La naturaleza del liderazgo. Reptiles, mamíferos y el reto de convertirse en un gran líder. (The Nature of Leadership

This book is a basic introduction to the qualities, skills, and abilities needed to become an excellent leader. White uses the characteristics of reptiles and mammals to illustrate the leadership dichotomy—the need for a leader to balance the hard, disciplined, and analytical side with the gentler, flexible, and more humane side. An excellent leader, he says, is someone who successfully incorporates characteristics of both to accomplish big, transcendental changes in the organization. Compact and simply written, it features lots of personal stories from White's corporate experience and examples of leadership challenges from the political and business worlds. In particular, Chapters 6 and 7 are filled with practical information for the leader-to-be and the appendix includes a self-assessment tool. A fine book, but readers should know that White served as president of the University of Illinois from 2004 to 2009, when he voluntarily resigned after an admissions scandal concerning the admission of politically connected applicants over more qualified ones at the Urbana-Champaign campus. White will continue as a professor of business and leadership at Urbana-Champaign; his classes on ethics and leadership will probably fill up quickly from now on. Recommended for public, academic, and special libraries with large business sections, as well as general bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA