Leadership

Rating:
Summary: A True Leader
Review: "It was an exceptionally clear summer morning. The skyline was surreally beautiful against a backdrop of the purest blue. No matter what day it is, New York City is a unique place, but on mornings like September 11 it was truly special." It's common knowledge that New York City is the economic center of the world. The World Trade Center stood for some of the fundamental principles these United States are found on. The first and last chapters of this book (the day of September 11 and the aftermath) paint a vivid and horrifying portrait of a city in ruins. Seeing through the eyes of "America's Mayor" is stunning and it brings fresh meaning to the comic book quote "with great power comes great responsibility." Those two chapters unaccompanied make the book meaningful. The chapters in between, though on a historical scale much less significant, are just as extraordinary when analyzing leadership aptitude.

When I first selected this book, I thought it would be another rehash of a political figure telling us why he is such a superb leader, but, to my astonishment, it's much more. Giuliani essentially lays out a system to successful leadership. He makes no assertion that he is the greatest; in actual fact, he gives much of the acclaim to others. As an alternative of telling us how grand of a leader he is, he humbles himself in the opening dedication. "This book is dedicated to all the people described in these pages, whom I leaned on and learned from - it was them that I derived the strength to lead"
The book divulges that Giuliani's leadership began long before the "Attacks on America." In the beginning you could ask, how was Mayor Giuliani able to defy the odds in a democratic city and become the republican mayor? Then, how was he able to cleanup the streets of New York like no predecessor before him could? Finally and most daunting, how did he pull the economic center of the world back together in the midst of the most incredible act of terrorism in the history of the civilized world? One word, LEADERSHIP.

This book is an exceptional read for anybody; moreover, it should be mandatory text for all political figures. Mayors, Governors, and even Presidents could gain knowledge from Giuliani's experience as Mayor of New York City.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: I really enjoyed this book. The only problem I found with it was that there seemed to bea lot of personal stories that were there just to pad the book.

Giuliani is one of my favorite politicians and I did learn a lot of techniques to use to create a great process. As far as leading men it lacks a lot. I recommend The Art of War for learning to lead and motivate people.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Controversial, & Entertaining Book By Himself!
Review: This is an absorbing and fairly well written tome, which ostensibly is a guide for business, civic and other people finding themselves in leadership posts can employ to better manage the day to details of organizing, motivating, and executing policy in support of the large scale organization involved. Certainly no one can talk from a greater scale of personal experience about how to manage such an organization than Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City who led his flock of fellow New Yorkers through one of the most difficult set of existential circumstances imaginable, the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Trade Towers. I enjoyed a lot of what the author had to say, but came away from the book perplexed by a number of elements within it, a couple of which I will mention below.

Yet there is no doubt his leadership was one of the critical elements in the calculus of helping ordinary citizens to recover both their day to day ability to live and work in the city, but for the city itself to rise from the literal ashes of the bombed out area and regain its equilibrium and purpose. Having said this, I thought that much of his take on his life long experience as a leader in the various positions he has held was really a self-serving interpretation of how those agencies operate. When discussing the tour of duty he enjoyed as the U.S. Attorney in New York, he largely inherited both the staff and the organization, and during his tenure seemed to be manipulating the concentration of the kinds of cases they handled to serve his own political ambitions as much as the needs of the agency. If this is the kind of leadership he wants others to follow, I doubt it is going to serve the common weal as much as we might like.

Also, his recollections of his time as mayor glosses over the fact that while middle class residents of NYC were quite enamored of him and his policies, the same can hardly be said to be true for the less fortunate, less affluent, and for those of color or ethnicity. He instituted what were considered near Gestapo techniques and policies for the police force that did succeed in bringing down violent crime, but left horrific incidents like the feckless and unarmed Hispanic immigrant shot more than 21 times at close range by two officers s he huddled in a doorway. His policies were hardly uniformly approved; noir were they uniformly successful. All of this may seem like petty carping, yet the truth is that he deliberately employed what many considered extra-legal means to accomplish what were undoubtedly appropriate and worthwhile civic goal. The last example corporate America needs today is that of a maverick for whom the rules are too confining to operate within. This is indeed a useful, worthwhile, and entertaining read. It is a book I would recommend, but would suggest reading with more than a pinch of salt. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: The embodiment of a leader
Review: "A leader who distances hmself from his staff at the first sight of trouble is shortsighted. No one wants to work for someone like that." "True leadership requires choosing, in every instance, the position that allows you to sleep at night." "You cannot ask those who work for you to do something you're unwilling to do yourself."

