Routledge Leadership Matters: Unleashing the Power of Paradox

Some leaders fundamentally alter the status quo whilst others guide quietly. Most leadership books emphasise specific rules, but Tom Cronin and Michael Genovese see leadership as filled with paradox. Leadership Matters offers a different view of leadership - one that builds community and responds creatively to new situations. Cronin and Genovese argue that leadership is about more than just charisma and set leaders on to a different path - to unleash the power of paradox. Review “Cronin and Genovese have written a compelling and original book. It is terrific―a real addition to the leadership canon.” ―Warren Bennis, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California “A superb book―It will have an important place in the literature and in the classroom.” ―J. Thomas Wren, Jepson School of Leadership, University of Richmond “This is a terrific book…destined to become a classic.” ―James O’Toole, former Executive Vice President, Aspen Institute “Leadership Matters is a highly sophisticated, deeply probing, and remarkably comprehensive treatment of this dynamic and crucial subject.” ―James MacGregor Burns, Williams College (Emeritus), Pulitzer Prize–winning political scientist, historian, and biographer “This book offers unique insights into the field of leadership with stunning examples about what historical and popular leaders can teach us. Cronin and Genovese give us an entirely different perspective on the field. This is a must-read for anyone interested in leadership!” ―Nicole Cundiff, Director of the Northern Leadership Center, University of Alaska–Fairbanks “This book is an absolute tour-de-force―one of the most wide-ranging, fascinating, intricate studies of leadership I have ever read.” ―Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and presidential historian “Cronin and Genovese present leadership as ‘the most baffling of the performing arts.’ They unpack the paradoxes of leadership, provide memorable illustrations, and include nuggets of wisdom for anyone interested in learning more about this complex human activity.” ―Nannerl O. Keohane, President Emeritus of Wellesley College and Duke University and Lawrence S. Rockefeller Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Affairs and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University “Leadership Matters is the book my course on leadership has been waiting for―a volume that intelligently embraces, rather than avoids, the paradoxes inherent in the subject.” ―Norman W. Provizer, Leadership Scholar, Director of the Golda Meir Center, Metropolitan State University–Denver “A unique, well-researched, and well-written book on leadership that has been needed for a long time. This book is the one I have been thinking about writing. Now I won’t have to, because Cronin and Genovese have already done it very well.” ―William E. Rosenbach, former Chair of Leadership Programs, U.S. Air Force Academy, and Gettysburg College "The authors cover a remarkable amount of ground... it is a spur to closer examination of areas it touches on... Recommended." ―Choice December 2012 issue Other Work by Contributors: About the Author Thomas E. Cronin is the McHugh Professor of American Institutions and Leadership at Colorado College. He is author, coauthor, or editor of ten books on politics and government, and has been a moderator since 1973 of more than a dozen Aspen Institute Executive Seminars. Michael A. Genovese is Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies and holds the Loyola Chair of Leadership as Professor of Political Science at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.