Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude

by Raymond M. Kethledge, Michael S. Erwin, Jim Collins (Introduction)

Throughout history, leaders have used solitude as a matter of course. Martin Luther King found moral courage while sitting alone at his kitchen table one night during the Montgomery bus boycott. Jane Goodall used her intuition in the jungles of central Africa while learning how to approach chimps. Solitude is a state of mind, a space where you can focus on your own thoughts without distraction, with a power to bring mind and soul together in clear-eyed conviction. But these days, handheld devices and other media leave us awash with the thoughts of others. We are losing solitude without even realizing it.
To find solitude today, a leader must make a conscious effort. This book explains why the effort is worthwhile and how to make it. Through gripping historical accounts and firsthand interviews with a wide range of contemporary leaders, Raymond Kethledge (a federal court of appeals judge) and Michael Erwin (a West Pointer and three-tour combat veteran) show how solitude can enhance clarity, spur creativity, sustain emotional balance, and generate the moral courage necessary to overcome adversity and criticism. Anyone who leads anyone--including oneself--can benefit from solitude. With a foreword by Jim Collins (author of the bestseller Good to Great), Lead Yourself First is a rallying cry to reclaim solitude--and all the benefits, both practical and sublime, that come with it.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Psychology, Personal Development, History

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2017

Reviews

[Mark Steed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lead Yourself First has an important message: we need solitude if we are to be effective leaders. Solitude provides the space that allows leaders
to be analytical
to be intuitive
to be creative, and
to find moral courage.

Most importantly solitude allows leaders time to develop the core principles or underlying values that ground one's leadership and serve as a source of strength and direction when times are tough. Times of solitude can be found in any number of ways: on a long walk or run; in a library; or through writing a journal or daily meditation.

Today's leaders face greater pressures because of the "always-on" culture that comes with new technologies. This makes finding solitude all the more important.

"Society did not make a considered choice to surrender the bulk of its time for reflection in favour of time spent reading tweets or texts." (p.181)

The highlight of the book for me were the insights on leadership by Doug Contant, formerly President and CEO of the Campbell Soup Group:

"Leaders need to work on personal leadership as well as organisational leadership."

"Leadership is an inside-out process - you need to be fortified within before you can lead people around you." (p.131)

I particularly liked the idea that Contant spends 30 minutes each morning thinking about five things:

My family
My work
My community
My faith
My personal well-being.
The authors suggest a number of important ways to embrace solitude.

Reset expectations: find the balance between accessibility and distance: try putting in the calendar "time to think" each day and "no-meeting days";
Find Space for solitude: get away from your computer and leave your phone behind.
Prepare for solitude: "percolate beforehand" identifying issues to consider in advance.
Prepare emotionally: "Solitude brings one closer to the truth and sometimes the truth is discomforting."
Embrace hard thinking: think about complex problems.
Identify your first principles and stay connected with them. Be an authentic leader.
Find a higher purpose for your leadership and share it with your followers.

Review
Overall, Lead Yourself First is a much needed reminder that leaders need to take time to reflect and ground themselves in order to do their job more effectively and in that sense it is a worthwhile read. The authors are at their best when they are analysing the issue and offering practical advice (as in the paragraph above).

However, where Lead Yourself First falls down is that the subject doesn't warrant a full book. As a consequence, the authors draw on numerous examples to illustrate its simple message. A further deficiency is that far too many of these are taken from military history (Eisenhower, TE Lawrence, General Mathis, Platoon Commander Katie Simonis, Lincoln, Hooker and Grant to mention a few). At times I felt I was reading the edited highlights of the West Point Reading List combined with the collected anecdotes from contacts made during the authors' military service. Often the length of the narrative (especially the detailed descriptions of battle scenarios) was often well out of proportion with the point that was being illustrated. In what felt like padding (and a deliberate counterblast to the military perspective) the book draws to a close with three extended historical examples of moral courage: Churchill, Martin Luther-King and Karol Woytyla (Pope John-Paul II), without much application to the book's themes.

Having said that, many of the examples were interesting in their own right - it was an unexpected pleasure to fill in some gaps in my knowledge of the US Civil War and of C20 History - but I did not think that the authors worked hard enough to draw out the lessons of their many examples to further their argument about leadership in a significant way.

