Customer Reviews

Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World: The Psychology of Political Behavior (Psychoanalysis and Social Theory)

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I highly recommend Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World. It is an important,informative work - written in a most readable style. Dr.Jerrold Post is a pioneer (arguably,the best) in the field of psychological profiling and the practical application of personality assessment. The reader is presented with both the finished analytical product (the collection of profiles includes Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, North Korea's Kim Jong Il) and the tools employed in crafting their images. From Pres. Carter's administration (at the Camp David Summit) to the present, Post's expert ability to assess the motivation and mental makeup of our friends and adversaries has been an effective tool used by key players in Government. Dr. Post served as an expert witness at the trial of the al Qaeda terrorists who were convicted in the bombings of the American Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. He lays out a good deal of information not widely known about al Qaeda training and its methods. His dispassionate, analytical discussion of Osama bin Laden and his organization is chilling. Dr. Post's work will be read many times over by those who understand the importance of viewing and dealing with conflict by first attempting to see the situation through the eyes and mind of their opponents.

A rare work combining fascinating historical, political and psychological analyses of leadership and the leaders shaping our world. Dr. Post has the unusual ability to present his deep and important psychological insights in a jargon free style, making this powerful work accessible to both professional and non-professional readers.

We are currently using this book as a source for my political psychology class. It has been extremely helpful in understanding the background of some of the "terrorist" leaders in the world. It shows the background of these leaders and that they are not all psychopathic monsters but have some reason to their decisions. This book is a must have for all people hoping to understand the complex situations and people that the United States is involved with.

Dr. Post give a lot of books in one. Terrorism, ethnic violence, political profiles, are addressed brilliantly in an educational way.

Jerrold M. Post discusses and informs on psychological war, concentrating on confirmed enemies of the United States. The power of a charismatic leader derives from his capacity to focus hatred against a single enemy (example: Hitler in the 1930s).

Like Hitler, Fidel Castro is a destructive, charismatic and blames the enemy, takes no personal responsibility for leadership failures. "Combining extreme gradiosity with a paranoid outlook, an absence of conscience, and a willingness to use whatever aggression is necessary in the service of his own needs." The messianic leader's dreams of glory do not mellow with age. As he gets older, achieving those heroic goals takes on an increased urgency.

An interesting fact about this 'man with a mission' (not previously known) is that Osama bin Laden is the son of a multi-billionaire construction magnate in Saudi Arabia. His father started the business with government aid but had ten wives and 50+ children (25 were sons and he was the 13th). Born in 1957, he inherited $57 million at the age of sixteen. He went to university and became a certified civil engineer. After he started the terrorist group, al Qaeda (the Base), he lived in the caves of Afghanistan and called himself 'the warrior king.' He convinced his hundreds of followers that Americans are 'infidels' and should be anniliated. He claims he was the instigator of the 9/11 tragedies.

This indepth study of the the personalities of some other leaders of hate groups in other countries is detailed, and he included a good index. This book will open your eyes to the dangers from many areas the United States' citizens are in at present. They are taught that it is God's will to kill us, just because our country is a superpower. They are galvanized by the power they derive from dying for a just cause and taking hundreds of Americans with them.