- ISBN13: 9780674518582
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Ronald A. Heifetz, professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, presents clear, concrete strategies for anyone who needs to take charge–no matter what the organizational conditions. Drawing on a dozen years of research among business leaders and politicians, Heifetz demonstrates what one must do–and avoid doing–to be a leader in an age without easy answers…. More >>
Leadership Without Easy Answers
Tags: Answers, business leaders, concrete strategies, Easy, john f kennedy, john f kennedy school, john f kennedy school of government, kennedy school of government, Leadership, leadership without easy answers, politicians, remainder mark, Without
#1 by Anonymous on April 17, 2010 - 2:02 am
It may work for folks that like being spoonfed a mishmash of catchphrases, anecdotes, and simplistic conclusions. But are those the people you really want in charge? I think not.
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Anonymous on April 17, 2010 - 2:08 am
does anyone else think Heifetz is pushing a liberal agenda…Every liberal politian/action is praised, and every republican is demonized. What else can we expect from a Harvard professor?
Rating: 1 / 5
#3 by J. D Macloud on April 17, 2010 - 2:13 am
The most disappointing part of this book is its blatant political slant. The book is NOT about a theory of leadership, but about an ideological judgement of the performance of leaders. Heifetz starts by insisting that leadership is necessarily tied to values because if you disagree….then the rest of his book is meaningless. Heifetz believes that to be a good leader you have to adopt positions that he advocates and if you don’t, then you aren’t a good leader. So, in Heifetz’s world, Reagan wasn’t a good leader, but LBJ was.
Do yourself a favor and keep surfing….
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by Anonymous on April 17, 2010 - 4:55 am
Paraphrasing economist Frank Night, Mr. Heifetz, the author of the book, says something true and something new. Unfortunately, those things that are true are not new, and those things that are new aren’t true. Before reading Heifetz book, I strongly encourage you to read a good sociology book (i.e. Randall Collins’ Four Sociological Traditions), and a good strategy book (i.e. Dixit’s Thinking Strategically). After that, you will have a better understanding of how and why individuals, groups, and societies behave the way they do. Furthermore, you won’t be fooled with Heifetz’s “scientific discoveries”, pretentious claims, and naïve and simplistic conclusions.
Rating: 1 / 5
#5 by Mark A. Savage on April 17, 2010 - 5:04 am
I just finished this book, not even 10 minutes ago, and I made my way to the computer so that I could tell you who is reading this that you better get this book, “go out on the balcony” and start changing things.
Talk about an intelligent read, WOW! The author is certainly entitled to that praise, and the writing is also. Although a bit technical and almost similar to a post-graduate course text, one can still read this book and actually enjoy it. It’s a good read which I found hard to walk away from sometimes. But talk about food for thought.
Mr. Heifetz has a lot of methods for you to consider and apply to your leadership position. His theories are clear, a bit detailed but understandable, and always supported by historic incident. His discussion of LBJ and MLK during the Voting Rights demonstrations in Selma during the 60’s is an endless source for leadership rights and wrongs. His anaylsis of better “adaptive work” will make you think. And the next time you have to break bad news to someone, well, here’s the source. I watched President Bush give his speech on stem cell research last night, and he follows the guidelines that can be found in this book. When you read it, this will all become clear.
4 stars just because it’s not the most entertaining book I’ve read, but it’s 5 stars, even 6 for the level of leadership analysis and instruction you get when you read this book, and you will. See, it’s already working……
Rating: 4 / 5