According to Burke Christensen and Ken Cooper, the editors of The Best of "Strictly Speaking," "Today ethics is a major concern. The media regularly communicate ethical and legal transgressions that result in major embarrassments, convictions, fines, and a decline in public confidence. Industry leaders have stepped forward to assert new emphases of legal compliance and higher ethical standards. We believe the road to higher ethical standards starts with an understanding of the industry�s heritage followed by an appreciation of how truly important ethics is. Leadership and education are the keys. Here the emphasis is on education. The Best of "Strictly Speaking," drawing from the best of one of the industry�s leading proponents of ethics, offers a beginning step."

From the 19 columns in The Best of "Strictly Speaking" we have selected 10 for inclusion in this book. We have also included "Why Do Good People Make Bad Choices?"�a "Strictly Speaking" column that was published after The Best of "Strictly Speaking" had been printed.