Leader

The title of this books poses a crucial question. Church leaders are compelled to come up with an answer of some kind. How do you defend the faith to a generation that hears with its eyes and thinks with its emotions? Any ideas? By adapting classical apologetics to meet today's challenges. John Guest, Judy Salisbury, Ravi Zacharias, and others use personal examples to help you address objections to Christianity, equip teens to remain faithful to Christ, reach foreign-born residents, and more. -- K. K. Dunn, Kansas City

The celebrated painting of "Washington Crossing the Deleware" shows two future presidents. In addition to the prominently displayed Father of Our Country, the young officer clutching the American flag is James Monroe. There is an element of irony in this painting since the two most famous foreign policy propositions in American history were established by these two men: Washington's admonition that the United States should get involved in no foreign entanglements and the Monroe Doctrine, which declared that every nation "is exclusively the judge of the Government best suited to itself" and that no other nation could interfere with that self-determination. Consequently, young readers will find in Charles Wetzel's biography of "James Monroe" for the World Leaders: Past & Present series an understanding of the Monroe Doctrine that goes well beyond the simple idea that European powers need to stay out of the Western Hemisphere to something more fundamental (and which is clearly embodied in the War for Iraqi Freedom).

This volume tells how Monroe was born into a distinguished Virginia family who left the College of William and Mary to enlist in the Continental Army and serve under Washington. Wounded at the Battle of Trenton after the crossing of the Deleware, Monroe ended the war as a major. A disciple of Thomas Jefferson, Monroe's political career led him to become governor of Virginia and during the Jefferson administration served as ambassador to France, Spain and England. Because of his diplomatic service Monroe was appointed Secretary of State by President James Madison. However, it was as Secretary of War during the War of 1812 that Monroe became a national hero (in contemporary terms, this would mean he went from Colin Powell to Donald Rumsfeld, thereby becoming one of the few men to be a memorable Secretary of War). Elected to the Presidency in 1816, Monroe served two terms in what is now known as the Era of Good Feelings.

This is an informative biography aimed at an older school audience and its major strength is that it focuses more on the political aspects of Monroe's public life than on standard biographical details. The volume is illustrated with historic paintings, etchings, and drawings, including several editorial cartoons that are intriguing looks at the political times in which Monroe lived. The World Leaders: Past & Present series consists of 157 biographies written especially for young adults to introduce them to men and women whose ideas and actions have determined the course of history. This includes world leaders from John Adams to Zhou Enlai, going back to Pericles and up to Ronald Reagan. All the volumes include a prologue "On Leadership" by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

Jefferson Davis is the only American President not to be the President of the United States. In this excellent juvenile biography by Joey Frazier young readers will learn that Davis was a distinguished politician even before he became the first and only PResident of the Confederate States of America. Having grown up on a Mississippi cotton plantation, Davis was educated at West Point and served as an army officer. In the U.S. Senate Davis supported slavery and strongly championed states rights, which made him the perfect man to lead the South. Frazier also covers the years after the Civil War, when Davis was held in prison and wrote his memoirs after being released. Students having to research Davis for a class project will find lots of information in this easy to read book.

This book in the Famous Figures of the Civil War Era series is illustrated with historic paintings and etchings, although strangely enough the only photography is a contemporary one of a statue of Davis. I know there are historic photographs of him, but for some reason this series tends to shy away from such things. Side-bars focus on details such as the impact of the invention of the cotton gin on slavery and the attack on Ft. Sumter. Although these books always refer to their subjects by their first name, this is a solid series for young readers interested in the Civil War.

