Thus, they acknowledge there are many differing attitudes about leadership and how it functions, and that while some theories may be outmoded, they are all relevant in a discussion of modern leadership. In essence, the authors have researched numerous studies, research, and theories about leadership, and gathered them all together for the reader to assess and process. Instead of dealing with numerous reports and assessments, the authors bring them all together in one document, making serious leadership theory study much easier for the reader. The authors do not rely on old data, however. They present the newest concepts in leadership, as well, such a "e-leadership," a development of the rapidly changing digital age, women's rise in leadership roles, and even more compelling, leadership in the event of a major crisis, such as 9/11. The authors note, "In the rubble of Ground Zero, people did not want a leader who could organize cross-functional teams; they longed for a leader for the ages, a sage and saviour to lead them out of hell" (Antonakis, Cianciolo, and Sternberg 332). This, more than any other statement, graphically indicates how leadership roles can rapidly change, and how this book applies to public administration. Public administrators are often the first responder or link in times of great stress or disaster, and they must know how to lead effectively or pay the price. They must not only be able to deal with stressful and even life-threatening situations, they must be able to reassure their constituents and assure them life will return to normal, after a time. That is the true test of a good leader, and the authors recognize that, and many other facets of leadership, in this book.

It is quite clear that the authors know their topic well and have brought together as many resources as possible for the serious leadership student. They present...

Each of the authors has a serious background in educational leadership, and their combined skills come together to create a book that is both useful and educational. This is a serious look at leadership, and it might put off some lay readers. However, it is an important tool for anyone who is extremely serious about developing as a leader and an innovator.
Finally, the book is comprehensive and covers just about all aspects of leadership, from the characteristics of a leader to personality assessments, the history of leadership research, the major leadership theories, and the development of leadership tendencies, including coalition building and long-term leadership strategies. It teaches the reader how to embrace change, and most of all, become a more effective leader, and that makes it a very valuable resource for a wide variety of industry professionals.

In conclusion, this is a serious look at leadership on all levels of the organization, and it applies to just about any type of operation, from public administration to Fortune 500 industries. This book is an in-depth look into the theories of leadership, and understanding the roots of leadership and leadership issues can help just about anyone become a better leader. It also helps develop alternate theories of leadership that can help the effective leader modify and modernize their behavior to meet the needs of the ever-changing leadership role in today's business, industry, and public administration areas.