Reflections on Leadership

In Reflections on Leadership fifteen prominent leadership scholars pay tribute to James MacGregor Burns's book, Leadership, a classic in the field of leadership studies. The contributors address the puzzles and anomalies in his work, such as: the place of values in leadership; leadership as a casual factor in change; levels of analysis; interdisciplinary approaches to the study of leadership; the distance of his theory from everyday experience; the absence of gender and race, and more.

Richard Couto has assembled a diverse group of noted leadership scholars, all influenced in some way by James MacGregor Burns's Leadership, and by Burns himself. Reflections on Leadership is an outstanding addition to the leadership literature and a wonderful and thoughtful tribute to Jim Burns., If the hallmark of a great work of art or scholarship is the compulsion it sparks to keep pondering its revelations, its mysteries, and its creator, then James MacGregor Burns's path breaking volume, Leadership fits the bill. In Reflections on Leadership, Richard Couto assembles a distinguished group of contributors to examine critically Burns's foundational oeuvre, as well as his unique persona and field-shaping initiatives, through multiple prisims—theoretical, practical, historical, and personal. We even hear Burns, himself, thoughtfully, humorously, and modestly musing about his intellectual U-turns and where he currently is heading. Don't miss this gem!, For the student of leadership, [this book] offers a challenging 'insider's view' of how leadership scholars view leadership...., The book's deft editing guides readers through the separate chapters; integrates the contributors' perspectives into a theoretical construct; and concludes with a synthesis of new perspectives around three shortcomings of Leadership. As a whole, the volume looks back at a classic in the emerging field of leadership studies, addresses central challenges left to us, and offers direction for the field's continued evolution.

Richard A. Couto is a founding faculty member of Antioch University's Ph.D. Program in Leadership and Change. Prior to this position he was a founding faculty member, professor, and Modlin Chair at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond. His many publications, distinguished by several awards, cover community leadership and social change efforts.