The author is a teacher of Leadership at Oxford and has much experience in this field so the content speaks very much to those whose understanding of leadership in organisations is based on the theories of leadership collected over the years. The books are not biased towards theological leaders, though spiritual leaders such as Gandhi are quoted and mentioned frequently. The author is a Christian and his understandings of some of the characteristics of leadership have been influenced by his belief. His understanding of the way that Jesus was a leader, sometimes using words, sometimes other more forceful actions, have taught him that leadership is not necessarily a method to gain control, but used as an example of how weakness and death and self-emptying are stark examples of power and how it can be used. Through history the pattern is repeated again and again; powerful people who had changed the course of the world – Alexander, Caesar, Genghis Khan and Napoleon to name a few. He also contrasts those leaders who have imposed their will indiscriminately, such as Hitler and Stalin – a leadership which inevitably self destructs. The book allows us to read a chapter, and then asks some study questions to underpin the learning. It also allows us to identify our leadership style and skills. This the first of three and leads on to the next –