Editorial Review:
Sir Ernest Shackleton has been called "the greatest leader that ever came on God's earth, bar none" for saving the lives of the twenty-seven men stranded with him in the Antarctic for almost two years. Today the public can't get enough of this once-forgotten explorer, and his actions have made him a model for great leadership and masterful crisis management. Now, through anecdotes, the diaries of the men in his crew, and Shackleton's own writing, Shackleton's leadership style and time-honored principles are translated for the modern business world. Written by two veteran business observers and illustrated with ship photographer Frank Hurley's masterpieces and other rarely seen photos, this practical book helps today's leaders follow Shackleton's triumphant example.
Cached date: AWS Called=true
You may also be interested in these products:
These categories may also be of interest to you:
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
Heroic. Courageous. Inspiring. 2008-11-19
SHACKLETON'S WAY is an extraordinary tale of leadership, courage, and adventure. The leadership skills of this Antarctic explorer are as relevant today as they were nearly 100 years ago. This book is an insightful narrative of the challenges, tragedies and victories of a small group of resourceful men and a very special leader.
Sir Ernest Shackleton had participated in two explorations of the uncharted, barren continent known as Antarctica. He knew the dangers. Nonetheless in 1914, at the outset of WWI, he and a hand-picked band of courageous shipmates set out to conquer the unknown, chart the unexplored, and to meet the greatest test of their lifetimes. This small group of seamen, scientists, and officers would encounter the most extreme, deadly perils the cold wasteland could summon. They were pressed out of measure and in danger of their lives - for months!
The most inspiring aspect of this legendary tale lies in the singular leadership qualities and strength of character of their leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton. His thoughts, processes, and innate abilities are laid bare for the reader to examine and to profit from. There are lessons for business and in personal character development that bear study and meditation. "Shackleton failed only at the improbable; he succeeded at the unimaginable." Unimaginable, indeed. Few of us have overcome such odds at such peril.
At the time, much of the glorious recount of this miraculous expedition was overshadowed by World War I. Resurrected for us today, this book shines a light brightly on the timeless lessons of this remarkable leader.
Really bad story telling weaved with really poor leadership examples  2008-11-11
I found this to be an impossible read. The story telling is horrible IMHO. I know this is a remarkable story but the authors butchered it. And the attempt to weave in leadership lessons further ruined the story telling. The authors hit you over the head with obvious leadership lessons rather than focusing on telling a good story. I'm amazed at the positive reviews here. I almost never stop reading a book without finishing it, but this was one exception. My time was too valuable to waste on this.
Excellent Leadership Manual for Small Units 2008-05-12
I was assigned this book as part of my Master's class in business, but as a military officer found it a great source of leadership principles on leading a small unit in remote, harsh environments when the tasks ahead seem impossible. Each chapter focuses on a different part of building and leading a team with 2-3 page vignettes followed at the end of each chapter with a business tie-in.
I must admit that I did not know of Shakleton before reading this book. Since reading it, I have already bought it again as a gift for a fellow officer headed to Iraq. A must read! The book is very easy to pick up and read for just 5 minutes or for hours.
Bold Vision & Careful Planning 2008-01-14
I enjoyed this book. It's a short read but certainly with some substance. Ernest Shackleton is, of course, a famous traveler and explorer and there is little new information in the book on the actual subject of his travels. However, the author, who I believe is Shackleton's relative of sorts, does a decent job of putting his experiences in the context of today's management practices. The author analyzes specific actions by the explorer (selection of prospective employees, using public relations to advance his cause and fundraise, etc.) and summarizes take-aways in a simple and straightforward fashion. More than anything, the book made me want to go out and find our more about the man!
A new slant on the Endurance expedition 2007-08-15
I've read a lot of books on Antarctic exploration, but this is the first one that's intended as a text for leadership skills: apparently the intended audience is MBA students and other budding executives. This is an interesting slant on the story, and the authors do seem to have a lot of insight into what made Shackleton a model for leadership. One oddity is that they don't say a word about his controversial decision to site the Nimrod expedition's home base at McMurdo, giving rise to much bitterness in his relations with Scott and the British Antarctic "establishment"; I'd have been interested in the authors' judgment on this.
Does a book like this really give useful guidance to executives? Beats me! The aphorisms they provide seem oversimplified, but I can't claim any expertise here. It was, however, most interesting to contrast Shackleton's leadership principles with those of the current occupant of the White House!
|
|
|
|
