Leadership in Turbulent Times
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
Leadership in Turbulent Times is a 2018 publication authored by Doris Kearns Goodwin and released through Simon & Schuster. The work delves into the leadership qualities of four American Presidents whom Goodwin has previously researched: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Organized into three distinct parts, the book first addresses the formative years and political emergence of each president; the second part focuses on the adversities they encountered; and the third examines a pivotal executive decision that exemplifies their leadership. As Goodwin’s eighth volume, it garnered acclaim for its engaging narrative, thorough research, and approachability, although some critics expressed reservations about the final segment.
Background
This title marks the eighth book by Goodwin, developed over five years following her 2013 biography, The Bully Pulpit, which concentrated on Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
Contents
The opening section introduces key leadership characteristics along with historical perspectives on the four presidents. The initial segment, titled "Ambition and the Recognition of Leadership," explores their early experiences and political trajectories. The subsequent part addresses major personal and professional obstacles. The concluding section showcases instances when each president demonstrated exceptional leadership during their terms.
First section
This portion contrasts Lincoln’s modest upbringing with the affluent backgrounds and Harvard educations of Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt. It also investigates how parental influences contributed to their leadership development, highlighting, for example, Johnson’s early alignment with his father’s political aspirations.
Second section
The second part recounts various challenges faced by these future presidents: Lincoln’s broken engagement to Mary Todd and political difficulties; Johnson’s unsuccessful Senate campaign; Theodore Roosevelt’s losses of both his mother and wife; and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s struggle with severe polio. Despite these hardships, they rebounded and gained valuable leadership experience through roles such as Theodore Roosevelt's positions as civil service commissioner, police commissioner, lieutenant colonel, governor, and vice president, alongside Lyndon B. Johnson’s service as senator and Senate majority leader. Goodwin emphasizes how these experiences honed their leadership capabilities.
Final section
Goodwin presents defining presidential leadership moments through significant actions: Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery; Theodore Roosevelt’s mediation during the Coal strike of 1902 between miners and owners; Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs including the Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, and creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and Lyndon B. Johnson’s passage of landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and introduction of Medicare under the umbrella of the Great Society. Nevertheless, Goodwin critiques Johnson’s management of the Vietnam War, pointing to budgetary deception and withholding information from citizens.
The narrative closes with an epilogue reflecting on the post-presidential lives and deaths of these four leaders.
Reception
Sara Jorgensen commended the book's relevance and writing style in a review for Booklist. The publication Publishers Weekly awarded it a starred review, highlighting its "inspirational" tone alongside a well-balanced evaluation. Similarly, Kirkus granted a starred review, emphasizing the "intimate" nature of the narrative and its "insightful psychological portraits." Frank Williams, writing for Civil War Book Review, lauded the examination of presidential crisis leadership.
Matt Damsker of USA Today described the work as "peerless," applauding its thorough research, clear structure, and succinct leadership insights. Brian Matthew Jordan from The New York Journal of Books characterized it as both "thoughtful and timely." David Shribman at the Boston Globe praised its accessibility and its timely homage to leadership, while Tom Keogh of the Seattle Times found it "engrossing." Virginia senator Tim Kaine recognized Goodwin’s engaging style and her argument that “leaders truly are made, not born,” though he noted that the book’s brevity somewhat limits the depth of exploration into leader relationships.
In The New York Times, David Greenberg admired the prose and detailed portrayal of presidential complexities—particularly those involving Franklin D. Roosevelt—but criticized the use of bolded advice excerpts as interruptive. Scott Detrow from NPR shared this perspective, praising the focused writing but finding the later chapters less compelling. Matthew Toland, writing in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, appreciated the concluding section but expressed a desire for a comparative analysis chapter on leadership characteristics.
Danny Heitman of the Christian Science Monitor delivered a mixed critique, praising its nonpartisan approach but questioning its conformity to contemporary leadership guide trends compared to Goodwin’s previous works. Philip Delves Broughton from The Wall Street Journal offered a negative review; while he acknowledged its readability, he faulted it for broad generalizations and for using snippet headings that relied on clichéd business terminology.