Reviewed by Andrew Clancy, Senior Editor
Soundview Executive Book Summaries

Periodically, the publishing world has its scattered winds of interest turn cyclonic and settle above the head (or headstone) of one individual. This can cause the disparate breezes of genre to collect and rush toward readers, occasionally picking up other media along the way. Recent memory would probably cite Leonardo Da Vinci as one such individual. The Renaissance artist's name could be seen from bookshelves, newspaper headlines and film advertisements, generally with the word "Code" bringing up the rear. Five years later, the gusts of popular culture are swirling around a new name: John Adams.

There are certain scholars who feel this recognition is long overdue. For many, Adams is noted as a peerless defender of democracy and a linchpin in the founding of the Republic. Others feel he is an unfortunate victim of being sandwiched between "the guy on the $1 bill" and "the guy who wrote the Declaration of Independence" in the roll call of American presidents. Regardless, Adams is the subject of a wildly popular HBO mini-series and the heightened interest has led to a paperback reissue of historian David McCullough's 2001 biography of the second president. Far be it from the business book community to overlook such an interesting subject. Author Alan Axelrod, Ph.D., has contributed his two shillings with Revolutionary Management: John Adams on Leadership.

Axelrod's writing starts with the equation of "historical figure" plus "business allegory" equals "new release." Revolutionary Management is the latest in a line that has included business books about Queen Elizabeth I, General George S. Patton, and Dwight Eisenhower. The last of these three, Eisenhower on Leadership: Ike's Enduring Lessons in Total Victory Management, was reviewed by Soundview Executive Book Alert prior to its publication. Axelrod is a passionate historian and throws himself into the research that forms the bedrock of his projects. What separates his best from his "rest" is the practical application of his subject matter. Readers may find Revolutionary Management falls slightly shorter than Axelrod's previous works in this crucial criterion.

Axelrod unwittingly succeeds in producing as much a biographic work as he does a business tome. Individuals who don't have the time or energy to plunge into McCullough's 768-page paperback bio may enjoy Revolutionary Management's more anecdotal approach to understanding the nation's foremost Federalist. The layout is similar to Axelrod's other works. There are 128 lessons relayed by the author. Each lesson opens with a quote from Adams' voluminous body of writing. This is followed by the biographical anecdote and concludes with "The Last Word," where Axelrod applies the tale to the business world. Some readers may find this section a tad light and may want to turn to other works for more of a how-to approach. Yet even those who turn a critical eye toward Axelrod will find his prose concise and engaging. It is this quality which makes his brevity feel like a greater flaw. Many readers will likely want the author to expand on the lesson to be learned from Adams, but unfortunately, this doesn't fit the formula.

Readers with a keen interest in history will probably take the greatest amount of enjoyment from the book. It is highly recommended to anyone who has devoted time to the study of Thomas Jefferson. Throughout the duration of American history, few pairs of individuals have offered such an interesting, rich study in contrast and complexity than the second and third presidents. The massive shadow cast by Jefferson over the nation's history is something from which Adams has long needed to come out. Axelrod does an excellent job of outlining the pair's adversarial relationship and Revolutionary Management will help ensure that Adams is not written off as someone whose achievements weren't worthy of meriting his likeness on legal tender.

Revolutionary Management may not suit all those who decide to crack it open, but it is not a book that should be casually overlooked. It is an enjoyable read and will certainly give the reader a few thoughts to reflect on later. Will it change the way in which a reader approaches his or her business? It is somewhat doubtful, but if it inspires some readers to learn more about the men whose principles created the free market, democratic nation in which so many ply their respective trades, then Axelrod should take a degree of comfort. As Adams himself wrote, "I thought myself in the way of my duty, and I did not repent of my voyage."

Revolutionary Management: John Adams on Leadership by Alan Axelrod, Ph.D. is published by The Lyons Press. It is under consideration by Soundview Executive Book Summaries. If you'd like to subscribe to Soundview Executive Book Summaries, please click here.