Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders (Center for Public Leadership) (Hardcover)

~ Alice H. Eagly (Author), Linda L. Carli (Author)
Key Phrases: lead differently from men, prejudice toward female leaders, masculine settings, United States, Year Source, Big Five (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a new book about the psychological dynamics of women and leadership. --The Washington Post, November 12, 2007

...a sharp, carefully researched work about women and power. --International Herald Tribune, December 2, 2007

...a valuable resource for students, human-resource professionals and executives. --The Miami Herald, October 15, 2007

Product Description

Despite real progress, women remain rare enough in elite positions of power that their presence still evokes a sense of wonder. In "Through the Labyrinth", Alice Eagly and Linda Carli examine why women's paths to power remain difficult to traverse. First, Eagly and Carli prove that the glass ceiling is no longer a useful metaphor and offer seven reasons why. They propose the labyrinth as a better image and explain how to navigate through it. This important and practical book addresses such critical questions as: How far have women actually come as leaders? Do stereotypes and prejudices still limit women's opportunities? Do people resist women's leadership more than men's? And, do organisations create obstacles to women who would be leaders?This book's rich analysis is founded on scientific research from psychology, economics, sociology, political science, and management. The authors ground their conclusions in that research and invoke a wealth of engaging anecdotes and personal accounts to illustrate the practical principles that emerge. With excellent leadership in short supply, no group, organisation, or nation can afford to restrict women's access to leadership roles. This book evaluates whether such restrictions are present and, when they are, what we can do to eliminate them.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Press; illustrated edition edition (October 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1422116913
• ISBN-13: 978-1422116913
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,979 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #4 in	Books > Business & Investing > Women & Business > Management & Leadership
  #46 in	Books > Business & Investing > Organizational Behavior > Workplace

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Women Must Read This Book, October 27, 2007

By	Susan Williams (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

Women have needed a replacement for the glass ceiling metaphor for quite some time. Drs. Eagly and Carli have given us a wonderful new metaphor, the labyrinth, that better describes the obstacles and realities women face. For years we all have been bombarded with the impediments for women, but no one has offered practical solutions. This book eloquently defines the problem and offers hope for us all. This year all of my close friends, including some men, will receive this book from me for Christmas.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Labyrinth A Must Read, December 16, 2007

By	N. Cundiff (Carbondale, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Alice Eagly is a phenomenal writer and researcher. She has been working for decades on gender and leadership. Her newest theory, with Carli, is outstanding! She presents a new paradigm for thinking about women in the workforce and gives a preview of what is to be expected in the workforce in the upcoming years. If you have not already read this book, then what are you waiting for? The only thing that is better is having her present the work, which is sure draws a crowd! Also, for the non-academic it is an easy read with much detail on prevailing theory for the general public to understand.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insight, May 1, 2008

By	Laurance S. Morrison "Larry Morrison" (Sturbridge, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think that the authors have set a new baseline for discussion and insight in the quest for women's workplace equality, and beyond. The scientific foundation for their analysis finally moves the subject past anecdotal and self-reinforcing generalizations. The book provides a better term--labyrinth--for the unfair journey many (ambitious)women face. And the professors pulled off a neat stylistic trick: Scholarship and easy-to-read.--Larry Morrison