The SAGE Handbook of Leadership

Prior to reading a word in this text, it was described to me as “dense”. What a perfect description! As the primary text for the starting course of a doctoral program, the text was overwhelming at first. At no point in time did this become a fun read and, even though I had to force myself through it, once finished, it is a go-to reference for an introduction to many leadership theories.

Written as a sort of anthology of leadership studies, the book is divided into independently-written chapters on the state of leadership studies. Most chapters are actually short essays on a particular style of leadership, presenting its genesis in scholarship as well as current directions in its research. There are other chapters that talk about leadership as a scholastic discipline and set it against a backdrop of business administration, psychology, and organizational studies. The authors of each chapter were skillfully chosen by the editors at SAGE, for when you dig into contemporary research on your own, you will find that the authors are key players in the actual research.

Though not for the faint of heart, The SAGE Handbook of Leadership is an excellent overview of leadership studies, leadership theories, and a handy resource to have at one's disposal.