Book Review: Leadership, by Rudolph Giuliani

Rudy is a great author and had many stories and lessons in this book. I listened to it on tape.

He had nearly finished this book when the WTC Disaster happened. In the book, he included many personal accounts and lessons from his life in regards to that tragedy.

It is not really possible for me to outline all of his points about leadership, but his stories were inspiring.

Here are a few of the things he accomplished in New York City:

• Reduced welfare state
• Reduced crime
• Reorganized a failing Child Protection Agency into an independent group.
• Built parks, and other things to improve the lives of citizens
• Had all of his officials chosen before he even became mayor.
• As a U.S. Attorney, took down several criminals, including some in the mafia
• Managed to get elected without compromising his loyalty to the Yankees (also managed to get elected as a Republican in a heavily-leaning Democrat area)
  
• Reestablished a city government center on Sept 11. Managed the crisis.

And there were many other things.

You may be reading between the lines - yes, listening to this made me more likely to vote for Rudy as President of the U.S. in 2008. I'd not only be willing to vote for him, but am excited to do so!

This book is not only for people interested in leadership or politics, but it is for anyone wanting to be inspired. Courtney listened to about half of it when we were driving around, and she is excited to listen to the whole thing in the Fall. I'd be willing to listen to it again.

Here were a few of his leadership mottoes:

• Sweat the small stuff
• Don't assume a damn thing
• Underpromise, Overdeliver
• Stand up to bullies