- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Politico's Publishing Ltd (23 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1842752197
- ISBN-13: 978-1842752197
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 229,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Matthew Parris
This is psychobiography without the psychobabble. I found it absorbing, clear, lively and persuasive. I think David Owen is right.
Dr Raj Persaud
A unique and penetrating insight. Anyone who intends to vote at any election should read this book first.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This little book is an absorbing and intelligent, first stab at suggesting a 'hubris syndrome' theory of political rulers. As Lord Owen fully appreciates, much work has already been done on the subject of personality and politics. Books such as Laswell's 'Psychopathology and Politics',Greenstein's 'Personality and Politics'are examples I remember. Also, the Brewster Smith map of personality and politics, embodying the 'actor dispensability' factor, is helpful in identifying those decisions which are down solely or mainly to a given president or prime minister.
His assessments of Margaret Thatcher, George W Bush and Blair in terms of the development of hubris in each case are utterly convincing. More worringly, is that he posits that even where there may not be a predisposition to hubris, the longer a person holds the reins of political power the greater its development potential.
Focussing on the foibles of political leaders is, of course, fascinating, but in the case of the three aforementioned political leaders the absence of effective checks and balances (in particular, of enough gutsy MPs or members of Congress) gave them free rein. In fairness, Lord Owen clearly recognises this.
The only reason for withholding one star from this review is that this book represents a start in what may emerge as a cogent psycho-political theory. Can't wait for his follow-up book.
His assessments of Margaret Thatcher, George W Bush and Blair in terms of the development of hubris in each case are utterly convincing. More worringly, is that he posits that even where there may not be a predisposition to hubris, the longer a person holds the reins of political power the greater its development potential.
Focussing on the foibles of political leaders is, of course, fascinating, but in the case of the three aforementioned political leaders the absence of effective checks and balances (in particular, of enough gutsy MPs or members of Congress) gave them free rein. In fairness, Lord Owen clearly recognises this.
The only reason for withholding one star from this review is that this book represents a start in what may emerge as a cogent psycho-political theory. Can't wait for his follow-up book.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a well thought out and intuitively constructed book confirming what many people suspected: Bush and Blair were corrupted by the powers that they were given and because of their misguided actions the world is in a more difficult place.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I cannot imagine a more convincing indictment of Blair post 9/11. I was surprised to find myself utterly persuaded by the hypothesis and, in fact, even if I were not, the cool, clear analysis of events is as compelling and conclusive a critique of his failure as any I have read. Now I want the same criteria applied to every current PM, Cabinet Minister, MP...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Birds of a Feather
This is a wonderful account of the political relationship between George W. Bush and Tony Blair..and not just politics, but a weird kinship. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. Newman
Leadership
The Hubris Syndrome: Bush, Blair and the Intoxication of Power is a good reflectiuon of the challenge of leadership in relation to Christianity.
Published 11 months ago by Oyin
Light but perceptive study of hubris in senior leadership
Lord Owen has produced a well written, readable and perceptive work on the issue of hubris, looking at how it through a case study of Bush and Blair, particularly in the run up to... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by PZE
A frightening little book
This is an interesting, and frightening, book by someone with intimate experience of both politics and medicine chronicling a selection of beloved leaders portrayed as physically... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by Mac McAleer
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