The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

John C. Maxwell's updated version of the "21 irrefutable laws" that separate the true leader from the pretender, is as good as it gets. It's also a very timely piece of work, in light of the obvious leadership deficiencies recently, coming from the political and business arenas. Clearly, Maxwell knows "leadership"; his version is based on true competency with honesty & integrity; not charismatic hype.
Whether you're trying to persuade a staff of skeptical employees you supervise that you're the real deal, a politician trying to get elected, or a Twitter addict trying to get more followers; this book is for you.

In this work, Maxwell offers a series of leadership concepts that are valuable for all who are leaders or all who want to be a leader. The read is thought-provoking and challenging. Don't read it if you aren't ready to make some changes. Maxwell strikes at a number of tension points for all of us. But I think these blows will leave us walking away for the better. Although I don't think Maxwell is saying stuff that is overly complex or one-of-a-kind, I do think the lessons are essential and should be considered nonetheless. The value of a work like this is the way it takes these simple lessons and keeps them simple, and shows a little about how they apply.

Not having read anything else of Maxwell's before beginning this book, I felt tentative at the outset. I felt, from having seen his titles on the shelf, that he came across as a leach who sucked the life (not to mention money) from insecure neophytes and, in the words of Greg Graffin, lazy middle-class intellectuals. How wrong I found myself very quickly after beginning this book! Maxwell has presented a sound, employable guide-rule to anybody in any position of leadership, if I may be so bold. I read this book just before I interviewed for a supervisory position at my place of employment. I believe that what I learned from Maxwell's book set me apart from other interviewees. I wish I could say that my employers entrusted me with the position, but there has been a hiring freeze, and they cannot proceed beyond the interview process. I can say, though, that Maxwell has presented us with a sound and employable guide-rule which I highly recommend to any person in any position of influence over any other person - which is to say, anybody. Thank you Mr. Maxwell!