Leaders, Fools and Impostors: Essays on the Psychology of Leadership [Paperback]

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2003

In this book of insightful essays, Kets de Vries explodes the myth that rationality is what governs the behavior of leaders and followers, and he provides a more realistic perspective on organizational functioning and the leader-follower relationship. The author shows that a great potential for distortion exists when leaders try to act out the fantasies of their followers, and explores the many psychological traps into which leaders frequently fall.Citing examples from business, history, literature, the arts, and from his own psychoanalytic and management-consulting practise, the author identifies distinct leader types. He describes, for instance, the narcissist whose drive for power and prestige can bring much-needed vitality to an organization, but whose inability to accept criticism ultimately creates a climate of subservience. He shows that entrepreneurs possess many of the qualities of the impostor, including a capacity for self-dramatization and a deep understanding of how to profit by others' wishes and desires, and he explains why entrepreneurs sometimes distort the truth about themselves and their organizations.Through numerous case studies of successful and failed leaders, Leaders, Fools, and Impostors furthers a better understanding of the leader-follower dynamic, and gives leaders the means to transform themselves.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Insightful essays explode the myth that rationality is what governs the behavior of leaders and followers, and provide a more realistic perspective on organizational functioning that takes into account the profound psychological force at work in the leader-follower relationship.Cites examples from business, history, literature, and arts to identify distinct leader types. Numerous case studies of both successful and failed leaders give consultants and managers the tools to detect and act on problems in leadership, offers organizational behaviorists a better understanding of the leader-follower dynamic, and gives leaders the means to transform themselves. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

These insightful essays explode the myth that rationality is what governs the behavior of leaders and followers, and provide a more realistic perspective on organizational functioning that takes into account the profound psychological force at work in the leader-follower relationship.Kets de Vries cites examples from business, history, literature, and arts to identify distinct leader types. Numerous case studies of both successful and failed leaders give consultants and managers the tools to detect and act on problems in leadership, offers organizational behaviorists a better understanding of the leader-follower dynamic, and gives leaders the means to transform themselves. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse; Revised edition (August 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595289622
• ISBN-13: 978-0595289622
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book from one of the foremost leadership specialists, October 26, 2003

By 

"endretibor" (Vienna) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leaders, Fools and Impostors: Essays on the Psychology of Leadership (Paperback)

Manfred Kets de Vries is one of today's foremost specialists on leadership. In this book, which contains some fascinating case studies, Kets de Vries offers unique insight into the functioning of business leaders and how they wield their power. He approaches leadership from an unusual angle, very different from what we are used to from glossy business magzines that glorify leaders. Leaders, Fools, Impostors is the perfect book to read for those who want to understand the real reasons for the rise and recent fall of corporate America's most powerful bosses. An excellent book!

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!, October 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Leaders, Fools and Impostors: Essays on the Psychology of Leadership (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have read on leadership. It's insightful, deep, surprising, and very readable. We finally understand why leaders act the way they do, why they succumb to the "greed is good" mantra, why they derail. If you have ever wondered what is behind those stories of leaders gone overboard we are hearing so much about lately, read this book. It was a real eye-opener for me, and I enjoyed every page of it. It has the advantage of being an easy read, while it really provides a lot of understanding about how leaders behave when the curtain is closed. I very much recommend this book to everyone interested in the realities of leadership.

5.0 out of 5 stars Human Nature at Work, January 23, 2010

By 

Seth (Biddeford, Maine) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Leaders, Fools and Impostors: Essays on the Psychology of Leadership (Paperback)

I recommend this book to anyone striving to understand leaders, leadership and the organizational dynamics that surround leaders. The book is a little over 100 pages and an easy read. The author has experience dealing with CEOs and executives and this shows in how well grounded the book is in terms of the types of workplace experiences one may encounter. The book offers a typology of psychologically informed perspectives that peal back human nature for inspection and the leaders and leadership styles that arise many times from the darker side of human nature. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Narcissism and the Exercise of Power and the concluding chapter that offers many insights into how an effective leader who merges self-knowledge and self-reflective skills can avoid the many pitfalls that come with holding powerful positions in organizations. The workplace is everywhere and always an exceptionally hard context to understand and live and work within. The insights in this book may make you feel less alone and isolated when it comes to understanding your experience at work.