The Marxist prediction that capitalist bureaucracy must inevitably neutralise individualistic leadership in industry, has been disproved over and over by the careers of industrial 'superstars' from Andrew Carnegie to Henry Ford, Lee Iacocca, Estee Lauder, and David Rockerfeller - all of whom could be described as having made their own personal stamp on their respective businesses. Arguing that personality can also affect the departure styles of retiring CEOs, Sonnenfeld defines four principle types: Monarchs, Generals, Ambassadors, and Governors. The personality of each type is outlined in interviews with real-life business leaders and illustrated with numerous pithy anecdotes, making The Hero's Farewell both a well-researched and an entertaining read.

About the Author
Jeffery Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Harvard Business School for the past decade, is now Professor of Organization and Management and Director of the Center for Leadership and Career Change at Emory University. He has twice won the Academy of Management's annual award for outstanding research on social issues, and was named to their Board of Governors in 1988. He is the author of three other books, including Managing Career Systems, and numerous articles on executive careers.

Reviews
`A fine piece of work and beautiful writing. It's well-crafted, very solid in terms of theory, literature, and original data, and written with much heart.' Douglas T. Hall, University of Boston
`One of those rare business books that informs as well as engages ... Unlike several tomes on the topic. The Hero's Farewell is accessible yet never succumbs to the commerciality of today's business-book wasteland ... [A] fascinating and informed look at management succession.' Business Week
`A pathbreaking achievement. Sonnenfeld's research is innovative and substantive, his material is soundly organized, and he presents it with skill and flair. The book deserves to be read widely, both by business people and by others who want insights into what's happening in corporate America.' Philadelphia Inquirer
`A fascinating book, not least for what it has to say about the nature of leadership and the complex psychology of those who achieve it.' The Financial Times



Book Information
ISBN 9780195065831
Author Jeffrey Sonnenfeld
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 440g
Dimensions(mm) 142mm * 216mm * 21mm