The Book of Leadership Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Business Leaders (Wiley Audio) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Peter Krass (Editor), Richard Poe (Narrator)

Book Description

Series: Wiley Audio | Publication Date: May 2000

Writings by Bill Gates, Andrew Grove, Michael Eisner, David Packard and other business leaders. Offers a unique opportunity to hear what these captains of industry have to say on the topic of leadership.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These talks by well-known business executives cover a wide range of subjects. Bill Gates speaks about the future; Michael Eisner discusses creativity; Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield believe that a corporation should support liberal social causes; and the late Roberto Goizueta, CEO of Coca-Cola, believes that business has one purpose, to make profits, period. The views expressed are stimulating, and the narration by Richard Poe is polished. Recommended for business collections in large libraries.DMark Guyer, Stark Cty. Dist. Lib., Canton, OH
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

An anthology of 50 essays and speeches on the topic of leadership, this book offers insights from some of the most successful leaders throughout history. Andrew Carnegie, Al Dunlap, Bill Gates, and Jack Welch are among the many leaders whose thoughts, ideas, and strategies grace the pages of this book. Each selection is introduced by the editor, providing interesting and relevant background information on each leader. The essays discuss leadership issues such as the qualities a leader should have, creating and implementing ideals and visions, leading by example, encouraging change, motivating and inspiring employees, cultivating loyalty at one's company, and hiring and firing employees. The book also highlights especially inspirational quotes by the leaders, and includes both an alphabetical listing as well as a chronological listing of the leaders featured. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audio Scholar; Abridged edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560150378
• ISBN-13: 978-1560150374
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,630,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensible Resource for the Perpetual Learner, March 26, 2000

By 

P. Olson "conner-olson" (Cypress, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of Leadership Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Business Leaders (Book of Business Wisdom) (Hardcover)

This should be on every leader's or "wanna-be" leader's desk. Written by some of our past century's most effective leaders and edited to provide "side-bars" for the most important points in each of their articles, this book provides a much-needed tool. I have used it to draw on for speeches, research papers, and debate points. I first checked it out from the library to see if the content was worth buying - and I immediately ordered it! This definitely provides food for thought and inspiration. It includes not only the actual articles written by the leaders, but also a one-page profile/background on each.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 51 Invaluable Perspectives, November 4, 2000

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of Leadership Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Business Leaders (Book of Business Wisdom) (Hardcover)

Peter Krass has edited the Wisdom Series series which includes this volume. Each anthologizes brief essays by different "icons of business." A brief bio of each author precedes her or his essay. In the Introduction, Krass asserts that "Among these various characters, in fact, the general consensus is that leaders are made, not born. The mythology of some mystical ability that surrounds these leaders is just that -- myth. As to the question: What makes a leader? The answer is here" in the 51 essays which he organizes within the following framework:

Part I: The Necessary Qualities

Part II: Dealing with Adversity

Part III: Visions of Progress

Part IV: Evolving Perspectives on Labor

Part V: Company Culture

Part VI: Habits and Idosyncracies

Part VII: Motivators and Mentors

Part VIII: Leading Revolution

[NOTE: Gary Hamel has written a truly brilliant book entitled Leading the Revolution. Compare and contrast his ideas with those expressed by Bossidy, Galvin, Vernon, Watson, Jr., Eisner, Wachner, Marriott, Jr., and Henry Ford in Part VIII.]

Of the 51 essays, the ones I found most valuable include all of those in Part VIII; also, others earlier in the volume such as "The Real Essence of Business" (Roberto C. Goizueta), "Roving Leadership" (Max DePree), "A View from Olympus" (Bill Gates), "American and Japanese Styles" (Akio Morita), "In the Public Eye" (Susan L. Kurtzig), and "Are You a Job-Holder or a Results-Getter?" (T. Coleman du Pont. A wide range of individuals discuss an even wider range of business issues. My suggestion is to select a topic or two of greatest interest and dive in. Because business circumstances can so often change so rapidly and (sometimes) unexpectedly, what you learn from what you read today may well help you to prepare more effectively for an uncertain future in which a new peril or opportunity emerges. Moreover, my guess is that there will be several other essays in this book to help you then, also.

I have also reviewed most of the other volumes in this series and recommend each of them highly.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book doesn't try to tell l you what to do, but what had been done before, March 3, 2006

By 

Louise McCauley (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of Leadership Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Business Leaders (Book of Business Wisdom) (Hardcover)

What does it take to be a successful business leader? This book, edited by Peter Krauss, is filled with classic writings by legendary business leaders. Also in this book, the reader will find, behind the inspirational phrases and classic pieces of advice, the stories and examples that will inspire, and turn advice into action. This book is not so much focused on telling one must be done, but focuses on showing what has and can be done.
For example, in the late 1800's, National Cash Register's John H. Patterson was in trouble. He was trying to sell a product that everyone resented: the cash register. Why pay for a machine that double-checks the clerk's competency and honesty? Nobody wanted these "thief-catchers" in their stores. No way.
Today, no store is without a cash register. This is a tribute to Patterson's great leadership skills. Patterson was a genius at convincing others to accept his new ideas and motivate a sales force to sell those ideas.
Another example is offered from ITT's Harold Geneen. Geneen argues that if a leader has to pull rank, the leader is not a leader. He believed that one must be able to inspire hard work and creativity without resorting to commands.
J. Paul Getty points out those true leaders know how to battle an inevitable crisis. He adds that leaders love to be challenged.
From Levi Strauss's Robert Haas, the reader learns that great leaders must have a deep set of core values and principles. These leaders must not only have them but effectively communicate these beliefs and principles. Best leaders can find ethical solutions to deep conflicts because of a strong belief and principle structure. Learn how Haas had to deal with child labor at a time when child labor was critical debate.
This book is full of examples on each page. The reader will see some of the challenges that have faced some of the best known firms, and the great leaders that navigated those treacherous waters, and survived to write about it.