As a longtime crisis management/communications professional, I always look for new books about crises and how they are/were handled. Some are better than others, but all bring knowledge to the table. One can always learn something new from another's research or experience. In this case, however, there is much to learn from Edward Segal's "The Crisis Casebook," which is heads and shoulders above most crisis books. Giving real-world examples, this well-researched tome provides students of disaster ample case studies for how to do it right and for how NOT to do it. It is a book that is thoughtful, providing details that will help others avoid making some of the same mistakes that have befallen others while still keeping options open. The author understands that no one can fully prepare for a crisis, but they can be well-armed with the skills needed to navigate its twists and turns. That is what this book does well: provides ample examples of how to make the best of the tools at your disposal while the proverbial poop is hitting the fan.

It is a very well-written, well-researched, and well-documented book. This is one I will keep on my shelf as a reference source for years to come. If you are anyway involved in crisis planning at work or in an organization, this is a must-read.

The Crisis Casebook: Lessons in Crisis Management from the World’s Leading Brands by Edward Segal – Book Review

Edward Segal’s The Crisis Casebook serves as a practical introduction to crisis management, making it a useful resource for students studying business communications. The book is structured around nearly 100 case studies, each examining a different company, public figure, or recent event. Covering topics as current as the Hawaii wildfires, challenges within the British royal family, and controversies surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Segal’s approach ensures that students engage with up-to-date, real-world examples.

One of the book’s strengths is its accessibility; the case studies clearly outline key lessons in preparation, transparency, and response. However, a notable drawback is the lack of clear organization by crisis type. The cases are presented one after another without strong thematic groupings, which makes it harder to compare similar situations or track patterns across industries.

Despite this structural issue, The Crisis Casebook provides a solid foundation for students new to crisis communication. It introduces essential concepts through real-world applications, making it a relevant and engaging text for business communications courses.

Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for providing a free digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

A must-own book if you work for or own a business. This covers various companies and the crisis that’s highlighted their weakness in the media. Why it’s vital every company has crisis management plan and has skilled workers in the company who are qualified to deal with such crisis. How social media can impact a company as customers views can impact negatively and how to handle it.
The phishing and hacking crisis is fascinating to read as it’s more common.
This discusses proactive approach and protecting a brand. How to assess and manage a company on a plan in case of emergency. Delayed product recalls and how to handle the situation and actions needed. This is a business bible and vital to support workers and the management.

In many ways, this is a quick read on how to respond to crises. Segal conveniently summarizes key points from his previous book at the beginning and the end of this book. The bulk is alphabetically arranged summaries of recent crises by different organizations starting with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and ending with [Jeff] Zucker of CNN. (Why this was under Z for Zucker and not C for CNN, I don’t know.) With each scenario, the author describes the crisis, the initial reaction, any later reaction and often advice from different crisis professionals in PR, HR, safety, law, etc.

The author makes several key points. One is that an organization’s leadership most often doesn’t have the experience, skills or list of resources to deal with a crisis. They’re not hired because they deal with crises; they’re hired because, more often than not, their previous employment stints had avoided crises. Thus, this book is a handy quick guidebook to get a leadership team on its feet in a situation that could affect an organization’s survival, reputation or ability to grow.

If there’s a fault in this book, it’s the over abundance of real-life situations to absorb. How much overlap is there? What distinguishes this example from all others? In some ways, the author seemed to want to highlight situations he or his friends consulted on; it’s not evident Segal did, but the plethora of scenarios seems indulgent.

The last chapter—the 10 R’s of Crisis Management—may be worth the price of the book. And is a useful guide for anyone creating a crisis handbook or contingency plan, which every organization should have. I once had to wing it with regards to what should be covered in such a plan by reference to several publications. This is a handy single reference.

It’s also helpful for property, casualty, cybersecurity and employment practices insurers to use as a checklist for their clients.

I’m appreciative that the publisher provided an advanced copy to review.

I've read a few books that attempt to demystify the opaque world of PR but they tend to be quite theoretical. This one is helpful because of the real-world examples it uses. It's very utilitarian, not a book you read for its beautiful language - I found that dipping in every few days was the best way to absorb it.