cover image Apples Are Square: Thinking Differently About Leadership—The Six Critical Values That Are Changing the Way We Lead and Succeed

Apples Are Square: Thinking Differently About Leadership—The Six Critical Values That Are Changing the Way We Lead and Succeed

Susan Smith Kuczmarski, Thomas D. Kuczmarski, . . Kaplan, $25 (235pp) ISBN 978-1-4195-9392-5

T he Kuczmarskis, a pair of business consultants, trainers and authors, deliver a lackluster primer on the personal and managerial strategies of 25 people from many walks of life. A few are famous, such as Dean Kamen (inventor of the Segway scooter), Craig Newmark (founder of Craigslist, the Internet classified ad service) and actress Susan Anton. Most are less well-known CEOs, political activists, educators, arts administrators and someone who calls himself an “esoteric healer.” But for such an eclectic group, there are few unusual insights. Most of their ideas come across as platitudes about the importance for leaders of such traits as humility, compassion, transparency and inclusiveness. Many of the anecdotes and inspirational homilies are retreads, though a few are intriguing—for example, the story of how Rep. Jan Schakowsky got started in public life as a crusader for freshness dating on food packages. But even interesting stories often lack a compelling point—Schakowsky's tale, for example, appears in a chapter about encouraging one's colleagues. This attempt to offer “chicken soup for the leader's soul” provides thin gruel. (July)