Synopses & Reviews
What do Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Rachel Carson, and Frederick Douglass have in common? Each succeeded in the face of overwhelming odds. But they did so while battling self-doubt, personal tragedy and error, and overwhelming fear of failure. In short, they were far from what we think of when we think of confident, strong-willed leaders and yet they each offer powerful lessons in what it takes to triumph in the face of a crisis.
Based on a series of popular profiles she wrote for The New York Times, historian and popular harvard Business School professor Nancy F. Koehn examines each of these fascinating leaders in a series of in-depth, personal portraits that dig below the surface. She reveals te full scope of how they made the tough choices that allowed them to persevere and ultimately succeed. For example:
Ernest Shackleton should have gone down in history as a failed leader after his expedition to Antarctica took a dangerous turn. But instead of succumbing to defeat, he made the lives of his men his top priority and managed to lead all of them to safety.
RachelCarson single-handedly fought entire industries in order to warn the world of the danger of pesticides and advance the cause of environmental protection, all while battling cancer, a difficult personal life, and a natural introversion that made her an unlikely crusader.
Abraham Lincoln never anticipated that the Civil War would be as long and bloody as it was. Yet despite his self0doubt and gilt over the lives lose, his resilience to preserver the Union and end slavery made him one of the greatest leaders in history.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery and advanced the abolitionist agenda by telling his own story through writing and speeches.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer resisted the Nazis and advanced the German Resistance during World War II all while remaining faithful to the Christian principles he had preached throughout his life.
About the Author
Nancy F. Koehn is a historian at the Harvard Business School, where she holds the James E. Robison chair of Business Administration. Specializing in entrepreneurial leadership, she consults with many businesses and writes frequently for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Huffington Post