Leadership

Outline

Leadership (2022) studies six world leaders who shaped the second half of the twentieth century: Konrad Adenauer, Charles de Gaulle, Richard Nixon, Anwar Sadat, Lee Kuan Yew, and Margaret Thatcher. Henry Kissinger, who knew each of them, examines how they combined vision and courage to guide their nations through crisis and change. The book draws lessons about statesmanship for leaders today.

• The book profiles six leaders who shaped the second half of the twentieth century: Adenauer, de Gaulle, Nixon, Sadat, Lee Kuan Yew and Thatcher.
• Kissinger writes from personal acquaintance, since he knew each of the six leaders he examines.
• Each leader combined vision with courage to guide their nation through crisis and change.
• The book looks at how these leaders handled power, crisis and uncertainty, and what their decisions show.
• It draws lessons in statesmanship that leaders today can apply to their own roles.

Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) was a German-born American diplomat and political scientist who served as U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser in the 1970s. He remained an influential voice on international affairs for decades. His books include Diplomacy, On China, World Order, and Leadership, which he published at the age of ninety-nine.