Source: Management Today
Date: June 2006 

Living Leadership, George Binney, Gerhard Wilke, Colin Williams, FT Prentice Hall, £19.99

For once, a well-written book that lives up to its subtitle: A practical guide for ordinary heroes is certainly what this is. It was highly commended in the 2005 MCA/MT Writing Awards. The authors take an enlightened approach to leadership, informed by four years' worth of interviews with real business leaders. A fine compendium of practical advice that should well serve any aspiring, new or seasoned leader. (rating: Best of its Kind)

The Leadership Crash Course, Paul Taffinder, Kogan Page, £14.99

Taffinder takes a psychological approach to leadership, provoking the reader into analysing their innate leadership qualities. He identifies five: making and taking risks; challenging and changing; making clear what matters; having deep conviction; and making things happen at scale.

Modules help you work through each aspect, guiding you into identifying weaknesses and working on strengths. (rating: Could be useful)

Leadership, James B Rieley, Hodder Arnold, £14.99

This latest offering from the Telegraph Business Club is targeted specifically at SMEs. Mindful that the average entrepreneur doesn't have much time to worry about the luxury of differing leadership styles, this book concentrates on getting the essentials right. Though his analogies can be a tad self-indulgent and there's a little too much business-speak, this is a useful book. (rating: Could be useful.)