My home library shelves are cluttered with many of the best selling books that present varied and conflicting leadership theories. Very often, those best selling theories are presented in popular and simplistic terms that appeal to wishful thinking but are not very applicable in the workplace. Maccoby cuts through the leadership literature clutter with a very clearly reasoned and persuasively presented vision of leadership. It is a very insightful and integrated vision based on 30+ years of practical field research and experience as a consultant, anthroplogist, psychologist and leadership coach. As a Director of Human Resources with 20 years of experience, I found Maccoby's description of the narcisisstic leader and other personality types to be a useful aid to understanding CEOs, Presidents, Vice-President and other leaders who were difficult to relate to and eluded explanation. Maccoby's self-inventory and descriptions of Freud's and Fromm's personality types are also pragmatic tools for any managers and would be leaders who are interested in understanding themselves and in developing their ability to partner effectively with other personality types. Maccoby's elegant writing style and use of entertaining poignant illustrations from productive narcissists we know and love make his analysis of the personality types and strategic thinking entertaining,lively and dynamic... without losing sight of what is practical. What you learn from reading this book may not leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, but it is very useful.

Dr. Maccoby takes much of our wishful thinking about great leaders and presents a compelling and realistic contrast. His work is grounded in excellent illustrations of what leaders are like "who want to change the world."

Almost all of us have worked with leaders we admire and who are also hard to get along with. Dr. Maccoby takes us into their world and explains what is happening. He also has good ideas for how you, as a subordinate, can work the most effectively with them and under them.

I highly recommend the book for any leader or consultant who wants to take a look at how creative leaders really do innovate and change things. It is contrary to the narrow research of Jim Collins and points out that Collins' work really misses the boat in understanding the innovative corporation and the innovative leader.

Michael Maccoby's fascinating book shows that narcissism is normal and productive in the visionary leaders he describes and analyzes. Even as a colleague who knows his other books, I can say honestly this is a bold and stimulating book. It is well written and enjoyable to read. He describes clearly why at this time of economic transformation these visionaries are playing such an important role in society, business, and science. Maccoby gives insights into the life stories and innovative work of such leaders as Henry Ford, Jack Welch, Bill Gates, Frank Lloyd Wright, Steve Jobs, Esther Dyson, Andy Grove, Steve Case, Craig Ventner, among others whose names are well known and in the media almost daily. Many books talk about people suffering from malignant narcissism who are so sick they could not lead corporations or make groundbreaking discoveries or creations. Michael Maccoby has written about normal narcissistic character like that of visionary leaders such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle, and Mohandas Gandhi. Maccoby shows why these leaders are effective, and also how to work with them. The book includes a survey which readers can take to understand themselves in terms of the four normal types of character the book also describes, narcissist being one. Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor, University of Southern California, an authoritative writer on leadership himself, says about this book: "An original and insightful addition to leadership studies. Maccoby redresses a balance long needed to fully understand the practice of leadership."

Mauricio Cortina and Michael Maccoby give us a rare gift in A PROPHETIC ANALYST: ERICH FROMM'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOANALYSIS, by editing the work of eighteen contributors presented at the Erich Fromm International Symposium held in Washington, D.C. in March 1994. Erich Fromm was read by millions and was highly influencial in the 1940s and 50s, but fell into neglect in his later years, in spite of the fact that some of his important work, SOCIAL CHARACTER IN A MEXICAN VILLAGE (co-authored with Micheal Maccoby) and THE ANATOMY OF HUMAN DESTRUCTIVENESS was published in the 1970s. Erich Fromm greatly admired Freud, yet was courageously critical of many aspects of his theory. The contributors to this book take a similar attitude toward Fromm, admiring his major contributions to psychoanalysis without shrinking from pointing out his short-comings. This is a scholarly work, but (also in Fromm's own tradition) one that is highly readable. I recommend it to anyone who has found Fromm a source of understanding or inspiration in the past. For the clinician, it offers rare insight into Fromm's contributions to clinical psychoanalysis. It deepens understanding of his work as a sociologist and philosopher. For the merely curious about Fromm as psychoanalyst or social thinker, this book could be a good beginning. Robert Duckles, Ph.D. bobduck@aol.com

The "Gamesman" hero of the book is Richard Hackborn, who 25 years later recruited Carly Fiorina to run Hewlett-Packard.

Even though the book is from the mid 70's, Maccoby does us all a great service by publishing the results of his extensive study into corporate life.

Based on his surveys and interviews, he develops four organizational personalities: The Craftsman, The Organizational Man, The Jungle Fighter, and The Gamesman - and states that no one is purely of one type, but rather, containing a mixture, depending on the circumstances and personalities. He gives a description of each character and establishes how and when they are the most effective, in an organization.

As an example, the Organization Man is most valuable at 'keeping things as they are', which is so desperately needed in times of stability, but an awful impediment to organizations that need innovation and courage to take risks in times of change.

He spends an entire chapter describing a real life Gamesman, showing how this character's strengths are those that are most recruited for the top level organizational positions. Through the description and mini-biograph, he shows that corporate personalities are shaped by job requirements, and less so by the individual (him)self. The higher the position in the firm, the more outside pressures there are to conform to the expectations of that role.

Maccoby spends a chapter critiquing Maslow's hierarchy. This is a good read if you've been relying on this to rationalize your own lifestyle.

Finally, in my favorite chapter, Maccoby addresses the question of how a corporate player can move from a head-based approach, to a heart-based approach. While he doesn't answer the question and provide concrete action steps, it is refreshing, at least to this reviewer,to know that someone is thinking of the issues, and sharing the thoughts that go into it.

A good book. Recommended.