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In 2006, Dr. Earl E. Paul wrote the book So You Want to Be a Leader? to assist college students in becoming better leaders and managers of their lives. The book covers such topics as integrity, vision, goal setting, loyalty, effective speaking, listening, reading a calendar, exercise, diet, peer pressure, and many more. It is divided into three parts. Part one deals with Leadership and Character, with topics such as Get Involved, Goal Setting, and Self-Discipline. Part two discusses Soft Skills, which are skills that can show your compassion and commitment to people. They include Remember Names, Listening, and Be Courteous and Respectful to Others. Part three addresses other skills that are helpful in being an effective leader, including Hit the sack, Save Some Bucks, and Spare Time.
This book assists prospective and current college students in making positive decisions in working and personal relationships. It is beneficial for a high school student seeking to move toward the decision to go to college. The guidelines set in this book can help a high school student set priorities before even entering the college campus.
The ideas presented in this book are very good and sound. They are easy to understand and therefore easy to put into practice. Many of the concepts are common sense, and others motivate the reader to seek to improve in certain areas of lives. There are quotes from various individuals peppered throughout the book to encourage and enlighten the reader. For example, Abraham Lincoln said, “I will prepare and someday my chance will come.” The basic premise of the book is to rely on your abilities, goals, and motivation to carry you to that next level of being an effective leader. If you enjoy being challenged to find areas in your life to improve from a human perspective, this may be a very positive and challenging read for you.
I enjoyed reading this book and found it encouraging on many levels. The various quotes throughout the book piqued my interest and served as motivators in many areas of my life. I am eager to present these ideas to my teenager as he enters the phase of pursuing college as a possible life goal. I would recommend this book to any teenager or parent of a teenager as a way of discussing the issues faced during this stage of life.
Product review by Christy Sensenig, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC, May 2008
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