Leadership

James MacGregor Burns (1918-2014) received his doctorate in political science from Harvard. In 1971, Burns won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his biography Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom. He was a former president of the American Political Science Association, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and served as Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the Academy of Leadership that bears his name at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.

“A landmark historian.” — Jon Meacham, Newsweek“Pulitzer prize-winner James MacGregor Burns introduced the concept of transformational leadership in his book Leadership. For him, it characterized the great leaders of history.” — Management Today“James MacGregor Burns’s seminal book on power” — New York Times“Touches on every aspect of politics that is pertinent to leadership . . . Burns distinguishes true leadership from mere power-holding and domination . . . Valuable . . . Offers suggestions for fostering true leadership.” — New York Times Book Review“One of the most influential leadership authorities, James MacGregor Burns advanced the concept of ‘transformational leadership,’ whereby leaders have the ability and obligation to share an overarching vision with their followers.” — Boston Globe“Leadership remains a classic in the field. Burns has spent a lifetime studying presidential leadership.” — Margaret Warner, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer“Leadership had a major impact. ... Burns’s definition of leadership continues to dominate the field. ” — Harvard Business Review