The book Barking Up the Wrong Tree analyzes the popular sayings and beliefs about success and finds that most are false. The author explores the scientific literature on success and finds that the most successful people often have traits that are generally considered to be negative or undesirable. The book argues that, for example, confidence can be overblown and even detrimental, and that being a "giver" can sometimes lead to exploitation, while being a "taker" can lead to higher wages. The book provides examples from a variety of fields, including athletics, business, and science, to support its arguments.