Keith Grint "Leadership: A Very Short Introduction" (Oxford Very Short Introductions)

This is not a "how-to" or "self-help" type of book, and not so an academic book, either. There are some interesting observations in this book, among which I appreciate best diagrams explaining the history of management theories. Overall, however, the way the author tells the story seems pretty random to me. It comprises of random citations from psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, business management, politics, and so on. I don't understand what the author is trying to explain. I read this book only because I am forced to discuss leadership with westerners. Honestly, I would say, "Yeah, I know these topics are fervently discussed by western elite businessmen, which I am not." Well, I would not say this book is a waste of money especially if you have to talk about leadership thing with westerners.

これなあ・・・。英語でこんな話をしないといけないというので、一応全部読んだけど。もちろんビジネスマン向きの自己啓発書ではないけど、大して学術的でもない。一応、社会学・心理学・哲学・歴史・政治学・経営学とかから、ランダムな引用は大量にあるけど。正直なところ、著者が何を説明したいのかよく分からなかった。議論がどこに向かっているのか不明で、思いつきの寄せ集めという印象を受ける。個々の議論は、時々面白いけど。ただ、経営理論の歴史の解説だけは楽しかったな。権限集中と権限分散の繰り返し、科学的管理と情緒重視の繰り返し、それぞれの時代背景。まあ、アングロサクソンのビジネスマンと話をするには、こんな話にも付き合わないといけないというようなことで。