These prescient dictums are not just shallow platitudes spewed forth by the author(no ghost writer here), but the words Giuliani actually lives by. Unlike many ponitificating politicians, Giuliani actually says what he means, and means what he says. Leadership quite possibly could be the best book I have read this year. It's not just about his masterful handling of 9/11 and his heroic overcoming of prostate cancer, but more importantly of the virtues of being a leader. Giuliani candidly recounts many anecdotes and ties them in to his development as a leader. He humbly admits that he wasn't born a leader, but rather developed into one through his life experiences and neverending voracious appetite for learning.

Leadership is a book that anyone can profit from - regardless of where you are in life. Those who value honesty, proof over theories, and results over rhetoric will truly gain the most from this erudite offering.

Rating:
Summary: Giuliani illustrates leadership with personal stories
Review: For many of us, Rudolph Giuliani's strength and decisiveness during the crisis of September 11th are a living example of what a leader should be and what he or she should do during a crisis. Giuliani opens and closes the book with the events of 9/11 and the work towards recovery from that terrible day. However, this isn't a book about 9/11. The book is a series of chapters each focused on a principle Giuliani believes is an important component of leadership. He uses stories from his life and decisions he has made to illustrate these core principles of leadership. He includes a few examples from sports and even opera (baseball and opera are among his passions).

Giuliani says he wrote this book himself and the language of the book seems to me to be his own. I like having that strong character identification rather than having the bland language of a ghostwriter.

This is not a theoretical textbook. It is a practical guide full of sound advice and some very interesting anecdotes. And for those who think of Giuliani as endlessly dour, there really is a bit of humor. I think that anyone who wants to lead others could do a lot worse than reading this volume and keeping it handy on their shelf as a handbook for future reference. Leadership isn't particularly complicated in theory, but enormously intricate in application because it involves other people and their emotions.

Love him or hate him, Giuliani did have an impact on New York City and I believe it was strongly positive. I wish more folks who seek leadership positions all over our nation would adopt the lessons he offers here.

Some will point to this or that event that the author left out because it doesn't reflect favorably on him or because they disagree with the viewpoint he adopts and call it self-serving. Well, all that is certainly fair game. What amazes me is how frank and open he is about his mistakes and miscalculations. He doesn't claim inerrancy or infallibility. What he does claim for himself is energy, sincerity, and integrity. I think he demonstrates clearly and convincingly that he does have these qualities

Yes, I admire the guy and hope he continues his life of public service for a long time to come.

Rating:
Summary: Waist of time
Review: When I bought this book I was looking forward to read a compelling story of a great man, who would pass on to his readers profound and inspiring leadership principles backed up by concrete facts. I am afraid to say that I got just the opposite.
First of all let me say that I believe Mr Giuliani is in fact a great leader and his accomplishments deserve all the credits. He was and is in fact a great man. But regarding this book, I must say that is it at the same time superficial and too detail oriented. I believe it is superficial because all the "great" leadership principals Giuliani presents are typical of a ABC for Leadership book. Furthermore, this book is in fact extremely detail oriented which makes it quite boring to read.
Additionally, one thing that I believe is truly unnecessary is the "arrogant" style in which the book is written. Giuliani keeps referring in a rather flamboyant style to all his great accomplishments. I think he forgot one thing: Leadership is about the triumph of fierce resolve and humility in order to succeed.
If you are interested in a basic guide to leadership, together with a complete description of all the stories and details of Giuliani's mandate you will probably like this book. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a profound book on leadership, together with an overall picture of how Mr Giuliani achieved all he did, forget it, this is not the book you are looking for.

Rating:
Summary: Future President Rudy?
Review: It is refreshing to read about a leader who understands that true leaders set the lid upon which his subordinates bump up against. Rudy Giuliani set the highest standards of public service and leadership. His book reinforced principles that have succeeded in my life and provided many ideas for personal and professional growth.

Ideally, the President should take advantage of Rudy's background in law and his success in running the largest city in the nation and put him on the ticket in 2004. Should Vice President Cheney, who has done an outstanding job for our country, decide to step down to make room for Rudy's presidential run in 2008, the nation would be greatly served. I can even see Rudy and Condoleeza Rice on the same ticket, with either in the top seat. Our nation needs excellence and the highest moral and ethical standards from it's leaders. Unfortunately, not a single Democratic Presidential hopeful posseses either of these traits.

Buy this book, then pass it on. It's a great read about a great American.

Rating:
Summary: Giuliani in His Own Words
Review: The book Leadership by Rudolph Giuliani answers the question of how Giualini was able to perform the near miracles of halving the crime rate in New York City, putting mob bosses in jail in the US Attorney's Office, and helping the city recover after the terrorist attacks on September 11th. The examples in the book have been proven to work and Giuliani has the statistics to back it up!

