Turning Points

How Historical Events Shape Modern Leadership

Pelin Kohn|Edward P. Kohn
Emerald
Emerald

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Hardback
9781837080151
11 November 2026
£85.00
Available to order on 12 October 2026
eBook (PDF)
9781837080144
21 October 2026
£85.00
Available to order on 21 September 2026
eBook (ePub)
9781837080168
21 October 2026
£85.00
Available to order on 21 September 2026

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  • Description
  • Contents
  • About

The importance of effective leadership has never been greater in today's rapidly changing world. However, to understand what makes a leader truly effective, we must look beyond the present and explore the historical forces that have shaped modern leadership.

Turning Points: How Historical Events Shape Modern Leadership examines the profound connection between pivotal historical events and the evolution of leadership practices. We live in a complex and rapidly changing world that demands effective leadership more than ever before. It is essential, however, to examine the historical forces that have shaped leaders to understand what makes them effective.

This book is structured into ten chapters, each dedicated to a specific period in history. From groundbreaking ideas and critical incidents to transformative inventions and world-altering events, each chapter explores how these turning points have shaped the way leaders think, act, and inspire today. The book provides readers with a deep understanding of the lasting impact of history on leadership by linking past events to current challenges.

Why History Matters for Leadership

  • Chapter 1. Leadership in Prehistory: The First Council of Survival
  • Chapter 2. Leadership in Ancient Civilizations: The Builders of Order
  • Chapter 3. Leadership in the Classical Era — All Roads Lead to Rome
  • Chapter 4. Leadership in the Age of Discovery — “And Yet It Moves”
  • Chapter 5. Leadership in the Industrial Era — The Power of Steam
  • Chapter 6. Leadership in the Age of Nationalism — “L’État, ce n’est pas moi.”
  • Chapter 7. Leadership in the Age of Television — The Screen and the Soul
  • Chapter 8. Leadership in the Nuclear Age — Decisions at the Edge of Existence
  • Chapter 9. Leadership in the Digital Age — The Code of Connection
  • Chapter 10. Leadership in the Future — The Age of Convergence
  • Chapter 11. Leadership in the Anthropocene: Democracy, Ethics, and the Future of the Planet
  • Epilogue — The Fire We Carry Forward

Pelin Kohn, Ph.D., is an elected City Councilor in Montpelier, Vermont, and an administrator at Community College of Vermont. She intertwines 20+ years of executive coaching with competence-based leadership skills to make an impact on the community.

Edward P. Kohn, Ph.D., is a distinguished historian and academic leader.