About the Book
The book provides a succinct and enjoyable experience of learning about leadership to multiple groups of readers, by using the world of dogs as an aid to understanding leadership concepts. The book will be interesting for multiple sets of readers (e.g. undergraduates, casual dog lovers, etc.). They will find it to be a practical and interesting book. There is no other book on the market that approaches leadership by using the context of dogs as an explanatory canvas. This familiar canine context will help in making these leadership concepts easy to comprehend. The reader will also learn a lot about several breeds of dogs, across the world, including breeds such as the Bulldog, Dachshund, German Shepherd, Mastiff and Otterhound, among others.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments; 1. Introduction to the Book; 2. Embody the Bulldog Spirit/Courage; 3. (Collie)ty Communication; 4. Otterly (O)authenticity; 5. Kingly Kindness; 6. Rottie Respect; 7. Great/er (Dane or Swiss) Gratitude; 8. Terrier’izing Trust; 9. Inu Intelligence; 10. Pe(e)king(ese) at Joie de vivre; 11. Ridge(ing) Back to Resilience; 12. Setter(ing) Down to a Conclusion ; Index
About the Author :
Aditya Simha is a Professor of Management at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Review :
The Waunakee Tribune
I never knew that I am an Otterhound! “Learning Leadership from Dogs” by Aditya Simha explores leadership qualities by drawing parallels between canine behavior and effective leadership. The book delves into themes such as courage, communication, authenticity, kindness, respect, gratitude, trust, intelligence, joy, and resilience, using various dog breeds to exemplify these traits. —Terrance (Terry) Rowinski, President, CDS Global, Inc., USA.
A very engaging read. The author draws references between the inherent canine characteristics of various breeds of dogs and the necessary traits for leaders and their teams. These analogies make complex management ideas relatable and engaging while also learning more about a number of different breeds. —Dave Wittwer, retired CEO of TDS Telecom.
“Having enjoyed Dr. Simha’s other work on leadership and ethics, I was excited to read “Learning Leadership from Dogs.” The way that Dr. Simha breaks down leadership concepts into insightful themes based on dog breeds is nothing short of clever. I enjoyed it immensely.” —Dr. Michael J. Urick; Dean, Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, USA.
“Dr. Simha has written a leadership book you probably didn’t know you needed! This book is full of interesting dog breed facts that really make leadership concepts engaging and understandable. This is a fun way to learn about leadership!” —Dr. Gordon B. Schmidt (Author: Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU), Professor of Management, University of Louisiana Monroe, USA.
“It is an engaging and delightful journey into the world of diverse dog breeds and the nuances of leadership. This book offers an enjoyable and accessible read. It seamlessly blends education with entertainment, making it a truly pleasurable experience for readers of all ages.” —Dr. Fariss Mousa, Zane D. Showker Professor of Entrepreneurship, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, USA.
“In this delightfully written and well-researched book, Dr. Aditya Simha has combined his enormous knowledge of various dog breeds with his scholarly insights on the subject of leadership, explaining critical leadership qualities that dogs embody and leaders can learn from. The result is a surprisingly well-written book that can benefit anyone, a fresh graduate or a seasoned professional.” —Dr. Anish Dave, Professor of English at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA, USA.
“This book offers a lighthearted and enjoyable exploration of leadership concepts, using the world of dogs as a relatable framework to introduce research and theories that both novice and seasoned leaders can use in their leadership journeys. Readers will easily recognize their favorite dog breeds, and relate to the lessons that we can learn from their unique traits and characteristics.”—Lazarina Topuzova, Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership, School of Communication and Media, Robert Morris University, USA.
“This book is written with a loving respect for the readers! As a former Marine Corps Dog Handler, I love the connection between dogs and leadership fundamentals Dr. Simha makes. This book has leadership, fun, and dogs all in one. Great Read!”—Sgt. Ross Gundlach, MBA, USMC/Army, 2008–2017, USA.
“Learning Leadership from Dogs is a truly brilliant book. Dr. Simha has written an invaluable guidebook for how good and effective leaders operate, all through the delightful lens of some of the most unique dog breeds on earth. A rare book that captures the qualities of exemplary leadership through parallels to (hu)man’s best friend.”—Jenna J. Homburg, MBA, CPDT-KA, Canine Behaviorist, Humane Society of the United States and Explosive Detection Dog Handler, AMK9, USA.
“Much has been written about leadership, but Dr. Simha hit the mark! Dogs are our best friends and constant companions, yet we underestimate what we can learn from them. Simha has taken complex traits and characteristics that leaders should demonstrate and made them simple by showing how dogs embody them.”—Brian T. Baker, President and CEO of Sentry Equipment Corp, USA.
Most of us observe dogs that misbehave, jump up on you uninvited, bark obnoxiously, and in general, just being dogs. It is hard to imagine that anyone could learn anything about leadership from a dog. And yet, when you see a well-trained disciplined dog that excels in the skill and work it has been trained for, it is imaginable. Dr. Simha does a beautiful job of matching breeds of dogs, and their character traits, to desirable character traits of strong leaders. He then shows how we can learn from what those dogs bring to the table. I was especially intrigued by the dogs he chose that show courage. I quote Dr. Simha as he summarizes the chapter. “This second chapter discussed courage, and I described and discussed several dog breeds who are renowned across the world for their courage and determination. I trust the reader will have a bit more understanding of both these various dogs, as well as internalize the importance of courage, in a leadership context.” I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in leadership and the characteristics of a good leader. If you’re just a dog lover, I think you would enjoy reading this book too! —Bob Wierenga, Double Dutch Acres, USA
Learning Leadership from Dogs” is well researched and includes footnotes citing sources for those who want to learn more about leadership and different dog breeds. —The Waunakee Tribune
