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Comprehensive and authoritative ... this is simultaneously encyclopaedic and engaging, and I would not hesitate in recommending this to anyone who wanted to know more about the current state of the field in leadership studies. Kevin Morrell, Leadership Exploring Leadership provides today's take on a decades long history of leadership study. What Bass's Handbook of Leadership does for us in completeness, Bolden and colleagues provide with pith. Larry Hughes, Leadership & Organization Development Journal Exploring Leadership is both a very timely and highly relevant book. It has long been recognized that the nature of effective leadership owes much to context, but recent history points to an acceleration in the shift of the contextual backdrop. We now live in an age where a diversity of leadership styles is an absolute requirement to address the ambiguity inherent in our complex world: an eclectic approach to leadership is indeed todays requirement. Hence, the theme of rerouting rather than uprooting leadership studies is absolutely relevant as we face the challenges of the future, and this book makes the case with both conviction and fluency. Sir Brian Burridge, Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Finmeccanica UK, and Former Air Chief Marshall, Royal Air Force Among the opening lines from this provocative book, coined by a gifted team of writers from the Centre for Leadership Studies, are the rhetorical: Not another book on leadership! My follow-up to this statement has to be noted for the record: But this is not your typical book on leadership! It is a journey through a leadership landscape that is like no other; so be prepared to hold onto your seats. Exploring Leadership is just that; an exploration into new territory in leadership studies, focusing less on classic individualistic approaches, in favour of alternative contemporary emphases on leaderships critical, relational, interpretive, and subjective nature. This volume needs to be read by all students of leadership, young and old. Joe Raelin, Asa S. Knowles Chair of Practice-Oriented Education, Northeastern University, USA This is no ordinary book on leadership. It is an engaging and highly readable exploration of our assumptions about leadership and management, balancing its examination across disciplines, levels of analysis, and issues of leadership ethics and leadership effectiveness. This book brings life to theory and presents a critical perspective that is both refreshing and provocative - certain to inspire students, practitioners, and scholars alike. Ellen Van Velsor, Senior Fellow - Research, Innovation & Product Development, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, USA Offering important critical perspectives on the meaning and purpose of leadership, this book reframes leadership for the twenty-first century, and comes from a group of authors who have already made a significant contribution to the field. A vital book for all leadership scholars and students who seek to question the leadership assumptions that dominate mainstream leadership texts. Sharon Turnbull, Visiting Professor, University of Gloucestershire, UK, and Former Director of Centre for Applied Leadership Research at the Leadership Trust There is no doubt that that this book will do what the authors themselves suggest, to help readers navigate the complex and confusing terrain that is leadership. Navigating this landscape is not an easy one given the popularity and plethora of material written on the subject. However, this experienced team of authors are all well known in their field and are well placed to offer an authoritative and considered reality check on the substance and importance of leadership in contemporary society. Richard Thorpe, Professor of Management Development and Pro Dean (Research), Leeds University Business School In the clamouring market of Leadership texts, Exploring Leadership is a breath of fresh air. The books authors assume a reader who is thoughtful and open to challenging the gaps, homilies, and fashions that often characterize leadership proselytizing. Yet it is also practical and engaging as it roams across a deceptively comprehensive survey of leadership debates, from management vs. leadership to the contemporary ideal of the authentic leader. If you can only read or recommend one book on leadership, Exploring Leadership is the one to choose. It is on the side of supporting insightful, humane, and effective leadership without the sermon. Amanda Sinclair, Professor of Management (Diversity and Change), Melbourne Business School, Australia The people at the Centre for Leadership Studies have done it again. In taking a critical, interdisciplinary, multilevel perspective on leadership, they take the reader on a rollercoaster ride that is memorable. By enabling more critical reflections on leadership theory, development, and practice, this book is a must read for anyone interested in this highly complex topic. Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries, Clinical Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, INSEAD, France The impressive range of concern and the depth of thought that is evinced in this book provides encouraging grounds for believing that the field of leadership studies may have finally come of age. By skilfully weaving together individual, organizational, and societal perspectives on leadership, the authors set the stage and inspire leadership researchers to do work that genuinely matters. Brad Jackson, Fletcher Building Education Trust Chair in Leadership, the University of Auckland Business School, New Zealand This multi-authored volume provides an engaging exploration of leadership from a variety of perspectives, but still manages to speak with a clear and compelling voice. The authors explain a wide range of issues and ideas in a lively manner that will involve readers in the uncovering of assumptions and the making of connections across contexts and disciplines. Exploring Leadership will encourage and inform reflection and debate among those who study, research, and participate in the dynamics of leadership on the personal, organizational, social, and even global level. Eric Guthey, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark There are thousands of books on leadership but I wouldn't recommend many of them. I would recommend this one. It's a gem: contemporary, critical, well-written, and provocative. What more would you want? Keith Grint, Professor of Public Leadership, Warwick Business School Another book on the panacea that is leadership? Importantly, both these issues are dealt with quickly and seriously in a very timely book. Given the focus on leaders and leadership in recent years, both with respect to the general view that our leaders are responsible for our difficulties and the vast amounts devoted to developing leaders, we need a critically balanced view that helps assess where we are and what questions need to be considered to take us forward. And that is what we get here. Jeff Gold, Professor of Organisation Learning, Leeds Metropolitan University Do we need another leadership book? Yes to this one because it gives a uniquely well balanced, accessible, and integrated overview of most of the main perspectives and issues in leadership. Read this one instead of the other 39,999! John Burgoyne, Professor of Management Learning, University of Lancaster and Henley Management College