[Levi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal insights here. This book, along with Digital Minimalism and Creativity, Inc., will be annual rereads for me! I appreciated the insights and have put some of them into practice already. I give this full recommendation! So good.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best leadership books I've read, definitely in my top 10, if not the top 5. In today's busy world where connectedness and few boundaries separating the many facets of our lives exist, the concept of purposeful solitude, where one actively works to examine and develop solutions to problematic situations is rare. Yet, the authors provide numerous examples (Lincoln, Grant, MLK Jr., Pope John Paul II), of how they used different types of solitude to overcome their situations and provide meaningful leadership.

I recommend many books, but this is the one I will probably be buying for others as gifts.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes many examples of leaders using solitude to think through their problems, with lots of example from the military (Eisenhower), civil movement (Martin Luther King), government (Winston Churchill).

The stories are inspiring, but it is not a scientific book on solitude. In other words, do only good leaders use solitude for reflection? How about mediocre ones?

It is like chicken soup stories of solitude.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a goodreads giveaway winner of this book. I found this to be a rather unique read. It focuses on people off all walks of life who have used solitude to help solve problems. all of these are known people who have been faced with big decisions and have turned to solitude for inspiration. In this book we read about famous persons such as Martin Luther King, Jane Goodall,Eisenhower. one of the popes. and so many more who found that time alone to reflect have helped them to lead groups and help solve the issues at hand. I would give this a 3.5. Pretty interesting for the most part.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great stories of people using solitude and introspection to become better leaders in whatever form that takes. As good as the anecdotes were they seemed to be shoehorned into supporting the thesis.

[Reka Beezy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of the examples. We’ve definitely gotten away from introspection in the Information Age. The true value of a person can be found when they have time for reflection.

[MU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proposed alternative title for this book: Fundamentals of Leadership. The authors prove through the accounts they illustrate from history, military, politics, business, non-profit, and social movements that leadership requires lots of self-knowledge and reflection, and the best way to do that is through solitude. Remaining connected without thinking about the real issues is not playing your role as leader. The book also provides some practical and useful tips on how to create time, space, and suitable approaches for reflection without distractions. I think it should be the first book to read about leadership.

[Reba Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed enough to return this book. It reads like military history but is billed as self help? So confused.

[Silvia Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am the biggest advocate for solitude & think the premise of this book is great. However, it more of a collection of (dry/not very interesting) stories than a leadership/business/self-help book🤭

[Danny Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding and informative book. An immediate addition to my recommended reading for junior leadership; the earlier these concepts are understood the better.

This book shows how productive solitude to produce clarity, creativity, emotional balance, and moral courage, improves both the self and the organizations of leaders. Because of this, leaders have a responsibility and obligation to seek it. This writing explains the positive effects of taking time to quietly reflect on information before making decisions or coming to conclusions. Using historical examples of military leaders, scientists, political and religious figures, and others, the author shows how deliberately planned isolation as part of a routine is essential for blocking the “noise” of life to focus on finding solutions. In the same sense as the stoic concept explained by Ryan Holiday in “Stillness is the Key” for self improvement, “Lead Yourself First” explains how these practices spill over into benefits for organizational leaders.

Clarity
Isolation allows one to center their thinking on the true problem at hand. By understanding this, leaders can focus teams away from distractions or emotions and into resolutions. A great example used is of a new Battalion Commander introducing himself to his subordinate leadership arriving to the battlefield in Vietnam by saying, “I’m scared shitless and I presume you are too. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s figure out what to do.” This quote given its context succinctly summarizes the point of the situation and levels understanding in a way for the team to collectively drive forward on the mission.

Creativity
This aspect explains how the “ideas are creative because they are based on horizontal connections based on things that at first seem unrelated” and the intuitive path sometime reveals itself when the person simply quiets down and listens. Even through setbacks, the obstacle can become the way (R Holiday) and sometimes our purpose is shown by what life expects from us (VE Frankl).

Emotional Balance
“A leader takes on forces larger than himself, but with clarity, believes himself a match for them”. This includes being an inexperienced leader who is self aware and willing to ask questions. An effective leader is honest with themself about emotion and the need to dissipate it appropriately so it doesn’t cloud judgement or negativity affect those in their charge.

Moral Courage
Some decisions bring consequences of moral criticism of both the decision and decision maker. “Moral courage is what enables a leader to make [the right decisions] nonetheless”, with clarity and conviction and anchored in strong principles.
“Leadership is an inside out process. You need to be fortified within before you can lead the people around you.” This comes from introspection with honest reflection to get to know oneself. To place the concept into effective practice, the time for introspection is BEFORE you need it.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lead Yourself First is a book that attempts to foster leadership qualities through solitude. I don’t recall how I heard of this book, but it was through another book.

