What is this book about?
The title speaks for itself. What is the basis for “leadership” concept? What could it be? The reader will be able to answer these questions by studying and comparing two expeditions to the most unexplored continent of the early 20th century.
For a long time no man set foot on the South Pole, but in 1910 the situation changed: the British team led by Robert Scott and the Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen began their famous race. Two outstanding personalities, two leaders clearly demonstrated two completely different strategies for thinking, interacting with people, achieving goals and consequently different results.
This book is about how successes and mistakes are inherent in everyone, but one thing remains unchanged: you may be born a leader, but you will have to learn all your life.
Who is this book for?
“Race for the South Pole” is in the course list to the MBA leadership course, but I would recommend the book not only to those who want to “manage”. The author himself studied huge volumes of material in more than three languages for writing. This is not only one of the most non-classical works on the topic of leadership, but it is also a source of knowledge on history, differences in mentalities and human nature. After all in fact everyone is the unspoken leader of his/her life. Everyone makes decisions where and when to “sail” and where to “stop.”
What does this book give you?
In my opinion, the book will give everyone what they need most at the time of reading. For someone it is courage to move forward despite fear. For someone it is acceptance of the fact that any path is impossible without mistakes. And for someone it’s just an interesting story that will truly inspire.
“Under stress, passivity turns into apathy and leads to death.”
“There is an abyss between the man who goes first and all his followers. After all, you always feel much calmer when you do something that has been tested and recognized as possible. The pioneer lacks such confidence.”
“There is a bottomless abyss between faith and knowledge.”
“Given my own experience, I decided to give everyone on the ship as much freedom as possible, so that everyone felt independent in their field of activity. In such a case, intelligent people usually develop a spontaneous and involuntary sense of discipline, which is much more valuable than coercion.”
“What cannot be done with a large ship and brute force”, said Amundsen, “I will try to achieve with the help of a small ship and patience.”
© Roland Huntford
Wish you an interesting read!