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Forged in Crisis

The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times
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( 994 ratings, 133 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Forged in Crisis by Nancy Koehn delves into the lives of five historical figures, illustrating how they harnessed resilience and determination during tumultuous periods. The book highlights their journeys through personal and professional challenges, exploring how they emerged as influential leaders. Each story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by true stories of leadership and resilience in the face of adversity. It offers gripping accounts of five historical figures who overcame immense challenges, providing insight into the art of guiding others during turbulent times. Perfect for readers interested in history, leadership, and personal growth through the lens of extraordinary lives.

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From a brilliant historian at the Harvard Business School, here is a masterful, in-depth portrait of five extraordinary figures-Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rachel Carson-that illuminates how great leaders are made in times of adversity and the diverse skills they summon in order to prevail.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'A close analysis of five gritty leaders whose extraordinary passion and perseverance changed history . . . a gripping read on a timeless and timely topic!' β€” Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit

Ten years in the writing, Forged in Crisis, by renowned Harvard Business School historian and Davos and Aspen Institute speaker Nancy Koehn, presents five remarkable life journeys: those of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, President Abraham Lincoln, legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Nazi-resisting clergyman Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and environmental crusader Rachel Carson. What do such disparate figures have in common? Why do their stories speak to us so powerfully today?

Koehn begins each of the book's five sections by showing her protagonist on the precipice of a great crisis: Shackleton marooned on an Antarctic ice floe with no hope of rescue; Lincoln on the verge of the collapse of the Union; Douglass threatened with a return to enslavement; Bonhoeffer agonising on what a man of faith should do when faced with absolute evil; Carson racing against the clockβ€”and the cancer ravaging herβ€”in a bid to save the planet. Koehn then reaches back to each person's early years to show the individual blooming into the force he or she would ultimately become. Through their confronting of obstacles, we begin to glean an essential truth: leaders are not born but made, and the power to lead resides in each of us.

In a time when the highest offices in the land are occupied by the inexperienced and untested, the great question pressing on all of us is: What set of skills is required to lead in crisis, and can history give us answers? Whether it's read as a repository of great insight or as exceptionally rendered human drama, the riveting Forged in Crisis stands out as a towering achievement.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Nancy Koehn's Forged in Crisis receives praise for its compelling analysis of leadership through the lens of five historical figures. Reviews highlight the book's focus on passion, perseverance, and values-driven leadership, offering an inspiring exploration of qualities that are crucial for overcoming challenges and navigating crises. It is seen as both a gripping and urgent read, reflecting on timeless leadership qualities that can be applied in contemporary life.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781473674738

Publisher: John Murray Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 October 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: John Murray Publishers Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 163.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 365g

Pages: 528

About the Author

Nancy Koehn is an historian at the Harvard Business School where she holds the James E. Robinson chair of Business Administration. She has coached leaders from many organizations and speaks frequently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Aspen Ideas Festival, and the World Business Forum. An accomplished author and historian (she earned her MA and PhD degrees from Harvard), she spent ten years writing Forged in Crisis, her first book aimed at a popular audience. She lives in Concord, Massachusetts, and is a committed equestrian.

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