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Leadership
Rudolph Giuliani demonstrates how the leadership skills he practices can be employed successfully by anyone who has to run anything. Opens with a gripping account of Giuliani's immediate reaction to the September 11 attacks, including a narrow escape from the original crisis command headquarters, and closes with the efforts to address the aftermath during his remaining tenure.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
January 20, 2024
Update 20/1/24 - I read this book more than 10 years ago and I’ve learned a good deal about Giuliani since, none of it good. But I stand by what I wrote after I’d read it, back in the day (below)
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The first section of the book - the part that deals with 9/11 and it's aftermath - is compelling and inspiring. the sections that follow...well, less so. this book starts off with a fantastic story but then becomes a preening 'how good am I' list of activities you can pick up from just about any book on leadership. My advice: stop after the 9/11 section - but do read this.
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The first section of the book - the part that deals with 9/11 and it's aftermath - is compelling and inspiring. the sections that follow...well, less so. this book starts off with a fantastic story but then becomes a preening 'how good am I' list of activities you can pick up from just about any book on leadership. My advice: stop after the 9/11 section - but do read this.
July 21, 2012
A terrific insight into the mind of one of the greatest leaders of the century. Giuliani clearly lays out that the leadership that he provided in 9/11 didn't just happen, it was predicated on years of putting great systems in place. Awesome book. A must read.
Read
December 15, 2019Excellent read - well written by Giuliani. Amazing how one man could orchestrate the revitalization of a city. Inspirational for any leader in business or education.
November 15, 2011
I great book to read, I am not intrested in US politics or his side in politics. What made this book a great book to read is how he reduced crimes in NY dow more than 60%. For me that is the power of good system or good software system. Everyone in any goverment, health care and etc. should learn from this book
January 11, 2010
Great book! Focuses on managing and leadership with no attention paid to personal relationship issues, which I respect. Politics is mentioned but is not the main focus of the book. Riveting accounts of Sept. 11th really touched me.
June 30, 2008
I was surprised that this book talked more about his management style running New York City and not about conservative politics and principles. He espouses basic principles about leadership that would be useful running any large entity, His use of metrics to gauge the success or failure of a program could be applied to anywhere outside of government. Do not expect much about the personal life known to hit the back pages of the New York Post. This is not a tell all biography. Overall, it is an easy read. The book appears to make every problem solvable and manageable if you follow his principles. Life sometimes gets in the way of a perfect world.
October 23, 2015
Asked for and received as a gift. I don't know. Going to HPB.
Found a video of his opening the 2001 Season of Saturday Night Live and his monologue really was great. Those were words we should have used. Paul Simon played "The Boxer;" and it will induce some tears. Anyway, there's no mystery why people wanted to hear more from him after all that tragedy and how New York deals.
July 2014.
Found a video of his opening the 2001 Season of Saturday Night Live and his monologue really was great. Those were words we should have used. Paul Simon played "The Boxer;" and it will induce some tears. Anyway, there's no mystery why people wanted to hear more from him after all that tragedy and how New York deals.
July 2014.
August 24, 2012
One of the best books on preparing for leadership I've read in a long time.
This has been sitting on my shelf since college, when I had the priveledge of hearing Mr. Giuliani speak. I'm enjoying his tales from his time as "Mayor of America" immensely as well as learning a lot about strong leadership. Not a trite, you've-heard-it-all-before read.
I'm only sorry I waited this long to pick it up.
This has been sitting on my shelf since college, when I had the priveledge of hearing Mr. Giuliani speak. I'm enjoying his tales from his time as "Mayor of America" immensely as well as learning a lot about strong leadership. Not a trite, you've-heard-it-all-before read.
I'm only sorry I waited this long to pick it up.
January 19, 2020
It was hard to be objective when so much of what we see of the author now makes him look “challenged” at best. There are some good leadership recommendations throughout, but none that you don’t find elsewhere. I’m skeptical of his perspective on much of the stories but they are good relatable examples of leadership in action.
January 18, 2019
Whether you like Rudy Giuliani or not, the changes made to New York City during his terms as mayor were good for the city. He was a Republican mayor in a Democratic city and state, but he left the city running smoothly and passed along his methods of accountability, including COMPSTAT, gladly to his Democratic successor, Michael Bloomberg.
Don't be reluctant to read this book because it is written by a Republican. Giuliani worked with Democrats to achieve results for his city. He was glad to pass on the improvements to a Democrat whom he believed the city needed because NYC needed a businessman to operate it. Bloomberg qualified, in Giuliani's opinion.
Don't be reluctant to read this book because it is written by a Catholic. He insisted on everyone in his team being treated with respect regardless of their religious beliefs.
Don't be reluctant to read this book because he became involved in an unfortunate divorce. Despite the failures of his personal life, he still loved and served the city.