"The People's Aardvark" is Ed Slavin's sub-title for the chapter on "Purging Corruption," which focuses on Jimmy Carter's successful run for the Presidency in 1976. You see, that year, in the wake of Watergate, a Democratic party official had declared the party "could run an aardvark this year and win." Of course, one of the purposes of Ed Slavin's biography of Jimmy Carter is to given readers a better sense of how the first Southerner since Zachary Taylor to be elected to the White House (No, Texans do not count) was a bit more than an aardvark (with all apologies to Cerebus). Slavin begins his biography with Carter's last day in office, clearly recognizing the Iranian hostage crisis as the crucible of his presidency. The other chapters are devoted to Carter's youth and years in the military, his political career in Georgia, the surprisingly successful run for the Presidency, the impact of the oil crisis on Carter's domestic policy, his greatest success with the Camp David Accord, his foreign policy with regards to the Panama Canal and the Soviet Union, and a final chapter that parallels the downfall of the Shah of Iran with Carter leaving office. Written in 1989, this book touches only briefly on Carter's work since leaving the White House. However, there are other juvenile biographies that deal more with his political and social work over the past twenty years that have made him one of the more active ex-Presidents.

"Jimmy Carter" is a biography that effectively emphasizes depth over breadth. There are competing biographies that certainly provide more biographical information and details about the Carter Presidency. However, Slavin limits the number of topics to provide more substance and more analysis than you will normally find. The result, is a better understanding of the complex issues that defined the Carter presidency and which highlighted his strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Obviously, Slavin proves Carter to be more than the aardvark of the moment. "World Leaders Past & Present" is a biographical series written especially for young adults and intended to introduce people from history whose ideas and actions have determined the course of history from John Adams to Zhou Enlai. This book, and I suspect others in the series, has an introduction on "Leadership" by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. that defines the focus and import of the series.

What an insightful and intiguing book! Once you begin reading, be prepared to continue to the final page. Joe Batory's inspirational leadership and dedication to children is like a beacon shining through the foggy mist that obscures public education today. Every politician should be required to read chapter 19, "The Moral Vacuun," or at least have it read to them before they speak about education. In addition, he paints a beautiful portrait of his own personal love story with his wife in the "Arranged Marriage" chapter.
A great follow-up to Batory's first book, "Yo! Joey!" I highly recommend this wonderful portrait of a school leader to everyone, parents, educators, school board members, and politicians.
John H. Nawn, Former President
Upper Darby (PA) Board of School Directors

I have recently had the privilege of reading three of Carol Behrman's books for the Presidential Series: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson. Ms. Behrman skillfully shows the background, eccentricities, strong principles that made the pathways, and crossroads of their lives clear and comprehensible. Clearly these books show how the incidents and choices of these founding fathers were a beautiful part of the mosaic that is the history of our country. Best of all as children read these books they may forgot they are reading well-documented history. These biographies are as interesting and intriguing as well-plotted novels!

An extraordinary work of labor, social, economic, and political history. Thank you Steven Fraser, for an exquisitely detailed, penetrating, expansive, and sophisticated analysis of an inspiring person and his times. Bravo.

Praise for Jonetta Rose Barras and The Last of the Black Emperors

The Last of the Black Emperors is wonderful...fascinating, colorful, exciting, honest, and stylishly written...An eye-opener for America that everybody will be talking about this summer... -Ralph Collier, host of the nationally syndicated radio program, "I Hear America Talking"

A deeply rewarding book. Ms. Barras is lucid both in her writing and her reportage. She deftly places Mayor Barry as the last beneficiary of a bygone era in black politics. All said and done, Marion Barry has been read his political obituary. -Max Rodriguez, publisher, The Quarterly Review of Books

This honest and in-depth look at the life and times of our national capital's most tenacious mayor not only helps us to better understand Marion Barry the man, but it also vividly expresses the unique political and social character of one of the last surviving city-states. Jonetta Rose Barras brings us an insightful and provocative perspective to the successes, tribulations, and resurrection of this "Old Guard" political activist-turned "Mayor for Life." Her book will forever stand as a historical analysis of the politics of the post-civil rights era and a prophecy for the future of American blacks in our nation's political framework. -Armstrong Williams, nationally syndicated columnist, author of Beyond Blame

An eloquent and disturbing book. Barras relocates the transfixing story of Mayor Marion Barry's rise and fall and rise and fall from the arena of electoral politics to the realm of cultural myth and religious belief. In a political sense, Barras's book tells us that we will have to leave behind the baggage of racial superstition if we are to confront the real problems of the nation's capital and our other cities in pain. Barras' book leaves you with more questions than answers, but they are questions that we dare not avoid as we move into the next century. -Jamin B. Raskin, Professor, Washington College of Law, American University