Leadership is divided into three parts. The first narrates the events of September 11 and the various leadership skills that he used. The second part is subdivided into thirteen chapters each concerning an aspect of Giuliani's leadership style. During these chapters, Giuliani recounts projects he undertook when he was mayor and events from his life that shaped his leadership style. The third narrates the recovery effort after September 11 with a special emphasis on the efforts of the mayor's office.

This book is professionally rather than personally oriented and only discusses his personal life when it directly effects his professional life. Giuliani's struggle against prostate cancer is explained in the book but the breakup of his marriage is not. Those expecting a comprehensive biography from his boyhood to today will be disappointed. Although events throughout his life are described, they are only brought up as an example of his leadership style. Because the chapters are organized by qualities of his leadership style and not in chronological order, some events are repeated in multiple chapters but have a different purpose.

Not only is Leadership enjoyable to read as a biography but it also includes applicable leadership ideas. As a biography, the informal writing style makes the book easy to digest and pleasant to read. Unlike other books which discuss leadership style academically, Leadership uses practical examples that have worked in Giuliani's life.

If you disagree with Giuliani, you will feel satisfied reading about him in his own words and not through the funnel of the media. If you agree with Giuliani, you will enjoy the detailed examples of his leadership style, which illustrate how he managed the "ungovernable city." In either instance, it is an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: LOLLIPOP RUMINATIONS
Review: It is a marvel of our times to see this book in publication, given Giuliani's spectacular inutility in his own job barring perhaps the momentary lapse post-911 that got him all the hype he needed to be approached for a book on, of all things, leadership. Yet 911 is perhaps his biggest claim to fame (at least for most folks outside of NY) and he doesn't shy from capitalizing on this image - a major chunk of the floundering, rambling text in this book veers around the fortuitous event.

In a miscarried attempt to lead us into his softer side, we are told of how he scampered on the big day to have police protect both his wife and his mistress, worrying that he and his loved ones, past and present, might be targets. For one thing it's nothing to swoon about. For another, it betrays his solipsistic stance even in a time of national crisis. Let us not forget that this is the same man who behind this flaky NiceGuy veneer has a personal security staff of 16 police detectives, who cost more than $1 million per year and perform such vital tasks as driving Giuliani's fianc¨¦e to the Hamptons so she could water her flowers. Depressingly little of substance is mentioned of course of his attempts to ACTUALLY deal with the aftermath of 911 crises (how about the police shooting of Amadou Diallo or the police torture of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima for instance?)

As though such contrived, pulpy self-indulgence were not enough we are then showered with poppycock advice on "what constitutes leadership in our modern real world". Some pearls of wisdom --

(1) Have beliefs and communicate them.
(2) Surround yourself with strong, independent people.
(3) Don't micromanage or undermine the authority of the good people you've hired.
(4) See things for yourself.
(5) Set an example.
(6) Stand up to bullies.
(7) Deal with first things first.
(8) Loyalty is the vital virtue.
(9) Prepare relentlessly.
(10) Underpromise and overdeliver.
(11) Don't assume a damn thing
(12) Hire good people instead of yes-men

Thanks for the heads up, who'd've thought of that!

Makes one wonder if having his name in indecorously fine print on the cover was in fact an intentional move by Ken Kurson. Saves him from owning up to this hackeyed tripe bursting at the seams with delusions of grandeur and failing miserably in providing either an insight into Giuliani's arguably non-illustrious career or, more importantly, any useful thoughts on leadership.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Case Study
Review: Leadership is difficult book to classify and review. On the one hand, it is a very interesting and compelling book. But on the other hand, sections of the book are poorly edited repetitious and tends to meander. For those that are interested in management, policy or politics this is a great read. While much of what Giuliani says can be found in other books such as The Seven Habits of Effective People, In Search of Excellence or Reinventing Government, Giuliani's gift is to provide an excellent case study of the application of these principles.

How can you not give five stars to someone that devotes one of the early chapters to use and application of performance measures? This book has one of the best case studies I have seen on the subject. Giuliani made performance measure part of everyday management life in New York. City. In addition, Giulianni saw the wisdom of making the budget director a direct report and understood the importance of a good database.

One frustrating aspect of the book was Giuliani tendency to make a one-sentence statement without any support or back-up. For example, in one sentence he says that he does not believe in community oriented policing because the numbers don't support it. That was the extent of the discussion. I, for one, would have enjoyed a more robust discussion.