You might not like Giuliani but this book is not about him. It is about extremely effective leadership methods that transformed a city in which people had stopped believing. It is about recognizing the bad management that had caused people and businesses to desert the city and about making changes to reverse this exodus. It is about reducing crime, increasing hospital efficiency, improving services, etc. while decreasing budgets.
It is about communication between the public, his employees and administrators and himself. It is about accountability. It is about honesty. It is about treating others with dignity. It is about selecting good people and letting them do what they are skilled at doing (and not being afraid to remove those who are not able to do the job). It is about determining priorities, making decisions and following through. It is about loyalty, independence, strength, purpose, and fighting for what is right even if you know the inevitable result will be lawsuits. It is about standing strong and never giving up.
It is about transferring your vision to your team and to the public so that they are all a part of the process and of the success. It is about giving all of them credit for the results.
It is not a book that makes Giuliani a hero. Yes, he uses examples from his own life and experience to demonstrate the principles of leadership that brought success. How else can he explain his leadership principles?
But he gives credit to those who exemplified leadership to him. He was mentored and he is now mentoring through this book. He is repaying the world for how it has blessed him.
In each chapter, he discusses one leadership principle and uses examples from his entire life, not just from the 9 11 disaster. You could read only the chapters of interest to you and still benefit from them.
Even if you do not like Giuliani (as I notice in many reviews), please do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Even if you do not like his political beliefs, you can still use his leadership principles to make the changes you believe in.
I am a Canadian and obviously neither Republican or Democrat. But I watched the improvements in NYC because of Giuliani. I saw how his methods especially COMPSTAT were copied by many major US cities. I want someone who uses these leadership principles in our Canadian cities.
Do I agree with everything Giuliani did? No, but I am glad that I read this book. I found the content inspiring.
Don't be reluctant to read this book because it is written by a Republican. Giuliani worked with Democrats to achieve results for his city. He was glad to pass on the improvements to a Democrat whom he believed the city needed because NYC needed a businessman to operate it. Bloomberg qualified, in Giuliani's opinion.
Don't be reluctant to read this book because it is written by a Catholic. He insisted on everyone in his team being treated with respect regardless of their religious beliefs.
Don't be reluctant to read this book because he became involved in an unfortunate divorce. Despite the failures of his personal life, he still loved and served the city.
You might not like Giuliani but this book is not about him. It is about extremely effective leadership methods that transformed a city in which people had stopped believing. It is about recognizing the bad management that had caused people and businesses to desert the city and about making changes to reverse this exodus. It is about reducing crime, increasing hospital efficiency, improving services, etc. while decreasing budgets.
It is about communication between the public, his employees and administrators and himself. It is about accountability. It is about honesty. It is about treating others with dignity. It is about selecting good people and letting them do what they are skilled at doing (and not being afraid to remove those who are not able to do the job). It is about determining priorities, making decisions and following through. It is about loyalty, independence, strength, purpose, and fighting for what is right even if you know the inevitable result will be lawsuits. It is about standing strong and never giving up.
It is about transferring your vision to your team and to the public so that they are all a part of the process and of the success. It is about giving all of them credit for the results.
It is not a book that makes Giuliani a hero. Yes, he uses examples from his own life and experience to demonstrate the principles of leadership that brought success. How else can he explain his leadership principles?
But he gives credit to those who exemplified leadership to him. He was mentored and he is now mentoring through this book. He is repaying the world for how it has blessed him.
In each chapter, he discusses one leadership principle and uses examples from his entire life, not just from the 9 11 disaster. You could read only the chapters of interest to you and still benefit from them.
Even if you do not like Giuliani (as I notice in many reviews), please do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Even if you do not like his political beliefs, you can still use his leadership principles to make the changes you believe in.
I am a Canadian and obviously neither Republican or Democrat. But I watched the improvements in NYC because of Giuliani. I saw how his methods especially COMPSTAT were copied by many major US cities. I want someone who uses these leadership principles in our Canadian cities.
Do I agree with everything Giuliani did? No, but I am glad that I read this book. I found the content inspiring.
May 29, 2024
Knygą atradau domėdamasi 9/11 tema. Giuliani buvo vadinamas legendiniu Niujorko meru, ištraukusiu miestą iš 80's-90's purvo. Po teroro išpuolių toliau kurį laiką sumaniai vedė miestą. Reikia pripažinti, Giuliani - kontroversiška asmenybė, ypač pastaruoju metu. Tačiau ši knyga - puikus Niujorko metraštis, detalus miesto valdymo paveikslas. Giuliani energingai ir įtikinamai skaitytoją veda per savo įtemptas "meravimo" dienas. Labiausiai turbūt ir sužavėjo ta didžiulė mero energija, su kuria jis ėmėsi visų darbų ir sprendimų. Niujorko krizių valdymo centras veikė Pasaulio prekybos centre 7 - viename iš 9/11 griuvusių pastatų. Miesto administracijai teko reaguoti greitai. Greitai teko ir atkūrinėti miestą. Žodžiu, knyga gan nišine tema, bet nenuvylė.
