Rating: 
Summary: Much the Same as Other Maxwell Books
Review: Pick any one Maxwell book and it's pretty good. I do think his emphasis is way too much on top-down leadership and old fashioned business models, but there are also a number of good insights and he's easy to read. The problem is so many of the books say basically the same thing.Several problems with this one.
1) The editing is horrible. Way too many errors, some of which affect understanding. Talking about a football team, he says "they play to lose rather than playing to win" (that missing "not" is pretty important.) 2) He's rather disorganized. He likes to do several points, but often gets side tracked in the midst of one into another list -- which are hard to distinguish because the editors chose very similar heading styles. 3) His order is a bit odd. How do you set priorities if you don't know your vision? But the chapter on priorities precedes the one on vision. 4) I would expect a Christian author to use Jesus a bit more as a model (he was, after all, one of the most effective leaders ever) but Maxwell's leadership approach misses the servant leadership approach of Jesus.
Rating: 
Summary: I felt that this was an outstanding book!
Review: Review for John C. Maxwell book titled "Developing the Leader Within You"
I felt that this was an outstanding book; it has touched me in so many ways. The book has helped me notice what I have been doing wrong and what I need to develop.
This book has taught me various things, such as what it means to be an effective leader and ways to improve my leadership skills. I would definitely recommend this book to my family, friends, and co-workers.
Maxwell's definition of leadership is the ability to acquire followers. These followers will aid you in achieving your goals. People will follow if the leader has a positive attitude and provides them with the right atmosphere.
The question Maxwell answers for you is, "How can one acquire loyal followers?" He presents strategies, principles, and ideas in which one can implement to the people at their organization to become an effective leader with loyal followers. Trying to get employees to follow your ideas can be a difficult task, but Maxwell's ideas will aid you in this task.
Your dreams can and will come true one day. Maxwell explains that all you need is a vision to work towards. Then you need to implement goals, strategies, and followers to help you along your journey.
Being an average leader is easy, but being an effective and efficient leader involves hard work and practice. Some leaders can be born, but in my opinion great leaders need to be taught how to become great leaders and Maxwell will help you to become a great leader.
I believe that this book will benefit all the leaders of today and tomorrow. Maxwell is an excellent author and teacher. I encourage you to read this book today and become the great leader you have dreamt of becoming tomorrow.
Rating: 
Summary: Maxwellism and the plague of the church
Review: The leadership principles of John Maxwell are very practical, but they are more about top-down leadership than the leadership that Jesus taught and modeled. If you want a few practical tips on how to be a domineering leader, this book is for you. If not, pick up a book on the topic of servant leadership. Don't look for a quick fix that will make leadership easier than being in the trenches loving one another. My disagreement with this book is more out of my feelings of what a leader should be, not with the way Maxwell wrote. The church isn't a business and shouldn't be ran like one; It should be ran out of love.
Rating: 
Summary: The best beginner book on the market
Review: There are lots of gold nuggets of information in this book. If this is your first book on leadership, you'll love it. It's a great place to start. Among the important topics covered by Maxwell are how to build coalitions to effect change and how to nurture your employees to become leaders in their own right. Maxwell brings to bear psychological studies and anecdotes to motivate the reader to become a better leader. Perhaps the best part of this book are Maxwell's stories (Maxwell's leadership principles are backed up by humorous anecdotes from Benjamin Franklin, Abe Lincoln, and others). My one complaint about this book is that Maxwell has an annoying habit of dogmatically stating nonsense (there are 6 levels of leadership, if you work better with people, you're a follower, etc.). He can come off as awfully patronizing. But I still consider this book worth owning, especially for one just getting started on the subject. For what Maxwell is trying to accomplish, you won't get any better than this book.
Rating:
Summary: Putting Leadership In Action
Review: This a Good book it serves it's purpose. This book describes in action what a leader should be. A must book to read for anyone who is in leadership from CEO to Pastor. Apply it to your circumstances.
Rating: 
Summary: Do Not Waste Your Money
Review: This book is a bore and contains no useful information.
The book has so many quotes of others that it seems the author couldn't develop an original thought were he paid to.
Save your money or spend it on something worthwhile - this isn't.
Rating:
Summary: Teacher & Engineer
Review: This book is my first present to everybody I see them as the potential leader.
Rating:
Summary: I may be the only negative commenter.
Review: This book is wrong in very many areas. I will touch upon one.
Firstly, there is only one way to be a leader. This is through love.
Secondly, there are many ways to pass as being a leader. The negative side of those ways are through control.
Thirdly, using the techniques in this book act as control.
Fourthly, control is not love.
Fifthly, Christ is the way to be a true leader. Meaning this book is not necessary. Only the bible is.
-Calvin
ps. "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" gives good insights on how to be a leader. It teaches about responsibility and time management, which are crucial to any leader.
Rating:
Summary: The first book every influencer should ever read
Review: This book was life changing for me and my career. I read this title over 10 years ago. I soon read all of John Maxwells books and was a memeber of his tape club and attended several confereces. If you want to read his best book this is it. It is fun to read yet very thought provoking. I have had many conversations with incredible leaders who have used the principles in this book. Maxwell can come off as simple with his approach to leadership and that would be true because it is not profound to understand but to do is the hard part. Leadership is influence to influence you have to relate and Maxell does a superb job helping the reader do that. He accomplishes that by using illustrations and concepts that we can relate too. Read this book no matter what your role in life and influence is but do not read it alone talk it over with others and see what shakes out.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This is a must read, esp. since it's not that long. A great, practical book on leadership. Not only you gave you "techniques", he outlined the principles behind great leaders. There are a lot of precious anecdotes as well. Also, even though it's not a "Christian" book, if you are a Christian leader then this is indispensible! Highly reccommended.
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