Marion Barry has done his stubborn best to clothe himself in a hopefully impenetrable cloak of insufferable hubris and racial pride. With clarity, passion, and often outright dismay, Jonetta Rose Barras unravels Barry's cloak - and shows that this particular emperor is about as naked as naked gets. -Arthur J. Magida, author of Prophet of Rage: A Life of Louis Farrakhan and His Nation

The story of Marion Barry is the story of a life and rare opportunity recklessly misspent, and Jonetta Rose Barras, who knows Washington much better than most, captures this story with sympathy and sensitivity. In an unflinching dissection of man and opportunity, she shows us why and how Marion Barry cheated himself, his city, and all the rest of us. -Wesley Pruden, Editor-in-chief, Washington Times

The most comprehensive and descriptive study to date of the elusive Marion Barry. Because of her thorough background and research, Barras has managed not only to capture the essence of one of America's most complex political personalities, but also to help us understand the sinister dynamics fueling Barry's political juggernaut. -Dwight S. Cropp, Associate Professor of Public Administration, George Washington University

The Last of the Black Emperors is invaluable for all those who've never been able to figure out the enduring love affair between Marion Barry and Washington D.C. Barras uses the prism of African-American folklore to crack the code of Barry's appeal and fatal flaws. The nation's capital is on the cusp of ending its affair with Barry. Barras offers the kind of ferocious insight and outstanding historical reporting that make The Last of the Black Emperors a huge step in understanding one of the most controversial leaders in contemporary American politics. -David Carr, Editor, Washington City Paper

I wasn't that interested in the subject of Marion Barry when I was given this book, but once I started it, I couldn't put it down. The Last of the Black Emperors is a terrific piece of writing and an exciting read. Barras' metaphor of the folkloric spider is very appropriate for Marion Barry. Especially impressive is her ability to place Barry's leadership style not only in a political and historical landscape, but also in the emotional landscape of American racism. Barras teaches us a great deal about the development of black leaders over the last our decades, and delivers a compelling story of Marion Barry, the person, and Marion Barry, the emblem. -Lori Shpunt, Professor of English, Trinity College, Washington, D.C.

A no-holds-barred, but in some ways heavy-hearted look at the last of a kind-and, by extension, the times that made him happen. -Colbert King, columnist and editorial writer, The Washington Post

Information is power and, in this book, Barras serves up a heaping helping. With compelling anecdotes, brilliant insights, and real data, she takes you inside Washington politics and into the psyche of African-American voters across the country. With unwavering conviction, she explores myths and master plans by examining Barry the man, and Barry the legacy. For the casual political observer, Last of the Black Emperors is a magnificent treat. For pollsters, pundits, and campaign operatives, it's a must read.

-Sonsryrea Tate, author, Little X: Growing Up in the Nation of Islam (and third generation Washingtonian)

With keen insight, Barras takes us inside the corridors of DC politics, walking us through the maze of scandals, deal-making, and corrupt government officials. A well-researched analysis; highly recommended for political science collections. --Ann Burns, Library Journal

Can you go to jail and still be re-elected? You can if you're Marion Barry of Washington, D.C....Jonetta Rose Barras...looks at Barry's career and life in one of the most interesting political books written this year. --Alan Caruba, Bookviews

The Last of the Black Emperors explains the many paradoxes of Marion Barry's career, and documents the growth of his racial and political identities parallel with those of his largely black constituency...A fascinating, detailed, well researched political biography. --James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review

The Leader as Communicator is an invaluable resource for school principals. While written for and about the world of business, this book has direct application to the world of school leadership. The book is readable with clear examples and lists of strategies related to issues central to school leadership in this period of high stakes educational reform. The sections on incorporating the use of data into storytelling, helping employees create meaning for their work, and strategies for building trust are expecially applicable to school principals.
Peter T. Wilson, EdD., educational consultant, former Director of School Leadership for the Danforth Foundation and former principal.

Dr. Mindell has provided an interesting and inclusive model for leadership that takes into account many levels of individual and group psychology. This book goes far beyond, or should I say far deeper, than most of the "pop" nonsense on leadership.