February 20, 2018
Bom livro, mas um pouco desorganizado na forma de tratar os assuntos.
É motivador, desafiante, e didático, mas poderia ter sido melhor organizado no que tange aos temas, As vezes temos uma sensação de gangorra, onde os assuntos mudam sem esgotar-se e depois de um tempo se volta aos mesmos.
Todavia recomendo para quem gostar de ler sobre liderança.
É motivador, desafiante, e didático, mas poderia ter sido melhor organizado no que tange aos temas, As vezes temos uma sensação de gangorra, onde os assuntos mudam sem esgotar-se e depois de um tempo se volta aos mesmos.
Todavia recomendo para quem gostar de ler sobre liderança.
February 2, 2020
Regardless of what you think of Giuliani’s politics, it is undeniable that his leadership helped guide New York and even America through one of the darkest times in our history. This book details the leadership principles that led him to becoming the mayor of NYC and ultimately helped him get a city through one of the worst crises imaginable. Highly recommend.
February 14, 2017
Nothing all THAT new under the sun. We've all known what we need to do, and what we should do, and somehow didn't do. This is a good reminder of that.
It's got enough meat that it's earned a semipermanent spot on my shelf and I'll be returning to it many times. In some cases Rudy pulls punches and gets it wrong (endorsing Cuomo), but in many cases he doesn't pull any punches. Dinkins didn't get it. The UN stinks. Arafat was a hypocrite crook. Koch threw people under the bus (which Rudy did too at times). The "Republicans are mean and awful" mantra is nothing but slander and bias. Mean and awful is what New York was BEFORE he got in, which should be telling you something.
I'm left wanting that he didn't quite make it to the next echelon and didn't fully explain it, but it's no foregone conclusion in American politics. Right or wrong, generally "Hizzoner" is a terminal position. Even so, there's plenty to learn from here.
It's got enough meat that it's earned a semipermanent spot on my shelf and I'll be returning to it many times. In some cases Rudy pulls punches and gets it wrong (endorsing Cuomo), but in many cases he doesn't pull any punches. Dinkins didn't get it. The UN stinks. Arafat was a hypocrite crook. Koch threw people under the bus (which Rudy did too at times). The "Republicans are mean and awful" mantra is nothing but slander and bias. Mean and awful is what New York was BEFORE he got in, which should be telling you something.
I'm left wanting that he didn't quite make it to the next echelon and didn't fully explain it, but it's no foregone conclusion in American politics. Right or wrong, generally "Hizzoner" is a terminal position. Even so, there's plenty to learn from here.
December 18, 2020
A good, easy to read and accessible book detailing one of the most famous New York mayors Rudy Giuliani. Now Giuliani is so linked to Donald Trump for better or worse we can see from this book some of the traits that might have pushed him in this path. A distrust of the media. A desire to stand out and speak out for those who are bullies (one can see why he might consider the media bullying Trump...)
With all due respect to him, he does often come across as a thoughtful, thorough and emotional person. His words regarding the September 11 terrorist attacks on his beloved New York and its aftermath I found deeply moving and well described and written. I do not know if I can believe everything he writes about his successes, I do not know New York politics and history enough to judge. In any case, glad to have read this book. His reaction to Yasser Arafat left a bad taste in my mouth however, just my personal feeling, you be the judge of that.
With all due respect to him, he does often come across as a thoughtful, thorough and emotional person. His words regarding the September 11 terrorist attacks on his beloved New York and its aftermath I found deeply moving and well described and written. I do not know if I can believe everything he writes about his successes, I do not know New York politics and history enough to judge. In any case, glad to have read this book. His reaction to Yasser Arafat left a bad taste in my mouth however, just my personal feeling, you be the judge of that.
August 2, 2021
I have to give this book three stars because, like him or not, his achievements as governor were real and impressive improvements on New York City. He does write with some ego and, at one point, compares his task of cleaning up New York to Winston Churchill in 1940. Mostly, he keeps a cool head and is likeable on the page. At times I withered by how some of his advice made me think of my own failings.
On the other hand, his current persona as a Trump attack dog invalidates literally every single lesson he gives in this book and completely destroys the book's credibility. He becomes a Greek tragic figure in this light, although his appearance on Borat makes it hard to weep for him. Chapters like "stand up to bullies" defy belief in the current context. At the end of the day, Giuliani is not a real leader like the firefighters or police officers who laid down their lives on 9/11, but just another opportunistic politician.
