A Leader Becomes a Leader opens with a window on history: Henry David Thoreau riding a borrowed horse and wagon into the woods around Concord, Massachusetts to Walden Pond in 1845. There, he writes a classic work that has a powerful effect on the lives and philosophies of seminal leaders in the next century as diverse as Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Thoreau believed that a spirit exists in work of a high order that works outside time to touch readers whenever he or she proves ready. This book in a vivid presentation of images and essays asks an important question: is there a spirit to leadership? Does it exist, and if it does, can it work outside the normal, linear confines of history to mark the progress of civilization in important and consequential ways? A Leader Becomes a Leader: Inspirational Stories of Leadership for a New Generation is a thought-provoking and much-heralded first work from nationally recognized entreprenuer and author J. Kevin Sheehan. With 207 gorgeous photographs and a splendid design from award-winning graphic artist Jan Lindy Boyce, the book lays out cinematically, with sprawling visuals that present critical themes of leadership that get little coverage in current media: Seeking Justice, Sowing Peace, Manifesting Beauty, and With Vision are some of the important realms that make up the books architecture. The book asserts that the spirit of leadership and the core human values that underline it are universal, inherent human capacities that ''often go underestimated or unrecognized when people settle for less.'' The Determination of Nelson Mandela, The Presence of Eleanor Roosevelt, The Experiments of Mohatma Gandhi, The Decency of Cesar Chavez are some of the compelling section titles. Take a journey, and discover how some of the most consequential leaders of the last century developed into the people that we remember, and find inside this book the metaphoric struggles that make or break us on our own paths to leadership. The book is distinguished in the variety of leadership segments and iconic figures it represents. They include Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Franklin Roosevelt, Albert Schweitzer, Katherine Graham, Neil Armstrong, Aung San Suu Kyii, Pele, and 57 others!
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From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up—This book teaches young people about the attributes of leadership through profiles of 39 successful and influential people. It opens with an introductory essay about Thoreau, whose work and philosophy influenced many of the individuals featured in the book. Unfortunately, it places Thoreau's time at Walden Pond in 1889, instead of the correct year of 1845. Most of the people are well known, such as Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Jackie Robinson, Einstein, and Tiger Woods, but some will be less familiar to young readers, such as musician Bob Marley, gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer. Each profile includes a full-page photo, a time line, and a four- to six-paragraph essay that provides limited biographical information and a discussion of how the person's success was the result of a characteristic or attribute such as perseverance, forbearance, humility, or courage. The second section of the book offers photos of and quotes from another 25 leaders. All of the pictures are tinted green. There is a bibliography, but no index. Although this book might draw browsers, its message is sometimes overstated, and the profiles are very brief. Since so many collections hold either collective or individual biographies of many of these individuals, this title will add little to most libraries.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
''Sensational! This masterful work has become our leadership bible. It will change the face of leadership education forever.'' ---- Luke O Neill, founder, The Shackleton School
''This book should be in every library!'' ---- Independent Book Publishers Association, Ben Franklin Awards
''Every word that is in this book speaks to the soul of leadership and the best humanity has to give.... If the angels had gotten together to write a book awakening people to the greatness that can manifest in people, A Leader Becomes A Leader would be it.'' ---- Madelyn Yucht, Principal Consultant, Linkage, Inc.
''This book should be in every library!'' ---- Independent Book Publishers Association, Ben Franklin Awards
''Every word that is in this book speaks to the soul of leadership and the best humanity has to give.... If the angels had gotten together to write a book awakening people to the greatness that can manifest in people, A Leader Becomes A Leader would be it.'' ---- Madelyn Yucht, Principal Consultant, Linkage, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am, first of all, amazed at Kevin's understanding of what it takes to be a superlative leader. I have been an executive leadership coach of some of the finest leaders in the northeast US, and Kevin (a self described author/producer/entrepreneur) has nailed it extremely well. From the selection of representative leaders to the extensive list of their characteristics, I found it not only right on but at times more in depth than my understanding of my own craft! I am buying a bunch to give out as gifts for my colleagues or as completion tokens for clients. Impressive work, beautifully laid out.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This beautiful and thoughtful book reminds us of the people who influence our world yesterday and today. Mr. Sheehan has captured the essence of these great but complex men and women. Anyone interested in leadership or in assessing others capacity to lead would be well advised to read this important book.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I can pick this book up at any time, for a minute or an hour and something special happens. It draws me in with its multi-layered organization and intimate photos that beam off the pages our leaders' compassion and benevolent power. It enchants me with stories about fulcrum points in our history because I can imagine these leaders pulling the levers that moved the world forward. It inspires me because the words make so exact and beautiful the human qualities that enabled these individuals to bring quantum changes. Often when I read it, I am inspired to try to accomplish in my microcosm a little of what the great did for the world.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Gift
Kevin Sheehan has simplified the great qualities of important leaders and placed them in an entertaining text. Read more
Published on July 21, 2008 by Craig E. Popp
5.0 out of 5 stars
Give the Gift of Inspired Leadership!
Poignant, powerful stories. Beautifully written with a distinctive and important design. This book's not to be missed--by you, your friends, your business colleagues. Bravo!
Published on June 12, 2008 by David M. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational! Insightful!
Within his book A Leader Becomes A Leader, Kevin Sheehan delightfully illustrates the essence of true leadership. Read more
Published on June 10, 2008 by Amy Crosby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Executive Gift
The author does a phenomenal job of breaking the topic down into small manageable and inspiring readings; also covers a great cross-section of leaders and the characteristics that... Read more
Published on June 9, 2008 by Chris Crosby
5.0 out of 5 stars
A creative twist on leadership
J. Kevin Sheehan presents a celebration of what's possible in his biographical snapshots of great leaders. Read more
Published on April 14, 2008 by J. M. Thibert
5.0 out of 5 stars
timeless universal truths
What I love most about "A Leader Becomes A Leader" is it's timeless simplicity. I can take this book (turn off the television) and spend quality time with a young child, parent,... Read more
Published on April 3, 2008 by elaine ortiz
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book for All Ages
J. Kevin Sheehan has done a superlative job of capturing the essence of the human activity of a diverse group of individuals across a wide spectrum of leadership situations and... Read more
Published on November 26, 2007 by Donald E. Koten
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Antidote to Cynicism
Good advice from a best selling business management book suggests, "Try to find someone doing something right". Read more
Published on November 19, 2007 by Harold Popp
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Holiday or Birthday Gift for Young People
I work a lot with middle and high school youth and find this book a perfect introduction to leadership for a new generation. Read more
Published on November 5, 2007 by John F. Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars
a thrilling read
In this unique book, J. Kevin Sheehan explores the mystery of creative leadership. Ranging across an astonishing diversity of fields - business, art, music, politics, social... Read more
Published on November 2, 2007 by John Martin-Joy MD
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