The book is written by Raymond M Kethledge and Michael S Erwin. Kethledge is a judge in the sixth circuit and Erwin is a former soldier. While one is extroverted and the other is introverted they both share a love of solitude that allows them to make calm, rational decisions. With our world the way it is, interconnected and loaded with pointless emails and texts, there is a lot to worry about.

The crux of the book is that solitude allows for a soothing effect that can help people make decisions. The main points are supported by personal stories of famous military leaders and business executives. Sometimes they have major problems, such as Dwight D Eisenhower with his D-Day Decisions and when to schedule them for the best timings and so on.

It is easy to get engrossed by this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Lance Cahill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of leadership books. I bought this book because one of the co-authors is a rumored SCOTUS possibility. That being said, I did enjoy this book. It’s a generous four stars due to that context.

Anyone in a managerial-level position can ultimately agree with the premise of this book- that reducing stimuli will allow for clearer thinking.

The historical examples are interesting and the book is very well-written, with the section on John Paul II being my favorite, though the connection to solitude is not clearly established in my view.

[Fred Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Simply the best book I have read on reflection and solitude and it’s benefits for leaders. Through history and great leaders the author illustrates the. Value of seeking time to think alone.

[Brian Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful look at how some of the world’s greatest leaders use solitude to find more clarity, creativity, emotional balance and moral courage. And, of course, how we can do the same.

“To lead others you must first lead yourself. That, ultimately, is the theme of this book.

Leadership, as Dwight Eisenhower defined it, is ‘the art of getting someone else to do something that you want done because he wants to do it.’ That does not mean that leadership amounts to using people; like anyone else, a leader must recognize that each person is an end in himself. It means, instead, to make others embrace your goals as their own. But to do that you must first determine your goals. And you must do that with enough clarity and conviction to hold fast to your goals—even when, inevitably, there are great pressures to yield from them. To develop that clarity and conviction of purpose, and the moral courage to sustain it through adversity, requires something that one might not associate with leadership. That something is solitude.”

~ Raymond M. Kethledge and Michael S. Erwin from Lead Yourself First

Solitude. It’s the secret sauce to leadership.

As Raymond Kethledge and Michael Erwin tells us: “Solitude is a state of mind, a space where you can focus on your own thoughts without distraction, with a power to bring mind and soul together in clear-eyed conviction. Like a great wave that saturates everything in its path, however, handheld devices and other media now leave us awash with the thoughts of others. We are losing solitude without even realizing it.”

My wife got this book for me after seeing it on Brené Brown’s reading list. It’s fantastic.

Raymond Kethledge is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Michael Erwin is a graduate of West Point who served two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq and is now an assistant professor in psychology and leadership at West Point. Together they have written a brilliant, inspiring book on how to use solitude to become a better leader.

Jim Collins’s 4-page Foreword is so good I could write a review just on THAT. I love the way he makes the case for the importance of solitude (and this book): “We live in a cacophonous age, swarming insects of noise and interruption buzzing about—emails, text messages, cable news, advertisements, cell phones, meetings, wireless Web connections, social media posts, and all the new intrusions invented by the time you are reading this. If leadership begins not with what you do but with who you are, then when and how do you escape the noise and find your purpose and summon the strength to pursue it? This book illustrates how leaders can—indeed must—be disciplined people who create the quiet space for disciplined thought and summon the strength for disciplined action. It is a message needed now more than ever, else we run the risk of waking up at the end of the year having accomplished little of significance, each year slipping by in a flurry of activity pointing nowhere. So take some quiet time, engage with this book, and commit to the hard work of alone time.”

If that sounds like fun, I think you’ll love the book. Get a copy here.

It’s a very thoughtful look at how leaders ranging from Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill and T.E. Lawrence (aka of Arabia) to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jane Goodall have used solitude to find more clarity, creativity, emotional balance and moral courage. And, of course, how we can do the same.

Some of my favorite big ideas from this book include:

1. The Input Age - Inputs. Inputs. Endless inputs.
2. Solitude’s Big 4 - Clarity + Creativity + Emotional Balance + Moral Courage.
3. MLK’s Moral Courage via solitude.
4. FOMO - Get over it.
5. Changing the World - Great souls. Let’s do it.

