Thinking about Leadership

by Nannerl O. Keohane

A practical and insightful look at what leaders do, how and why they do it, and the challenges they face

Leadership is essential to collective human endeavor, from setting and accomplishing goals for a neighborhood block association, to running a Fortune 500 company, to mobilizing the energies of a nation. Political philosophers have focused largely on how to prevent leaders from abusing their power, yet little attention has been paid to what it actually feels like to hold power, how leaders go about their work, and how they relate to the people they lead. In Thinking about Leadership , Nannerl Keohane draws on her experience as the first woman president of Duke University and former president of Wellesley College, as well as her expertise as a leading political theorist, to deepen our understanding of what leaders do, how and why they do it, and the pitfalls and challenges they face.

Keohane engages readers in a series of questions that shed light on every facet of leadership. She considers the traits that make a good leader, including sound judgment, decisiveness, integrity, social skill, and intelligence; the role that gender plays in one's ability to attain and wield power; ethics and morality; the complex relationship between leaders and their followers; and the unique challenges of democratic leadership. Rich with lessons and insights from leaders and political thinkers down through the ages, including Aristotle, Queen Elizabeth I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Nelson Mandela, Thinking about Leadership is a must-read for current and future leaders, and for anyone concerned about our prospects for good governance.

Genres: Leadership, Politics, Nonfiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ellen Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book alongside two different classes in college. It is extremely helpful in thinking about leadership in today's day and age. I especially appreciated the chapter about gender and leadership, it was the most interesting and detailed part of the book. The ideas about the similarities and differences in leadership and power are also fascinating. I would definitely recommend. Now, I am a teacher and I find this book just as helpful in thinking about leading my classroom as teaching manuals.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five stars hold only if you accept the premise that Keohane poses many excellent questions about leadership and answers none of them. Instead, she provides a curated tour through works of political science, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and history that speak to the qualities and challenges of leadership, as well as a parallel stream of her own observations. This is a lovely collection of questions worth reflection, not in any way a how-to.

[AJ B · Rating 4 out of 5]

23:40 05/19/21
Kindle
Middlebury, VT

Easy and interesting read. Really enjoyed the snippets and commentary about famous leaders mixed in throughout.

[Shannon Monnat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a slog. Far less of a how-to than I wanted. Instead, it was mostly a summary of what other people have said about leadership.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a political theorist and former Duke University president, Keohane offers a really interesting lens on leadership that combines her personal experience with plausible, easily digestable philosophy. Yes, followers DO matter...a lot! The gender of a leader matters too, but not in the way we think it does. The very notion of *democratic* leadership presents a "conundrum," but there are ways to placate popular sovereignty and maintain an effective executive. Synthesizing historical examples of Thatcher and Lincoln, Churchill and Napoleon, Mandela and LBJ, Keohane presents an entertaining read to complement a course on Constitutional Leadership.

[Jason Knoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I chose for my Politics & IR Book Club for my blog. Here's a link to my thoughts: http://jasonknoll.wordpress.com/2013/...

[Cold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacked a central argument.