Rating: 
Summary: The Right Man at the Right Time
Review: We all know what great leadership is, so you won't be surprised by the following list - prioritise, prepare, recruit the best people, hold everyone responsible but take full responsibility, hold strong beliefs but be flexible in making decisions, under-promise but over-deliver, and...erm...wear a nice suit.
This is all very abstract, but in this book by New York's former crime-busting mayor, these principles are brought firmly into the real world, nowhere more so than in the chapters focusing on the tragic events of September 11, when the quality of Giuliani's leadership in the aftermath of the crisis was a vital factor in holding the city together. This highly anticipated book, which Giuliani started writing long before September 11, is penned in a highly readable style. "I have always loved to write," Giuliani says in the preface. "As a trial lawyer, I found that my favourite part of the work - and the part I was probably best at - was the final summation. In a way that's what writing a book is." Although he is now best remembered for September 11 and its aftermath, Time magazine's 'Person of the Year 2001' did not suddenly become a great leader on that fateful day. As this book reveals he had been making hard decisions all his life, revealing another aspect of leadership, the constant sacrificing of short-term popularity for the long-term popularity he now enjoys. "As federal prosecutor for over a decade as well as two spells in the Justice Department, I became accustomed to people being angry wife me," Giuliani writes. "I thought I was doing a good job as long as their anger was coming from a variety of sources - white collar criminals, mobsters, corrupt politicians, narcotic traffickers. It's not a popularity contest." This is the essence of Giuliani the man and the politician. Instead of courting a shallow popularity by avoiding difficult decisions, confrontation, and controversy, he faced problems head on as when he tackled New York's legendary crime problems with his now equally legendary 'zero tolerance' approach. New Yorkers can feel blessed that when the worst terrorist attack in history struck their city, Rudy was the right man at the right time at the right place to handle the crisis.
Rating:
Summary: A Practical Guide to Leadership
Review: When I received this book as a gift from some very dear business associates, I read the first chapter and was afraid that it was just another retelling of the 9/11 crime. After the first chapter, Giuliani teaches leadership by example. This book does not engage in the typical rhetoric to which so many of these kinds of books are prone. Giuliani states a principle then goes on to provide examples of how it has worked for him. His experience in leadership is an extremely valuable and enlightening guide. I have employed some of these principles since reading this book and they work.... This book is an interesting read and a valuable resource.
Rating:
Summary: You Can't Fight City Hall, So Learn From It
Review: This is a fantastic book. Giuliani explains his methods of managing and his methods of thinking, and supplies concrete examples of how they apply in situations ranging from personal crises to national tragedies. Unlike the dozens of books on management and leadership by middle-aged, otherwise anonymous fellas who look they have a house account with Brooks Brothers, this one's written by a guy who has proven the practicality of what he preaches. No platitudes, no filler, no empty motivational dreck. Instead, page after page of advice so sound Benjamin Franklin is probably wishing he'd written it.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bully Pulpit
Review: In 'Leadership' Rudy Giuliani describes a childhood confrontation with a neighborhood bully. Prodded by his uncle, Rudy confronted and beat a bigger boy. From that day forward Giuliani never backed down, whether was John Gotti or Arafat. 'Leadership' is a fascinating book where Giuliani tells his amazing life story while applying his experiences to some solid leadership principles - the foundation being, "Don't Back Down." Rather than boring readers in a serial description of his life from birth until now, Rudy blends key events, like 9-11, into an interesting mix tied to a logical sequence of leadership principles. No book can describe the amazing accomplishments by the former mayor in lowering crime and rebuilding NYC. No biography can depict the emotional and vital leadership Rudy provided in the tragic days after 9-11. Giuliani's attempt may be too pragmatic to capture all of his values, but he tries. This reader's only disappointment is Rudy's determination to defend past indiscretions in this book. We are beyond those moments in our respect for the mayor. Both the glow and cracks make-up his character. Over all, it's a book worth reading. We hope Rudy will attempt another biography in the future, where a longer and broader perspective may enrich his story.
