The tone of Behind the Arches has three primary elements: drive, admiration, and hope. Behind the Arches is a story told by a man that, through his research, came to admire McDonald's history and its corporate culture, particularly its fierce drive to persevere and its placing high value on creativity and innovation while spurning central control. As such, the story of McDonald's is told with brio and drive. The chapters are full of many stories, often told through narrative at a clip. The speed is fast, but not hurried and the sense of the text paints a picture of an organization on the move.