I’ve summarized those Big Ideas in a video review that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/OG2sTdsYyo0?feature=...

I’ve also added Lead Yourself First by Raymond M. Kethledge and Michael S. Erwin to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept gets 5 stars, the execution 2 stars. To start: I’m clearly not the target audience for this book, but it was insightful to see what sorts of stories are meant to demonstrate admirable leadership. I am a pacifist and have no interest in military efforts, so I found little of value in the military anecdotes. Thank goodness for Mr Kethledge’s daughter Ella, who convinced the authors to feature Jane Goodall (as indicated in the acknowledgments).

I wish the concepts promoted here were illustrated with anecdotes from more women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ communities – people who are effectively battling much more insidious issues like institutionalized oppression.

It’s also very disappointing that Aung San Suu Kyi is featured here without any acknowledgement of her tacit support for the genocide of the Rohingya, which really began in 2016, before this book’s publication. If they publish a new edition, they must update this glowing section or remove it altogether.

Finally, the colonial, white male privilege mindset of the authors is evident throughout most of the book. For example, Yangon is referred to as Rangoon consistently. This is an outdated, colonizing word for Yangon and simply perpetuates the notion that colonial Western powers get to have final say in what subjugated communities get to call their own places.

I truly hope the authors of this book actively attempt to expand their ideas of what it means to be a truly good leader.

[Sue Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gosh, I had such high hopes for this book. (sigh)

No dice. There were some good concepts and ideas, but the stories were tiresome and included way too many irrelevant details. I had to skim the second half of the book, as I hate to leave a book unfinished, but all those stories just wore me out. . . The "West Point" alum connection was probably a little over the top and made it start feeling like the authors just interviewed their friends.

[Bálint · Rating 1 out of 5]

such a "say nothing in 500 pages" book. yes, solitude is great. I don't need to know how Eisenhower treated Patton though. I think this book can easily compete in the "most fluff in a book ever" competition.

[Eperdu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concept of this book, quite a lot. The idea that we need more solitude and time spent in reflection isn't a new one but it's one that has been pushed by the wayside the busier we get. Solitude and reflection don't mesh with with 'busy' and 'multitasking' which is why they are so powerful. They force you to slow down.

But this is not what people want to do. People want to be busy and they want to have that crutch of, 'omg I'm so busy!' and they like the attention they get when they talk about how busy they are and how good they are at multitasking.

I digress. This book shows us the lives of many influential and highly respected people, names we all recognize, and showcases their lives and how they used solitude to become who they were. Every story is an excellent read. But .. this book is way too long. It's ultimately micro-history stories that focused on solitude, which isn't bad, but it gets very repetitive. Each chapter is essentially the same story over and over, with only the names and dates changed. It isn't to say that there isn't value in it because some stories are from modern people in this digital age where multitasking and being overly busy is the norm as well as the classics like Churchill and Malcom X. They all partake in solitude and they all are incredibly successful at what they do and they all do it very similarly. I mean, how many ways can you practice solitude outside of meditation, journaling, running/walking/exercising, locking yourself in our office, taking a camping trip, isolating in the woods, etc.

I think this could have been half the length and been just as enjoyable. I have zero regrets reading it. I learned a lot of history (or this authors take on these individuals history). It impressed upon me the need to make solitude a habit, which I think is the key takeaway.

[Stephen Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. My expectations were tempered by the title which, taken alone, implies a selfish attitude towards leadership. “Lead Yourself First” isn’t exactly “Officers Eat Last” after all. But it’s not that at all. It’s about the value of solitude, something which took me time to learn and appreciate.

As a young Marine officer I tended to buck the trend of my peers by running alone, more out of a lack of confidence in my running ability than anything else. But over time this developed into a habit. For virtually 26 years I blocked time in my calendar from 1130 to 1300 each day for “PT.” By the time I was a field grade officer I recognized how valuable that alone time was to me, coming in the middle of a day that typically began before 0700 and ended after 1800. It represented a mental break from the phones, emails, and demands of my job as a Judge Advocate. It gave me time to think about the challenges of the day and “breath” in preparation for what was to come.

Such is the lesson of this book. The authors conclude with three points of their own, and you can read the book yourself to learn them. But for me, the three take aways are:

(1). Don’t be afraid to take time for yourself, but don’t be selfish with that time. Apply yourself, and use it to think and recharge.

(2). Don’t be afraid to take the things you learn in your “thinking time” and try them out for size. They may not work. That’s okay. It’s an iterative process.

(3). Once your thoughts have been refined, don’t be afraid to be a nonconformist and/or to speak truth to power.

A good read worth your time and consideration, even if it only reinforces that which you already know.

[Yoric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The core message of the book is very profound because it touches one's life direction and destiny.
We all know the importance of setting goals in one's life, and we all know most of us don't. Why is this so?
We all know setting goals is not what really matters, the essence of it is rather feeling the burning desire to accomplish those goals, and how where does this strength and clarity of purpose comes from? This book brings a simple answer:

"To develop that clarity and conviction of purpose, and the moral courage to sustain it through adversity requires something that one might not associate with leadership. That something is solitude."

We may have forgotten how important it is to be with oneself alone.
As Pascal reminded us: "All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.".

At the beginning of the book, the author warns us from what we already know: "e-mails, texts, tweets, Internet and the rest, swarm us with input from other minds."
And "The bulk of these inputs are, by their nature, superficial."
So "Responding to these inputs generates as much thought as swatting so many flies. They deaden both the mind and soul."
Isn't it fascinating? What do we feed our mind with? Are we conscious about the direction of our thousands thoughts an hour? Are we doing something about it?
We can conclude serious thinking, inspired thinking can't arise without purposely seeking solitude on a regular basis.

"In years past, leaders used solitude without even being aware of the fact. Today it takes a conscious effort. One part of the solution is simply discipline — the discipline to unplug"

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about solitude and its different forms (solitude through daily/weekly journaling, running, hiking, reading, and reflecting, etc.) and how essential it is for emotionally stable leadership, especially in hard times.

I particularly liked the stories of Jane Goodall and how unconventional her scientific methods were at that time. Then, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., and, finally, Pope John Paul II.

The story of Pope John Paul II touched me the most. Despite so many hardships, like the deaths of his family members, hard labor in factories, and the communist regime in Poland, he was able to rise above it all and still maintain his empathy, humanity, and hope. I think such leadership is essential during times like the ones we are experiencing now.

Overall, as its title suggests, Lead Yourself First proves that to lead others, you must first pause and reflect on yourself and your values. It's impossible to be emotionally mature without first being spiritually mature.

3.5/5 🌟🌟🌟

Some worth-remembering quotes from the book:

“The most inspiring leaders are ones who find a clarity of meaning that transcends the tasks at hand. And that meaning emerges through reflection.”

“A lack of silence and solitude leads to anxiety, which leads to demonization based on differences, which leads to conflict, which leads to violence. We need to reverse the flow. We need to invite people to think about their feelings, to address them, and then come up with a creative response that builds relationships and trust.” What we need, one might say, is grace.”

“To respect the worth of others relative to oneself is to be humble.”

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solitude...it's something I have often sought out, on almost a daily basis. For me, it isn't a "nice to have," it's an essential part of my life. Much like exercise, I can go without solitude for a while -- a few days, maybe even a few weeks -- be before too much time passes, I find myself getting grumpy, slow, and stressed. Maybe it's for that reason that I found this book so interesting. Truthfully, though, I think solitude, properly used, is something that anyone can benefit from, even those who don't think they will. Maybe especially for such people.

The book begins with a compelling argument for the importance of solitude in any leader's (or person's) life. The authors explain their ideas using personal examples as illustrations. They then proceed to a series of chapters, each of which is built around an experience or person who exemplifies one or more of the benefits of, or approaches to, solitude. I first listened to it as an audiobook, and appreciated the listen, but I will go back and read it, this time with an eye to teasing out specific lessons or ideas that will help me in my solitude.

It's a worthwhile read.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Lead Yourself First presents a coherent thesis about the critical importance to effective leadership of having time alone with one’s thoughts, and how this is an irreplaceable ingredient for (a) clarity, (b) creativity, (c) emotional balance, and (d) moral courage. This rings true - think about how we make decisions and interact with others when properly centered versus frazzled.

The book builds on some of the emerging wisdom of other works like Essentialism (McKeown), Deep Work and Digital Minimalism (Newport), Work Stronger (Leibman), When (Pink), Slow (McAlary), and others. The authors provide deep, rich case studies about this thinking in action, including historical accounts of Ulysses S. Grant, Martin Luther King Jr., and Winston Churchill. Easily my favourite historical analog was that of Dwight Eisenhower painstakingly weighing the difficult choices he had to make about the timing and execution of Operation Overlord, and the huge importance of reflection time in his deliberation process. Highly recommended.

