I used to take company values at face value. Then I worked at three places where the gap between words and actions was enormous. Here's what I read that made the difference.
Books That Tell It Straight
Kim Scott's "Radical Candor" includes a chapter on values theater—when companies perform values instead of living them. She worked at Google and Apple, so she's seen both sides.
Ben Horowitz's "What You Do Is Who You Are" focuses on how values show up in daily decisions. He uses historical examples alongside modern companies, which makes the patterns clearer.
Research Databases
The Ethics and Compliance Initiative runs surveys of actual workplace behavior. Their reports show which industries have the biggest gaps between stated and lived values.
Pew Research Center tracks generational attitudes about workplace ethics. Helpful for understanding if your values align with a company's actual culture.
Ongoing Coverage
Axios' workplace newsletter covers values washing—when companies claim values they don't practice. They're particularly good at spotting contradictions between public statements and internal policies.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act case summaries reveal companies that claimed to value experience while systematically pushing out older workers.
What I Do Now
Before any interview, I spend two hours with these resources. I search the company name, read the cases, check the data. Values statements go in one pile, verifiable evidence goes in another. Only the second pile matters.