In the book "Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis, the author explores the intense environment of the financial world through his experiences on Wall Street. One of the challenges faced in this high-pressure setting is dealing with difficult personalities, often referred to as "assholes." These individuals can create a hostile work environment, making it crucial to find effective strategies for coping with their behavior.

O'Grady, a character in the narrative, suggests that a practical approach to handling such toxic individuals is to either build physical strength through weight training or develop self-defense skills by learning karate. This advice emphasizes the importance of empowerment, encouraging individuals to become both mentally and physically confident in dealing with challenging interactions in the workplace.