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Praise for The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership
"This is among the rarest of contemporary leadership books: a rigorously honest one that is both brutally unsentimental and firmly grounded morally. . . . What Sample has to say is so fresh, yet paradoxically so timeless, so at–an–angle to contemporary wisdom, that this book will instantly be recognized as an invaluable addition to the literature on leadership."
"Professor Sample's contrarian text for effective management would be a valuable guide for anyone in a position of leadership, but never more so than at present. Unfamiliar problems will require creative new ways of addressing them, new insights into solutions. His book is both interesting and readable, yet profoundly wise in its understanding of the essence of leadership."
"Every leader or anyone who hopes to be one should read what Steven Sample says about leadership. No one could possibly say it better than he has in The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership. This gem of focused wisdom is presented with such amazing originality, clarity and artful eloquence that it often holds the reader spellbound. It is sure to become the classic leadership text."
"This is an intoxicating read, a bushwhacker's delight. With swift, sure strokes, Steve Sample cuts down a lot of bad ideas about leadership and opens up a new path for the next generation to follow. No wonder he has turned around not one but two major universities!"
"The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership is a unique guide to effective management because it's written by someone who practices what he preaches. Steven Sample isn't someone who just writes about leadership; he leads. As a result, he offers us fascinating reading, illuminating a way that others may follow."
"Real thought and leadership run everywhere in this distillation from Steve Sample's rich experience as a leader. He writes easily and well, but the points he makes run deep and help you reflect on your own experience. Read this book at your own risk: you just might learn something startling."
"I loved this book attributing the huge recent gains at USC to a learnable, determined rationality that especially values correct decisions that are contrary to conventional wisdom."
"This splendid work, unlike other recent textbooks and cookbooks on leadership, explores the issues and values that are the essential foundation of leadership. Enlivened with practical examples and enriched by personal experience, this is a book of major stature and enduring significance."
"In this era of hype and simplistic how–to lists, Steven Sample's refreshing book stands out for its depth and unusual personal insight. Lessons from great leaders of history blend with his experience as university president to illustrate the many roles leaders play, from artful listener to entertaining storyteller, as they struggle with circumstances en route to significant accomplishments. Reading this provocative book will help all leaders better understand themselves and their choices."
"Steven Sample goes well beyond conventional wisdom about the art of leadership and brings a totally new dimension to the rich body of literature on the topic, dotting this lively narrative with pearls of wisdom and insight based on his wealth of experience. What emerges is a stimulating and provocative 21st–century vision for how leadership can be taught, learned and practiced."
"The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership is not only a helpful guide to effective leadership, it is a thoughtful guide to successful living. One main point that comes through is that 'big time' leadership is only possible after answering tough and probing questions about one's own skills and values. In this, there are no failsafe equations for leadership. For a big time leader, character carries the day." |