Leadership for the Twenty-First Century

(Paperback)

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This illuminating study critiques the concept of leadership as understood in the last 75 years and looks to the twenty-first century for a reconstructed understanding of leadership in the postindustrial era. More similarities in past decades were found than had been thought; the thread throughout Rost's book is that leadership was conceived of as good management. He develops a new definition and paradigm for leadership in this volume that distinguishes leadership from management in fundamental ways. The ethics of leadership from a postindustrial perspective completes the paradigm. The book concludes with suggestions that can be immediately utilized in helping to transform our understanding of leadership.

Reviews

Rost examines twentieth century leadership studies decade by decade. His critiques are probing and insightful, while providing an exhaustive review of the literature. . . . Rost's work is likely to be a major turning point in how we think about leadership for the twenty-first century. Community development practitioners and scholars cannot ignore the questions and insights raised by Rost.-Journal of the Community Development Society
This book is an extremely thoughtful and meticulous effort to identify the bases for the often cited lack of progress in leadership research, and to offer a way out of this dilemma. Rost's critical, reflexive analysis of leadership studies provides a much needed prod to step back from the frenzied production of research and how-to books and examine how our thinking is limited by broader cultural trends and assumptions.-The Southern Communication Journal
What a pleasure to report on a new book in leadership studies--a term, not incidentally, with which the author has some considerable problems--that is simultaneously intelligent and provocative. Leadership for the Twenty-First Century is testimony both to Rost's breadth of knowledge and to his iconoclasm.-Governance
"Rost examines twentieth century leadership studies decade by decade. His critiques are probing and insightful, while providing an exhaustive review of the literature. . . . Rost's work is likely to be a major turning point in how we think about leadership for the twenty-first century. Community development practitioners and scholars cannot ignore the questions and insights raised by Rost."-Journal of the Community Development Society
"What a pleasure to report on a new book in leadership studies--a term, not incidentally, with which the author has some considerable problems--that is simultaneously intelligent and provocative. Leadership for the Twenty-First Century is testimony both to Rost's breadth of knowledge and to his iconoclasm."-Governance
"This book is an extremely thoughtful and meticulous effort to identify the bases for the often cited lack of progress in leadership research, and to offer a way out of this dilemma. Rost's critical, reflexive analysis of leadership studies provides a much needed prod to step back from the frenzied production of research and how-to books and examine how our thinking is limited by broader cultural trends and assumptions."-The Southern Communication Journal

Author Bio

JOSEPH C. ROST is Professor of Leadership and Administration in the School of Education, University of San Diego. He is the author of a number of articles and papers on leadership, politics, and policy making, and consults with organizations on leadership.