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21 Great Leaders: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Influence
To improve your own leadership influence, study the lives of great leaders—you’ll find 21 of them in Pat Williams’ newest book. Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, senior vice president of the Orlando Magic, and author of 90 books, Pat Williams has devoted much of his life to the study of leadership—and shares the stories and principles of individuals from George Washington to Nelson Mandela, Billy Graham to Walt Disney, and Margaret Thatcher to Steve Jobs. Organized around Pat’s “Seven Sides of Leadership”—Vision, Communication, People Skills, Character, Competence, Boldness, Serving Heart— 21 Great Leaders will provide challenge, encouragement, and affirmation for your own leadership journey.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2015
23 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Pat Williams
199 books48 followersPatrick Livingston Murphy Williams was an American sports executive, who served as senior vice president of the Orlando Magic. Williams began his career as a minor league baseball player, and later joined the front office of his team. In the late 1960s he moved into basketball, with his biggest achievements being the 1983 title of the Philadelphia 76'ers and being a partner in the creation of the Orlando Magic.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 9, 2020
you've got to be bold, you've got to be right-wing, but more importantly you've got to be American!
whilst this is incredibly over-simplistic, this book is incredibly western-centric, out of 21 leaders to choose from, about 6 or 7 are American Presidents?
interesting read and the lessons are valuable although the author found it necessary to include mini snippets from early life, suggesting how these behaviours are inherent to the leaders but concludes with how the behaviours can be learnt? Slightly paradoxical.
whilst this is incredibly over-simplistic, this book is incredibly western-centric, out of 21 leaders to choose from, about 6 or 7 are American Presidents?
interesting read and the lessons are valuable although the author found it necessary to include mini snippets from early life, suggesting how these behaviours are inherent to the leaders but concludes with how the behaviours can be learnt? Slightly paradoxical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2017
this book gives a short insight of selected 21 leaders of all time. the leaders are from every field and it gives what is wanted to become and to sustain as a leader. it gives a perspective of their experiences. Also, it gives a reader to define one's own character in leadership as all the leaders are segregated perfectly. A great read.
May 6, 2019
I love biographies of great people in history and this one didn't disappoint. So many great tips and tidbits on some of my favorite people like Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. I listened to it in audiobook form but I bought the kindle version so I could highlight a lot of notes.
October 3, 2024
Although a great read, it seems like Pat Williams is obsessed with Christianity and is insular. He acted like a propagandist, pushing Christian figures while dismissing important leaders from other belief systems.
March 16, 2017
One of the best leadership books I have ever read.
July 8, 2019
This book contains inspiring stories from outstanding leaders. Each story gives us an insight to a leader's good and bad sides that we can learn from.
January 7, 2020
Excellent read for the leader in all of us.
I was not expecting the valuable lessons that I received from reading about these inspiring leaders. So much greatness in one place.
I was not expecting the valuable lessons that I received from reading about these inspiring leaders. So much greatness in one place.
October 15, 2020
Short chapters. On famous leaders. Liked all of them. A great read.
June 6, 2021
So many valuable lessons to unpack here... Great outline, succinct thoughts and applicable methods for effective leadership.
May 29, 2023
A lot of great wisdom in this book & history lessons. Truly enjoyed it & learned a lot.
April 10, 2015
I really enjoyed reading the concise and interesting biographies of these twenty-one leaders. Although they are all famous people, I did not know much about their personal backgrounds prior to reading 21 Great Leaders except for a few of them.
Pat Williams nicely sums up the "lessons" to be learned from each leader at the end of each chapter, making it easy to review ideas.
The slightly patronizing and didactic tone of this book is a bit unpalatable, however. Two examples:
1) In the chapter about Steve Jobs, there is an entire page (page 41) devoted to Jobs' obsession with fruits, and it is hammered into the reader's brain that it is very likely because of this that Jobs had cancer. It is repeatedly stated in different ways how Jobs was unhealthy, fanatical, etc. etc. Seriously! I got the point the first time around.
2) In the chapter on George Washington, there was a sampling from the "110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation" (page 111). Pat Williams felt that the reader could not easily understand statements such as "Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that Speak in Private" and needed to add his translations in parentheses after each statement.
Overall, this is a good, quick read if you want an overview of some of greatest world leaders and a breakdown of what made/makes them tick. As for learning from them... I'm not sure. If the patronizing tone is not off-putting to you, then perhaps. For me, personally, fiction does a better job at lighting that fire than do non-fiction / self-help type books.
* * *
Received a copy of this book from GoodReads' First Reads program.