Rating:
Summary: Leadership is an Outstanding Book That Everyone Should Read
Review: Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or whatever; liberal, conservative, or what not, Rudy Guilani's Leadership is for everyone. Leadership is one of the best books I have ever read, and Guilani details how leadership and good examples have helped him and how they can help you. If you find politics absolutely boring, this book is still for you. It's hard to put it in words, but suffice it to say, Rudy Guilani is the Mayor of America, and his book is amongst the top of my recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: A true leader
Review: I'm doing a research article on Rudy Giuliani for a college class. I had read articles on him before, but after reading this book I felt like I knew Rudy Giuliani. I don't live in NY but seeing how the people of NY dealt with a horrible event under the strong guidance of Rudy Giuliani is an inspiration to us all.
All should read this book to understand how leaders are born!
Rating: 
Summary: Precepts for a better America?
Review: Rudy Giuliani says that one of his favorite things is to write. He says he enjoys the final summation at trial. That these statements are made "right off the bat", suggests only one thing. Mr. Giuliani thinks that he writes better than he does. That is why he's a politician, and not an author (until now). If you were to take an informal poll, I believe that most may not know that he used to be a corporate lawyer with prestigious firms in NY. I am glad that he had Ken Kurson's help writing this book. I felt the book to be scattered, yet it was also effective in informing the viewers of concrete plans that the Mayor had to change New York for the better. Whether he did change NYC is debatable. ( I believe that he was mostly successful. All things considered, this book was informative....and dry. ///
Rating:
Summary: Leaden Leadership
Review: The book is a bowl of broccoli - good for you, but hard to swallow. For prose styling, think George Will. I so wanted to like the book, and the ideas and stories in it are truly valuable - but BORING! I had to set it down over and over, and come back to it to finish it. Rudy should have let the ghost punch up the text a little more. I have no trouble believing he wrote most of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Moms need this book.
Review: In general, moms and all parents, need this book. It offers great samples of simple leadership qualities we need to transfer to our children. Do not panic for fear of big words and think it's not for moms. His life lessons leads him to build and hone great everyday leadership skills and qualities parents need to build in our future generation - our children. It's an easy read and right on target utilizing much wisdom people already have but may need to draw from and follow through on. A couple of other books moms and parents need to read and will deem good and right to do so when looking for a teaching tool in leadership skills are: Ten Amazing People, by Maura Shaw and Mommy-CEO, Revised Editon, by Jodie Lynn. Lynn writes on challenges of taking on the CEO title within the family and shows all moms how to be strong leaders in the family unit. Ten Amazing People briefs us on people who changed the world. I agree with the guidelines for setting strong leadership quality protrayed from all three books. Ten Amazing People has been written for kids, but as a parent, I learned much about how great minds work. In profiling, the three books are different, while in reality, they are all three similar in direction. It makes perfect sense to begin at home with our own children. As parents, we need to contribute to history by creating effective leaders for our future. It's also a strange but yet powerful lesson to incorporate perspectives from a book for kids, a family/parenting book and a firsthand life scenerio to help manifest a "check list" for quality leaders for tomorrow. Bravo to the three authors in bringing it all together in simple terms.
Rating:
Summary: Leadership Imposed; Leadership Embraced
Review: The test of a leader is how he or she responds to a crisis. In that respect, the atrocities of September 11th thrust unimagined demands upon the two-term mayor of the "capital of the world." Yet, Mr. Giuliani's response to those atrocities is a classic example of leadership. In this poignant, yet exceptionally readable book, the author discusses how various aspects of his life prepared him for the unprecedented demands of the crisis. In typical NYC bluntness, he eschews the rose-colored haze of childhood and formative years, focusing instead upon his development in the rough and tumble world of criminal law as well as his mayoral administration. His political (as well as his personal) challenges helped him to forcefully and effectively face that moment when (to paraphrase others), he looked into the abyss and found the seeds of his own salvation. The book is well written and polished, yet is in a style that can truly be called "giuliani-esque."
| 
