Last book from Henry Kissinger, doyen of international statecraft, and one of the most written about men in the 20th century. Average book at best, particularly when compared to a masterpiece like Diplomacy, and even the excellent (and still recent) On China. Plodding, uninspiring, style, its hard to believe that Leadership it was written by the same man, Well, age catches us all, even Henry K. A flawed Great Man, or a man greatly flawed? I go for the former. RIP. ( )

This is a remarkable book about leadership, as the title suggests, but it also covers a wide range of other topics, such as history, global political strategy, and the value of moral character on the international stage. Six twentieth-century leaders are chosen by Kissinger, the majority of whom he knew personally. His descriptions of each place focus on the legacies that the leaders of each nation left behind and the strategic vision that each leader worked to make a reality. Importantly, this vision would improve his or her people's standing in the eyes of the international community.

The book also highlights characteristics of leadership including personal qualities, limitations faced by each, divisiveness created by the changes sought, and the policy imprint that endured for each nation as a result of the leadership of each of the characters: Konrad Adenauer, Charles De Gaulle, Richard Nixon, Anwar Sadat, Margaret Thatcher, and Lee Kuan Kew.

Kissinger's excellent wording and the manner he gave context and history for each of the stories impressed me. What Kissinger referred to as "deep literacy" was one fundamental idea that each leader shared. That is a mind that has been trained by intense reading, and through this reading and their particular experience, they have developed a profound awareness of and the capacity for concentration on the major problems they confronted. Each reader of his book can apply this lesson to their own situation. Overall, this book improved my comprehension of the world I live in and the contributions made by these six leaders. ( )

Dr Kissinger profiles significant leaders who talents, determination , brilliant assessment of the history of their countries and place in the world order and showing how their leadership and vision for the future was such a help to their countries growth and place in the world.

Henry Kissinger has been out of public life for half a century, just teaching and writing. He just turned 99. But when he showed up at Davos and made a few casual remarks about the Ukraine war, those remarks were reported as major news all over the world. So he's still a player.

His new book Leadership consists of case studies of six important twentieth century leaders and how they -- you know - lead. OK.

He begins with Konrad Adenauer, the man who governed a devastated, divided Germany at the end of the Second World War. His leadership model is one of humility and patience and roll with the punch. Playing a weak hand with incredible dignity and grace, step by step he brought Germany back into the community of Nations and the community of Europe. (Yes, the Marshall plan helped.) It was a remarkable achievement.

(Kissinger brushes aside the fact that Adenauer appointed many ex-Nazis to his official family. Well, yeah. )

From Adenauer he passes to Charles de Gaulle - from "humility" to "audacity" . De Gaulle escaped to England after the fall of France in World War II and presented himself to Churchill as "The Leader of the Free French". "What Free French", thought Churchill, but he gave him an office and a staff. De Gaulle forced himself on Roosevelt (who detested him) and wound up leading the French nation from the humiliation of capitulation to strong fierce sometimes arrogant bristling independence.

(Algeria? Did someone mention Algeria?)

His long chapter on Richard Nixon is perhaps the hardest to read. Of course when Kissinger discusses Nixon he is also ipso facto discussing his (Kissinger's) own foreign policy strategy and goals. So perhaps he is not the most unbiased reporter. He talks about Nixon's brave opening to Communist China, and his bringing stability to the world with meaningful Arms Limitations Treaties with the Soviet Union. Good stuff and worth remembering. Nixon wasn't all Watergate.

But Kissinger goes on to imply that Watergate was nothing more than dirty politics by the Democrats to wound a great president and blow up his careful long range plan for "Pax Americana" and a century of world Peace. If you buy this, you're probably Henry Kissinger.

There is a wistful chapter on Anwar Sadat and the shuttle diplomacy that produced the detente between Egypt and Israel. This far and no farther, alas. Kissinger is rather dismissive of the Camp David accords, miffed that Jimmy Carter didn't pay enough attention to the Kissinger playbook. Even great men can be small.

There is a fawning chapter on Margaret Thatcher. (K never loses a chance to remind you of their "personal friendship") Thatcher's outsider status allowed her to see clearly that England's economy had changed, and that England's policies would have to change too. She saw the future clearly, and acted. People got hurt.

My favorite chapter is about Singapore and the economic miracle that Lee Kuan Kew and his family created -- changing a poor city state dismissed by China into an innovative technical and economic powerhouse.

(BUT you have to read very carefully to get it that Lee was a "strongman" who brutally repressed political opposition and held high office for three decades! Ok by me, says Doctor K. )

So what is leadership? Humility, audacity, flexibility, ruthlessness, insight, conviction? Remembering the past, but looking to the future. Kissinger's coldly pragmatic Realpolitik had people gritting their teeth fifty years ago. Don't look for idealism and belief here. Kissinger likes results.

For the historian, a footnote. A lot of this has been covered in Kissinger's earlier books. But worth a read.
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