Pat Williams nicely sums up the "lessons" to be learned from each leader at the end of each chapter, making it easy to review ideas.
The slightly patronizing and didactic tone of this book is a bit unpalatable, however. Two examples:
1) In the chapter about Steve Jobs, there is an entire page (page 41) devoted to Jobs' obsession with fruits, and it is hammered into the reader's brain that it is very likely because of this that Jobs had cancer. It is repeatedly stated in different ways how Jobs was unhealthy, fanatical, etc. etc. Seriously! I got the point the first time around.
2) In the chapter on George Washington, there was a sampling from the "110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation" (page 111). Pat Williams felt that the reader could not easily understand statements such as "Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that Speak in Private" and needed to add his translations in parentheses after each statement.
Overall, this is a good, quick read if you want an overview of some of greatest world leaders and a breakdown of what made/makes them tick. As for learning from them... I'm not sure. If the patronizing tone is not off-putting to you, then perhaps. For me, personally, fiction does a better job at lighting that fire than do non-fiction / self-help type books.
* * *
Received a copy of this book from GoodReads' First Reads program.
March 24, 2015
Billed as a way of improving your own leadership style and influence by learning about 21 great world leaders, this is a relatively harmless, interesting book. Clearly it is not going to be ground breaking or innovative, yet it still can deliver a lot to those who wait!
From politicians to business leaders, the authors have managed to find a good mix of known personalities to focus on. In some ways the list might feel tired and over-featured, such as U.S. Presidents and people like Steve Jobs or Nelson Mandela, though on the other hand they do encapsulate much inspirational, powerful leadership. It is a catch-22 situation in many ways.
This book is something that is ideal for the commute, a late night read or even a “bathroom resource”.
The authors claim that the essence of leadership comes down to seven key ingredients, namely vision, communication skills, people skills, character, competence, boldness and a “service heart”. The selected characters have had, the authors contend, a powerful impact on the way we live our lives today. Is that slightly overdriven? That can be harder to determine and depends on so many factors. Maybe we would all come up with a different list of 21 characters if we had to make one.
Yet as a compilation of leadership-focussed tales that will inform and educate you even if they don’t all necessarily inspire, this book achieves its goal. It was a pleasant way to spend an evening!
21 Great Leaders, written by Pat Williams & Jim Denney and published by Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press. ISBN 9781630586904, 256 pages. YYYY
From politicians to business leaders, the authors have managed to find a good mix of known personalities to focus on. In some ways the list might feel tired and over-featured, such as U.S. Presidents and people like Steve Jobs or Nelson Mandela, though on the other hand they do encapsulate much inspirational, powerful leadership. It is a catch-22 situation in many ways.
This book is something that is ideal for the commute, a late night read or even a “bathroom resource”.
The authors claim that the essence of leadership comes down to seven key ingredients, namely vision, communication skills, people skills, character, competence, boldness and a “service heart”. The selected characters have had, the authors contend, a powerful impact on the way we live our lives today. Is that slightly overdriven? That can be harder to determine and depends on so many factors. Maybe we would all come up with a different list of 21 characters if we had to make one.
Yet as a compilation of leadership-focussed tales that will inform and educate you even if they don’t all necessarily inspire, this book achieves its goal. It was a pleasant way to spend an evening!
21 Great Leaders, written by Pat Williams & Jim Denney and published by Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press. ISBN 9781630586904, 256 pages. YYYY
November 15, 2016
Outstanding analysis of what makes an exceptional leader! Williams introduces seven sides of leadership: vision, communication, people skills, character, competence, boldness, and a serving heart. After discussing each, Williams presents a short assessment of three leaders who excelled in that particular quality or who greatly lacked it (e.g. Steve Jobs had difficulty communicating!).
Anecdotes about the leadership of the 21 leaders Williams recognizes are powerful in illustrating leadership. Williams finishes each leadership quality by presenting lessons from the leaders, including Walt Disney, Ronald Reagan, Sam Walton, Billy Graham, Bill Gates, Rosa Parks, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Abraham Lincoln.
If you want to improve your influence, I'd highly recommend learning from these leaders, including Pat Williams who has applied the lessons to himself as a longtime leader within the NBA, and other venues.
The length of time it took me to read has nothing to do with the readability or interest of the subject matter--I was engaged in a speaking engagement, followed by a large writing assignment.
Anecdotes about the leadership of the 21 leaders Williams recognizes are powerful in illustrating leadership. Williams finishes each leadership quality by presenting lessons from the leaders, including Walt Disney, Ronald Reagan, Sam Walton, Billy Graham, Bill Gates, Rosa Parks, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Abraham Lincoln.