[Solitude and books · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Inspire Yourself - Overcome Your Fears and Start Believing in Yourself" by Mehak Chawla is an excellent book that will help readers to overcome their fears and motivate them to achieve success in life. The author has done an excellent job of presenting the content in a concise and easy-to-understand manner, making it a great resource for readers of all ages.
The book is well-structured with 6 chapters that cover the attributes of successful people and the tools that come in handy in life. The author has used big, beautiful fonts and highlighted sections to make the content more engaging and interesting. The author's youthful energy and enthusiasm are evident throughout the book, making it an inspiring read.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for motivation and inspiration to achieve success in life. The author's positive and optimistic approach to life is infectious, and readers will undoubtedly benefit from her words of wisdom. It's a short read, but it packs a powerful punch. Kudos to the author for writing such an uplifting and inspiring book!

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a disappointment this book was.

Kethledge and Erwin start with a promising thesis: that it's essential for leaders to unplug from interaction with others and spend time in solitary contemplation. That thesis is then wasted on a series of unrelated historical vignettes with little to tie them together but, "and at one point during this situation, our hero was alone!" It seems like a good point for a series of historical profiles, but not for a (somehow much-lauded) leadership text.

I've given an extra star for eight pages at the end in which Kethledge and Ervin talk about *how* and *why* to pursue solitude. The book would have been much better if they'd started with that, an expanded on it. A book on why leaders should be alone and how to do it would be worthy of great acclaim. Do yourself a favor; borrow a copy of this book from someone suckered into buying it, copy the last eight pages and learn from them. You'll save a lot of time and gain all of this volume's insight.

[Lye Lawrence · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book's core premise can be summarized by: to effectively lead, a person must make time for themselves. This book illustrates this premise in varying ways by bringing in various anecdotes and stories by famous/influential leaders. It's a great concept that I agree with— my low rating comes from finding these stories unrelatable on the whole. Other reviewers have pointed out more eloquently than I have how it feels like a boys club. There is not much grappling with the greater context around some of these leadership stories, unless it is in service of the book's premise. The inclusion of Aung San Suu Kyi's experience as a support of the core premise without acknowledging her denying/defending Rohingya genocide in Myanmar was frustrating. The book flattens many of the layers of leadership, most notably the systemic ones. More stories from the perspective of marginalized leaders (not simply adapted from their stories) are needed to round this out and not leave glaring holes.

[Philip Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for anyone who has not discovered the powerful benefits of finding solitude in a hectic world. Having two small kids, a working wife, and an extremely hectic job myself, I really found a lot of value in what the authors were preaching. In particular, I really enjoyed how the authors use historical examples such as Winton Churchill, Eisenhower, and MLK to drive the point home. My life isn't nearly as dramatic as that, but it really helped drive home how vital solitude can be to mental regeneration and creative thought. I wouldn't say its a complaint, but my own issue with the book is that for someone like me who already realized and strives for moments of solitude, there were sections that were a little "preachin to the choir" for me, but overall I was never bored or unengaged in the book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read a book authored by someone who I know and can consider a friend. What a cool thing!!

I loved this book and how it showcased that solitude can be instrumental to leadership. As an introvert who functions fairly well in social settings, I've always found it hard to put into words what time alone truly does for me, but this book put it far more eloquently than I could.

I loved all of the stories about the different leaders and truly enjoyed learning about them - some who I had heard of before (Dr. King, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) and some who I had not (Aung San Suu Kyi being an excellent example). I was particularly impressed by the chapter on Jane Goodall, who I never actually assigned the description "leader" to, but who absolutely is a leader. This type of perspective is exactly why I loved this book.

[Uninvited]

This is a book about the importance of solitude. It is divided into 4 parts, according to the benefits that solitude can bring to a person: Clarity, Creativity, Emotional Balance, Moral Courage. Each part begins with a chapter describing, in brief, the corresponding benefit, and giving short examples from everyday people's experience. Then a couple of chapters follow, focusing on a major personality, and how they used solitude to their advantage. Examples from the lives of 9 historical figures are included: Dwight Eisenhower, Jane Goodall, T. E. Lawrence, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, Aung San Suu Kyi (a person that I only just learned about thanks to this book), Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr, Pope John Paul II. Those made the book even more interesting, due to their historical value. A very good read overall.