The Leadership Paradox: A Challenge to Servant Leadership in a Power Hungry World

This is probably my favorite book on leadership issues. First, it lays you out...Gunderson draws you in with a great story that is interesting and then drops the bomb...the point that brings conviction of a character defect. As a pastor who has been training leaders for years, this is a GREAT book!. It's not at all like other leadership books. If you are studying leadership issues, read this book! He starts out not with the popular definitions of leadership that Maxwell and others use...like 'leadership is influence'. He starts with Jesus' definition of leadership...that if you want to be a great leader you must be a servant of all. He breaks down the etymology of the Greek word for servant in that verse and applies the etymology of that word in a story like fashion. It is possible to dive into the land of etymological fallacies when one does this, but I don't think that Gunderson commits that sin. He's careful to say that the word servant shares similar roots...but never crosses the line of etymological fallacy. (See Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson if you aren't sure what I'm talking about-it has to do with popular writing and preaching that abuses language components in Greek to make fine sounding arguments). I think that Gunderson has managed to use language components well withough violating grammatical/lexical rules. Very well done!! There is depth of thought and enjoyable reading all blended together. It's like sitting by a fire listening to great stories which have even greater points to them. I thought the one reviewer who kinda blasted this book had some good points, but really did not give a high enough rating for this wonderful little book...that has helped me in leadership issues more than any other book I own...including all of the fine Maxwell materials I own. This is one for leaders to use in training other leaders.

This is a great read for anyone in "leadership" in churches or considering getting into it. It's excellent because it's a short, to the point read. He uses excellent biblical examples of Christ's true leadership and what it means for the church today. Pick this book up for anyone you know who's in any leadership role...

This book deals with concepts that are forgotten but very much real. If our leaders today would exhibit the attributes and values put forth in this book, our institutions and country would be much more successful in the everyday affairs. In a "me first"world we are losing sight of the value of true servant leadership.

I thought this book was an excellent and balanced book. It is easy to read and was profound. Well worth reading - I have read it 3 or 4 times now.

Aside from the Bible, this book has had the greatest impact on how I view Christian leadership. It goes straight to the best example, Jesus Christ, and explains what it was in Him that made such a lasting impact on humankind. It not only challenges the reader to transform their whole way of thinking about leadership, but it also inspires them to become more like Jesus. It's a book you can read over and over again and keep walking away with something new.