Leadership is an Art, by Max DePree.
This is a thin “inspirational” book (you have to be in a certain mood), written by the CEO of Herman Miller (the furniture company). You can read it in a sitting, but it’s got ideas worth pondering. He talks about the responsibilities of leaders, the importance of intimacy, and how tribal storytelling builds bonds. I thought the most intriguing idea is that we can make covenants rather than contracts; I take this to mean relationships that embody deep personal commitment beyond the letter of the law. (Reviewed June, ’04)