CATEGORY

John C. Maxwell's The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day is actually 21 weeks' worth of bite-sized daily lessons on leadership, based on biblical principles and the figures who embody them. Maxwell, the popular author of more than two dozen books on personal and leadership development, has always based his teachings on scriptural tenets. This time, he turns more explicitly to the Bible to illustrate principles such as effectiveness, influence, empowerment, sacrifice, and timing, which he introduced in a well-received earlier book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Readings for the first four days of each week incorporate: a theme ("People teach what they know, but they reproduce what they are"); a tale that brings a relevant individual (such as Jesus, Moses, Esther, and Solomon) into the discourse on it; interpretations that shape the pertinent factors into a practical contemporary lesson; and a question to ponder that both personalizes and extends the message ("If you reproduced yourself in another leader, would you be pleased with the result?"). Each fifth day, Maxwell presents suggestions, including a specific prayer, to use in putting the ideas into practice. Maxwell's exclusively biblical approach will not be for everyone, but his points are universal in nature and generally on target. Any reader should be able to draw ideas and inspiration from them, and those who have made the Bible a part of their lives will likely find his vision particularly substantial and satisfying. --Howard Rothman