On the other hand, his current persona as a Trump attack dog invalidates literally every single lesson he gives in this book and completely destroys the book's credibility. He becomes a Greek tragic figure in this light, although his appearance on Borat makes it hard to weep for him. Chapters like "stand up to bullies" defy belief in the current context. At the end of the day, Giuliani is not a real leader like the firefighters or police officers who laid down their lives on 9/11, but just another opportunistic politician.
December 15, 2011
The book itself is less about Rudy Giuliani or September 11th and more your basic “how to get ahead” book. While the basic morals were often trite and over done; I thought the examples about the behind the scenes work that took place to clean up New York was fascinating.
The book is organized in chapters each of which discusses one moral or principle that Rudy believes makes a good leader. The chapter then lists examples of situations where this principle held true. I would have rather just read about how New York was cleaned up.
Update 12/2011 - I don't even remember reading this book, let alone was about. Could not have been 3-stars. Downgrade
The book is organized in chapters each of which discusses one moral or principle that Rudy believes makes a good leader. The chapter then lists examples of situations where this principle held true. I would have rather just read about how New York was cleaned up.
Update 12/2011 - I don't even remember reading this book, let alone was about. Could not have been 3-stars. Downgrade
March 18, 2014
I read this because I wanted to understand how Giuliani did such a great job during 9/11. Leadership styles differ, but in such a crisis a leader is tested to the limit. Giuliani appeared to me (from a few thousand miles away) to do a great job in providing focus for galvanising the reactions from a stunned population and providing a figure people could rally to. No-one says that leaders are not ego-driven, but Giuliani takes it to an extreme I have rarely seen. The number of times 'I' or 'me' is used illustrates a personality that is almost dangerous outside that moment in time when it was what was needed.
December 11, 2010
Frustrated that my brain is stagnating, and wanting to make a change in work, life and who knows what else, I turned to some serious writing to see if I could learn anything.
Not from this I couldn't. The Mayor has a particular style and a particular job which, over a hundred pages into it, I was finding difficult to apply to anything I did. I began to suspect that he had leadership qualities but was finding it difficult himself to understand why! So the book is sitting unfinished at the moment, although I may return to it.
Not from this I couldn't. The Mayor has a particular style and a particular job which, over a hundred pages into it, I was finding difficult to apply to anything I did. I began to suspect that he had leadership qualities but was finding it difficult himself to understand why! So the book is sitting unfinished at the moment, although I may return to it.
October 14, 2011
I have heard some great things about Giuliani, but this book made me believe all that I have heard. Giuliani's style of leadership while mayor is a great example for all of us learning the basics. He has set his course and kept to it. He knows what works for him and gives us the breakdown. Not that his course will always fit our own style of leadership, but it provides some great points to remember. At times, I felt myself reading an election bid for President. If he did run I would seriously consider him since I now feel that I have a better understanding of how he would take charge.
January 5, 2013
Regrettably, Giuliani spends time in this book trying to convince his readers that his private life (as played out in the NY press) did not compromise his ability to lead. While I admire his handling of the 9/11 events and his role in reducing NY crime, I wonder how much more effective he might have been if not for the distractions he rationalizes, and expect that serious students of the art and science of leadership would voice similar concerns.
June 30, 2007
I listened to this one on tape (okay, MP3, I guess) and thought it was interesting. It sounds like he did a lot of good for New York. But, if you've read Freakanomics, you know that a lot of the crime rate drops could very well have been attributed to other things. It was interesting to learn what he was doing during Sept. 11th though. Good read, for sure!
November 2, 2007
Great story of a tough leader in the midst of the catastrophe of NYC. Recommended to Indonesian who thirst a figure of strong, accountable leader. This true story should amaze us how this gentleman played his role in 8 years to reduce the criminal 67%. Salute to Rudi!
May 20, 2013
Good book, great examples, bit too much cop-worship, but they're a powerful union in NYC. He didn't spend overmuch time on 9/11, although of course he had to include it, but instead emphasized the structure and relationships he had built up beforehand that helped him and his team through it.
February 15, 2015
Great book on leadership. Different area of work but very like many of Jack Welch book on his principals of leadership at GE. Makes me wonder why Rudy did not do well in Pres primary race. Also makes me wonder how NY could recently elect their new guy
September 15, 2018
Except the first chapter about 911, it’s a horrible read. Every chapter he basically used all these example to say how great he is. I thought of giving it up but I pushed it through to the finish line. It was painful.
August 23, 2020
Mayor of New York City during 911, Giuliani effectively reflects on his time as Mayor and US Attorney. It is interesting to see how some of the lessons and messages he talks about can or cannot be applied to his current job as Trump's lawyer.
November 1, 2007
I read this book b/c I met Guiliani at a booksigning. Funny story about that.
May 1, 2008
I will not live with blinders on.
okay. alright. I got through one chapter and a few excerpts thereafter.
okay. alright. I got through one chapter and a few excerpts thereafter.
February 17, 2008
Rudy for prez in 2012!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews