Leading: Lessons from Literature

by Sampat P Singh

Sampat P Singh provides a conceptual understanding of the relevance and significance of the discourse on leadership, drawing from an intensive content research which is based on literature as its principal subject. Interspersed with examples and anecdotes, Leading presents an alternative way of looking at leadership and will be of relevance not just to management students and professionals but all others who engage with the notion of leadership in organisations.

232 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 2003

Reviews

[Vivek Vikram Singh]

This is an extensive study of leadership studies through the lenses of philosophy, classical literature (leadership in war or for the purpose of empire), literary fiction on power and leadership and of course, management literature. Because of the myriad shifting perspectives, the book loses focus and to be honest, needs far far better editing. It is almost as if the writer, an undoubtedly well read man, wanted to regurgitate his entire expanse of knowledge onto these pages.

Still it has its moments and there are unexpected gems that spring up almost from nowhere like this paragraph:

“the problem with the self-esteem movement is that its proponents, while living in a democratic and egalitarian society, are not willing to choose what should be esteemed. Self-respect must be related to some accomplishment, however great or small that maybe. Nietzsche believed that true human excellence was possible only in an elitist environment. Individuals have different potentials. “Even if people were born equal, they will never push themselves to their own limits if they simply wanted to be like everyone else”. He pointed out that any form of excellence must arise out of discontent and not self-satisfaction.”

It is undoubtedly a ponderous read and to be reserved for reading on long, uninterrupted Sunday mornings (preferably when locked down in a pandemic with nothing else to do).