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The Modern Shepherd
How can tending a flock of sheep empower leadership skills? How does it build character and awaken wisdom? And why was shepherding the starting point for so many of the great prophets, such as Mohammed, Moses and Abraham? These questions had long intrigued MBA student AlBaraa Taibah before he decided to become a modern-day shepherd and herd sheep alone in the Sahara Desert. Confronting the dangers of desert snakes, getting hopelessly lost in the dunes and suffering from dehydration - all on the first day - made him ask himself, 'Why didn't I just take that leadership course back in Boston?' The Modern Shepherd is a leadership book unlike any other. Inspiring and insightful, AlBaraa H. Taibah reveals the secrets of the ancient art of shepherding and how they can teach us to become effective and successful leaders.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published July 4, 2019
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June 28, 2022
This book is not just theory. The writer was intrigued by the analogy of describing leadership as shepherding. He wanted to experience what it was like to be an actual shepherd, so he planned to spend 10 days in the desert as a shepherd. He wrote down his experiences. Just 134 pages, 10 chapters with titles such as 'Hunger for a new journey', 'Hope in diversity', and 'Redefining failure.' I was intrigued.
Starting in the desert and then going back in time to get little pieces of extra information about the writer made the book dynamic and kept me interested. Also, advice he gets such as 'Beware of death' or the fact that he mentioned that he'd planned to go barefoot without considering the consequences gave me the idea that this was going to be a hands-on book. A book that would dive into the essence of leadership and that would not forget about the need of considering practicalities.
But already in the second chapter it became less interesting. It was like a little formula that was repeated every time and it became monotonous.
My main take-away is that a good leader is accessible, in good times as well as in bad times. I wanted to like the book, but the book reads like a good draft; it needs to be rewritten. I look forward to a revised edition.
Starting in the desert and then going back in time to get little pieces of extra information about the writer made the book dynamic and kept me interested. Also, advice he gets such as 'Beware of death' or the fact that he mentioned that he'd planned to go barefoot without considering the consequences gave me the idea that this was going to be a hands-on book. A book that would dive into the essence of leadership and that would not forget about the need of considering practicalities.
But already in the second chapter it became less interesting. It was like a little formula that was repeated every time and it became monotonous.
My main take-away is that a good leader is accessible, in good times as well as in bad times. I wanted to like the book, but the book reads like a good draft; it needs to be rewritten. I look forward to a revised edition.
Displaying 1 of 1 review