Forged in Crisis by Nancy Koehn

FORGED IN CRISIS by Nancy Koehn is subtitled "The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times" and profiles polar explorer Ernest Shackleton; President Abraham Lincoln; legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass; Nazi-resisting clergyman Dietrich Bonhoeffer; and environmental crusader Rachel Carson. 

Koehn, an historian and executive consultant at Harvard Business Schoo,l explains in her book and in the Big Think video below how each of these leaders found that sometimes “doing nothing is the most powerful, the most significant, the most influential thing a leader can do.”

I am excited to recommend this book to readers interested in history, in leadership, and in the events and movements associated with the individuals profiled. I remember studying Rachel Carson and the impact she had – today many students do not even know her name. I also liked Koehn’s emphasis on being mission-driven, focusing on the big picture, and resiliency in overcoming personal crises.
 
FORGED IN CRISIS received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus.  NOTE: Nancy Koehn will be speaking at New Trier High School on Friday, Nov. 3rd at 7:00pm.