Mastering Self-Leadership.

by Charles C. Manz and Christopher P. Neck, Third Edition, published by Pearson/Prentice Hall, List price $33.00 softbound (ISBN 0-I 3-140046-0).

This is a brief, easy-to-read, and inexpensive paperback on self-management that provides a comprehensive self-help guide grounded in principles

and research. It provides useful advice and tools and emphasizes the idea that by first learning to lead oneself, a person can then be in a solid position to effectively lead others. The book explores methods for achieving personal goals using self-assessment, self-reward, self-talk, mental imagery, team thinking and other current concepts and exercises.

I found this book to be an easy and entertaining look at how to improve one's leadership ability. I particularly enjoyed the chapter entitled "Fitness and Self-Leadership" in which the authors explore the notion that self-leadership contributes to good fitness habits, and good fitness in turn helps one to be more personally effective in their work and their lives. While most of us cannot hope to attain the fitness activity maintained by Dr. Manz (12 marathons, 30 mile runs, etc.), we can benefit from appreciating the positive effects of daily exercise and a healthy diet. I have no doubt that the authors' notion is correct: the lessons contained in the book can be applied by all individuals, especially those who live hectic lives with busy schedules. After all, that description probably applies to most of us.