How to Be a Leader

Timeless advice on how to be a successful leader in any field n n The ancient biographer and essayist Plutarch thought deeply about the leadership qualities of the eminent Greeks and Romans he profiled in his famous-and massive-Lives, including politicians and generals such as Pericles, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Luckily for us, Plutarch distilled what he learned about wise leadership in a handful of essays, which are filled with essential lessons for experienced and aspiring leaders in any field today. In How to Be a Leader, Jeffrey Beneker presents the most important of these essays in lively new translations accompanied by an enlightening introduction, informative notes, and the original Greek on facing pages. n n In To an Uneducated Leader, How to Be a Good Leader, and Should an Old Man Engage in Politics? Plutarch explains the characteristics of successful leaders, from being guided by reason and exercising self-control to being free from envy and the love of power, illustrating his points with memorable examples drawn from legendary Greco-Roman lives. He also explains how to train for leadership, persuade and deal with colleagues, manage one's career, and much more. n n Writing at the height of the Roman Empire, Plutarch suggested that people should pursue positions of leadership only if they are motivated by judgment and reason-not rashly inspired by the vain pursuit of glory, a sense of rivalry, or a lack of other meaningful activities. His wise counsel remains as relevant as ever. n