An Invented Life: Reflections on Leadership and Change

Bennis ( Leaders ), a former president of the Univeristy of Cincinnati and currently a business professor at the University of Southern California, analyzes leadership and change in these superb essays. He maintains that America has a shortage of leaders (``people who do the right thing'') and an abundance of managers (``people who do things right''), which results in ``underled and overmanaged'' American business and educational organizations. Bennis blames America's management schools. ``We teach people how to be good technicians . . . but we just don't train people for leadership.'' In studying 90 leaders, Bennis discovered that their only common characteristic was ``a guiding purpose, an overarching vision.'' His thoughts on corporate boards, ethics and information overload are perceptive, as is his essay on ``Searching for the Perfect University President.'' This book should appeal to the business, educational administration and trade markets. (Apr.)