Author Wills offers a wide range of portraits drawn largely, but not exclusively, from American history and representing revolutionary, political, religious, business, artistic, sports and military leaders, each shown in the act of leading his or her followers.
He moves beyond the traditional study of elected officials and business giants, past the usual emphasis on glamour, forceful personality or technique, to look at leaders of different scope and particular talents. Wills shows how leaders are shaped by the very circumstances in which they must shape others' actions. No on, after all, can be a leader without followers. In this book, leadership is not a static post, but becomes an exhilarating partnership. Once again, Wills has created a lens through which we see our leaders, our society and ourselves.
