The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire ReviewNo one doubts the extraordinary achievements of Alexander, especially given his relatively brief life (356-323 B.C.), achievements which included the successful invasions of Asia Minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Middle East, the Persian Empire, Afghanistan, Sogdiana, and Bactria. His greatest battles include Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela, and Hydapses. What we know about him is based almost entirely on the works which survive written by Arrian, Rufus Curtius, Siculus Diodorus, and Plutarch. For most readers today, these are but names of countries, locations, and authors which probably have little inherent appeal. Interest in Alexander, however, does and should remain keen.
In this volume, Kurke carefully traces his life and career inorder to answer questions such as these:
1. How was Alexander able to accomplish so much from his succession (at age 20) to the throne of Macedonia (following his father Philip's assassination) until his own death only thirteen years later?
2. What "enduring leadership lessons" can be learned from Alexander's achievements, lessons which are relevant to our contemporary world?
Kurke focuses on 34 episodes which he organizes within the first four chapters, then shares his own "Concluding Thoughts About Leadership" in Chapter 5 followed by "Concluding Thoughts About Alexander" in Chapter 6. I presume to suggest that readers begin with "A Brief Chronology of Alexander's Life" which is located in the Appendix. Presumably they (as did I) will frequently refer back to it while proceeding through the core narrative which consists of a four-stage Leadership Process: Reframing Problems, Building Alliances, Establishing Identity, and Directing Symbols. Kurke also includes his own insights at the conclusion of each of the four chapters (i.e. one per process stage).
Frankly, it is difficult for me to grasp the nature and extent of Alexander's achievements. For example, under his leadership, his armies eventually conquered approximately 90% of the (then) known world...and he is reputed to have known the names of most (if not all) of his 10,000 soldiers. Another example: A student of Aristotle, Alexander was later trained as a doctor and personally attended to the wounds of his soldiers and refused medical treatment of his own (countless) wounds until after his men had been properly cared for. Still another example: Faced with the separate but related problems of (a) providing for his wounded and aged veteran warriors while (b) maintaining control of areas that had been conquered, he established approximately 70 cities and towns of strategic value, occupied by Macedonian veterans and local volunteers who, together, managed those cities and towns effectively.
With regard to the aforementioned "enduring leadership lessons" which Kurke proposes and discusses, it would be a disservice to him as well as to those who read this brief commentary to provide a list now. They are best examined within the context which Kurke carefully creates for each. Also, it makes more sense to correlate them within the four-stage sequence of the Leadership Process. Obviously I think very highly of this book which, in my opinion, makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of what can be described (for lack of a better term) as classical leadership and management principles. They will, of course, have varying degrees of relevance to those who read this book now but all are worthy of careful consideration.
Well-done, Lance Kurke!The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire Overview

Want to learn more information about The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now