If you want to improve your influence, I'd highly recommend learning from these leaders, including Pat Williams who has applied the lessons to himself as a longtime leader within the NBA, and other venues.
The length of time it took me to read has nothing to do with the readability or interest of the subject matter--I was engaged in a speaking engagement, followed by a large writing assignment.
July 27, 2015
I won 21 Great Leaders: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Influence by Pat Williams through the Goodreads Sweepstakes. I have been reading it rather slowly because of life but just finished it today. I thoroughly enjoyed Pat Williams choose for the 21 Great Leaders. Each and everyone of them do have the qualities of being "Great Leaders" and they can be adopted by each of us.
As I said in my last update, the Leadership styles of each one of the 21 Great Leaders are similar and different of each other. I won't repeat my precious reviews but will completely say that I DO recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn and incorporate the “Seven Sides of Leadership”—Vision, Communication, People Skills, Character, Competence, Boldness, and Serving Heart.
Thank you for reading my short review of Pat Williams book "21 Great Leaders: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Influence".
As I said in my last update, the Leadership styles of each one of the 21 Great Leaders are similar and different of each other. I won't repeat my precious reviews but will completely say that I DO recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn and incorporate the “Seven Sides of Leadership”—Vision, Communication, People Skills, Character, Competence, Boldness, and Serving Heart.
Thank you for reading my short review of Pat Williams book "21 Great Leaders: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Influence".
February 16, 2015
I won this book through GoodReads First Read program.
Pat Williams looks into the lives of 21 great leaders, choosing 3 leaders under each of the 7 qualities of leadership. Those seven qualities are: Vision, Communication, People Skills, Character, Competence, Boldness and a Serving Heart. Williams then, at the end of each mini-biography, provides leadership lessons to be learned from that person's life.
My favorites were Pope John Paul II, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. I enjoy history and these 21 chapters gave me information about those people that I didn't know. Now taking and applying those leadership nuggets from each of their lives will be difficult. Theoretically you can do it but to methodically apply each nugget would be very difficult.
Good book that was a fun read.
Pat Williams looks into the lives of 21 great leaders, choosing 3 leaders under each of the 7 qualities of leadership. Those seven qualities are: Vision, Communication, People Skills, Character, Competence, Boldness and a Serving Heart. Williams then, at the end of each mini-biography, provides leadership lessons to be learned from that person's life.
My favorites were Pope John Paul II, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. I enjoy history and these 21 chapters gave me information about those people that I didn't know. Now taking and applying those leadership nuggets from each of their lives will be difficult. Theoretically you can do it but to methodically apply each nugget would be very difficult.
Good book that was a fun read.
April 26, 2015
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, so thanks to the author for the book.
I am in the military, and we read a lot of leadership books. In my opinion the best way to improve leaders is by example. That is what Pat Williams has provided us. This book reminds me some of John Maxwell's books. My favorite leaders Pat covered were Billy Graham, Rosa Parks and Ronald Reagan. These people are reminders to us all that although they were not perfect, they were able to accomplish great things by being decent, treating others decent, and being competent.
Great fast read. Thanks again for the Giveaway.
I am in the military, and we read a lot of leadership books. In my opinion the best way to improve leaders is by example. That is what Pat Williams has provided us. This book reminds me some of John Maxwell's books. My favorite leaders Pat covered were Billy Graham, Rosa Parks and Ronald Reagan. These people are reminders to us all that although they were not perfect, they were able to accomplish great things by being decent, treating others decent, and being competent.
Great fast read. Thanks again for the Giveaway.
July 23, 2016
"21 Great Leaders: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Influence" by Pat Williams and Jim Denney is an attractive, informative book featuring biographies and lessons from 21 leaders from all aspects of the public arena, including politics, entertainment, human services, business and others. Each chapter gives information and lessons that can be learned from each leader and incorporated in the readers' own lives. Leaders featured include Rosa Parks, FDR, Sam Walton, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Walt Disney and fifteen others.
This book is also an excellent academic reference for students of all disciplines.
This book was won from the Goodreads.com website.
This book is also an excellent academic reference for students of all disciplines.
This book was won from the Goodreads.com website.
May 9, 2015
Grouped under seven leadership traits including communication, courage, competence, vision, this book clearly exemplifies the key attributes of every great leader. Must read for all.
July 24, 2016
21 short biographies, each highlighting one of the seven sides of effective leadership... Great, short stories and points of emphasis. Enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews