeth right to suggest that only those with the ''illness'' of ambition achieve the highest goals?

Stefan Stern draws on the major themes of Macbeth and discusses how they can be applied to ambition in modern life. From the success of the first US woman vice president, Kamala Harris, the obstacles she faced and the possibilities that still lie ahead, to Boris Johnson''s young aspirations to be ''world king'' and the pathological intensity of his ambition, Stern considers the careers and personal lives of politicians, sports stars and business people, to name a few, to illuminate this strange and powerful driver. Expect to discover how ambition and success work together, how attitudes have shifted over time, and how gender roles have an impact on our goals.

Incisive, contemporary and accessible, this book is for anyone who is looking for a change of direction or emphasis on how to move forward. It will also provide consolation, amusement and plenty of insightful meditations on the complex nature of ambition.

''Is this a bestseller which I see before me? It deserves to be. Fascinating exploration of the beast of ambition and whether we can tame it or be devoured by it'' Richard Herring, comedian, writer and podcaster

''A brilliantly readable and inspiring study of our love–hate relationship with ambition'' Viv Groskop, author of How to Own the Room

''Wise, compelling . . . and dare I say it, ambitious in its ultimate aim, it encourages readers to ask profound questions about meaning and purpose'' Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland

''A welcome blast of clear thinking about ambition and how we choose to lead our lives'' Alastair Campbell, co-host of The Rest is Politics