Leadership Essentials

In her culmination of fifty years of distinguished studies in presidential history, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin offers a thought-provoking exploration into the early development, growth, and practice of leadership. Are leaders created or born? Where does ambition originate? How does facing adversity impact the maturation of leadership? Does the individual shape the era, or does the era shape the individual?

Goodwin delves into the lives of four presidents she has scrutinized closely - Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (particularly in the realm of civil rights) - to demonstrate how they initially recognized leadership qualities within themselves and earned recognition as leaders from others.

There is no standard trajectory for leadership. While these men differed in background, skills, and personality, they shared strong ambition and unwavering resilience that enabled them to overcome extraordinary challenges. These leaders were driven by a strong sense of moral purpose in their best moments, and in times of crisis, they were able to utilize their talents to improve the lives and opportunities of those around them.

This groundbreaking work serves as an accessible and essential guide for aspiring and established leaders in all fields. In today's divided world, the stories of genuine leadership during times of uncertainty and division carry extraordinary significance.

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