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Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude by Michael S. Erwin, Raymond M. Kethledge
reba_reads_books's review
1.0
I was disappointed enough to return this book. It reads like military history but is billed as self help? So confused.
tooshark's review
5.0
Great book. Lots of interesting historical stories. A little too military-focused, but the message is still clear and impactful.
papidoc's review
4.0
Solitude...it's something I have often sought out, on almost a daily basis. For me, it isn't a "nice to have," it's an essential part of my life. Much like exercise, I can go without solitude for a while -- a few days, maybe even a few weeks -- be before too much time passes, I find myself getting grumpy, slow, and stressed. Maybe it's for that reason that I found this book so interesting. Truthfully, though, I think solitude, properly used, is something that anyone can benefit from, even those who don't think they will. Maybe especially for such people.
The book begins with a compelling argument for the importance of solitude in any leader's (or person's) life. The authors explain their ideas using personal examples as illustrations. They then proceed to a series of chapters, each of which is built around an experience or person who exemplifies one or more of the benefits of, or approaches to, solitude. I first listened to it as an audiobook, and appreciated the listen, but I will go back and read it, this time with an eye to teasing out specific lessons or ideas that will help me in my solitude.
It's a worthwhile read.
The book begins with a compelling argument for the importance of solitude in any leader's (or person's) life. The authors explain their ideas using personal examples as illustrations. They then proceed to a series of chapters, each of which is built around an experience or person who exemplifies one or more of the benefits of, or approaches to, solitude. I first listened to it as an audiobook, and appreciated the listen, but I will go back and read it, this time with an eye to teasing out specific lessons or ideas that will help me in my solitude.
It's a worthwhile read.
msmith170's review against another edition
3.0
Lead Yourself First provides strong and compelling grounds for the need of human need of solitude. The authors do not introduce any bold, radical new ideas, but by dedicating chapters to historical figures and their own relationships with solitude, the book offers a solid study of the interconnectivity of leadership and solitude.
miikka's review
3.0
The book argues that solitude is an essential source of energy and self-knowledge for leaders. There’s a collection of hero stories where solitude has ostensibly had a big impact on the protagonist. The theory of solitude is vague enough that anyone will fit in, but the stories were interesting anyway.
levibaus's review
5.0
Phenomenal insights here. This book, along with Digital Minimalism and Creativity, Inc., will be annual rereads for me! I appreciated the insights and have put some of them into practice already. I give this full recommendation! So good.
pauloandre's review
5.0
Not so long ago, solitude (not to be confused with loneliness) was easy to attain. But that’s been taken away by technology. Which is no wonder since the brightest minds of our generation have spent considerable time and effort figuring out how to get us addicted to it. The result is that we’re always on.
By every conceivable metric, though, we live a (much) wealthier life than 50 years ago. In the United States, according to the Russell Sage Foundation, the median family income adjusted for inflation was $29,000 in 1955. In 2019 it was over $62,000. This allowed for a lifestyle that previously just wasn’t possible.
But we are paying a heavy toll. Knowledge work largely made this possible but that’s work that happens in our heads — and we never leave our heads. Work never really stops.
Lead Yourself First is about keeping our sanity through reclaiming solitude and acknowledging that you can’t lead others adequately if you can’t lead yourself first. That’s why, for example, Jeff Weiner talks about the importance of scheduling nothing, and Bill Gates goes on his famous “think weeks”.
Using the stories of multiple inspiring historical figures (Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, to name a couple) as backdrop, authors Kethledge and Erwin portray solitude as the main character: what it is, why it matters, and how to leverage it. As an example, I loved the idea of thinking of solitude as who we are minus the many inputs we are exposed to — which we can (and absolutely must) consciously control.
This is a great read if you’re mindful that there’s an inherent issue here and you are looking for ways to push back. And if you’re a leader at work, I’d go ahead and say this is essential reading. Myself, I come back regularly to this one, both for intellectual and, particularly, inspiration value. And what better solitude activity than reading a good book?
(Originally published in The Weekly Hagakure)
By every conceivable metric, though, we live a (much) wealthier life than 50 years ago. In the United States, according to the Russell Sage Foundation, the median family income adjusted for inflation was $29,000 in 1955. In 2019 it was over $62,000. This allowed for a lifestyle that previously just wasn’t possible.
But we are paying a heavy toll. Knowledge work largely made this possible but that’s work that happens in our heads — and we never leave our heads. Work never really stops.
Lead Yourself First is about keeping our sanity through reclaiming solitude and acknowledging that you can’t lead others adequately if you can’t lead yourself first. That’s why, for example, Jeff Weiner talks about the importance of scheduling nothing, and Bill Gates goes on his famous “think weeks”.
Using the stories of multiple inspiring historical figures (Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, to name a couple) as backdrop, authors Kethledge and Erwin portray solitude as the main character: what it is, why it matters, and how to leverage it. As an example, I loved the idea of thinking of solitude as who we are minus the many inputs we are exposed to — which we can (and absolutely must) consciously control.
This is a great read if you’re mindful that there’s an inherent issue here and you are looking for ways to push back. And if you’re a leader at work, I’d go ahead and say this is essential reading. Myself, I come back regularly to this one, both for intellectual and, particularly, inspiration value. And what better solitude activity than reading a good book?
(Originally published in The Weekly Hagakure)
lauraportalupi's review
2.0
The concept gets 5 stars, the execution 2 stars. To start: I’m clearly not the target audience for this book, but it was insightful to see what sorts of stories are meant to demonstrate admirable leadership. I am a pacifist and have no interest in military efforts, so I found little of value in the military anecdotes. Thank goodness for Mr Kethledge’s daughter Ella, who convinced the authors to feature Jane Goodall (as indicated in the acknowledgments).
I wish the concepts promoted here were illustrated with anecdotes from more women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ communities – people who are effectively battling much more insidious issues like institutionalized oppression.
It’s also very disappointing that Aung San Suu Kyi is featured here without any acknowledgement of her tacit support for the genocide of the Rohingya, which really began in 2016, before this book’s publication. If they publish a new edition, they must update this glowing section or remove it altogether.
Finally, the colonial, white male privilege mindset of the authors is evident throughout most of the book. For example, Yangon is referred to as Rangoon consistently. This is an outdated, colonizing word for Yangon and simply perpetuates the notion that colonial Western powers get to have final say in what subjugated communities get to call their own places.
I truly hope the authors of this book actively attempt to expand their ideas of what it means to be a truly good leader.
I wish the concepts promoted here were illustrated with anecdotes from more women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ communities – people who are effectively battling much more insidious issues like institutionalized oppression.
It’s also very disappointing that Aung San Suu Kyi is featured here without any acknowledgement of her tacit support for the genocide of the Rohingya, which really began in 2016, before this book’s publication. If they publish a new edition, they must update this glowing section or remove it altogether.
Finally, the colonial, white male privilege mindset of the authors is evident throughout most of the book. For example, Yangon is referred to as Rangoon consistently. This is an outdated, colonizing word for Yangon and simply perpetuates the notion that colonial Western powers get to have final say in what subjugated communities get to call their own places.
I truly hope the authors of this book actively attempt to expand their ideas of what it means to be a truly good leader.
jagbybirth's review
5.0
Excellent book on the power of solitude and its importance in being a leader. We have too many interruptions and distractions around us today, and this book has empowered me to be stingy and selfish with my solitude and alone time.