J. Thomas Wren
1 weLEAD Book Review from the Editor of leadingtoday.org
Books on leadership now abound in bookstores and in our popular consciousness. Anyone who begins a serious study into this subject will soon come across familiar names such as John Gardner, James MacGregor Burns, Robert Greenleaf, Bernard Bass, Kenneth Blanchard, Terrence Deal, Warren Bennis, Max De Pree and others. Wouldn't it be wonderful if one book contained some of the most insightful writings and thoughts of these individuals? The Leaders Companion - Insights on Leadership Through the Ages is such a book and should be on every leader's bookshelf!
This massive work is edited by J. Thomas Wren and he undertakes a difficult task. Wren constructs the book with three basic premises. First, that leadership is not just a modern "fad", but is "central to the human condition". Leadership as a concept is both current and timeless. The second premise of the book is that leadership is not just the province of a select few, but is available to all. Thirdly, and perhaps the most important premise is that leadership is a valuable area of study, especially the process of leadership. Wren hopes the reader will appreciate the "real end of leadership: the achievement of mutual goals which are intended to enhance one's group, organization or society."
To initiate these premises the book approaches leadership from a broad perspective. Wren draws upon a broad range of classical writers, leadership scholars, and the wisdom of modern leaders. The book is divided into thirteen parts that guide the reader through the complex structure we commonly call leadership. Wren acknowledges that understanding this process lies at the heart of improving our lives, surroundings, and world.
This book is an outstanding collection of various leadership perspectives and models. He has opened up the study of leadership through the ages and from a worldview of different cultures. The Leaders Companion - Insights on Leadership Through the Ages is great reading and should be part of your own leadership library!
2 Great compendium, but slanted toward social-psychological...
This book consists of 64 excerpts from (mostly) modern writers about leadership, with a social-psychological perspective. (The non-modern excerpts are from, for example, Plato, Machiavelli, Tolstoy, Lao-tzu, Carlyle, etc.) There are a couple of chapters dealing with women's leadership. The editor, J. Thomas Wren, has struggled to find common grounds--e.g., modern views of leadership, leaders and followers together, the leadership environment. Nearly all writings are slanted toward social-psychological, around concepts like "transaction," "transforming," behavioral theories, system perspectives, influence, tactics, organizational decision-making, and so forth.
A friend noted the paucity of "high quality" mass leadership in today's America--he was speaking of the Enron mess and the financial predations of high-power executive America, the corruption of the political process by highly expensive campaigns, the stagnation of our drug "war," and the pervasive ironic cynicism in public commentary. This book does not deal with the absence of leadership, unfortunately, or the inability of America to handle fast-moving problems (such as global warming, and our contribution to it)--but it is great background material and well worth reading.
3 A Great Collection of Leadership Essays
If you want a synopis of what is or has been said about leadership this is the book. I regularly use it as a reference text for my leadership classes.
4 Getting a grasp on the nature of leadership
I have used this book in an introductory class on Leadership. It provides an outstanding overview of key authors and their thoughts on leadership spanning centuries. Wren offers a readable review of a variety of methodological approaches to the study of leadership presented through the writings of a wide array of authors. Both historical views and modern views are covered in the work and this anthology opens the door for more extensive readings. As a discussion starter it is a goldmine. The arrangement of broad topic areas such as, Historical, Leaders and Followers, Environments, Skills, and most important, writings in Moral Leadership promotes the development of "jigsaw" discussion techniques. Wren presents an excellent introduction to a fascinating topic!
5 Very concise reader on leadership topics
I had to read selections from this book for a class in Leadership Theories - and to my surprise, I truly enjoyed it! As a text for a budding manager/leader or as a reader for someone already in management, this book gives you all that you could want in capsule form. Although some of the selections are not a smooth read (owing to the edits), the majority of the information is presented professionaly without being laden with jargon and obscure references. I showed this to my boss, and he immediately wanted a copy of his own.
