Books and Publications

Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development By: Susan R. Komives, Wendy Wagner, and Associates ISBN: 978-0-470-44949-3 List Price: US $35.00 500 pages Paperback.

Leadership for a Better World is an approachable undergraduate textbook centered around the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. It helps students understand the nature of social change and the dimensions of leadership that help one become an effective change agent. Written and edited by some of the country’s most recognized and active scholars and educators in student leadership, the text includes case studies, reflection questions, and learning activities to help facilitate engagement and learning.

Praise for Leadership for a Better World:

“What a powerful, very needed, and welcome sequel to A Social Change Model for Leadership Development Guidebook. It is a book for students, faculty, and everyone who engages in leadership for social change for a better world. It is an inspiring and liberating book in that it validates each one of us as we discover and practice the gifts we have been given.” —Helen S. Astin, professor emerita of higher education and senior scholar, Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA.

“While simple schemes and models of leadership can have their appeal, the more challenging view proposed in Leadership for a Better World is not only more realistic but infinitely more fulfilling. This form of leadership calls us to look at our own deep yearnings and then respect those of others in the amazing global community of the twenty-first century.” —Denny Roberts, assistant vice president for faculty and student services, Qatar Foundation.

“Positing that social change is at the heart of the leadership experience, Leadership for a Better World answers the question of ‘leadership for what purpose?’ Grounded in student experiences, this book includes student voices, stories, and contemporary case studies. Written in an informed and approachable tone, it provides a coherent set of guiding principles about how knowing oneself, meaningfully engaging with others, and adopting a systems perspective can promote the socially responsible leadership so needed in the world today.” —Julie E. Owen, assistant professor, Leadership and Integrative Studies, George Mason University.

Exploring Leadership: For College Students Who Want to Make a Difference, 2nd Edition By: Susan R. Komives, Nance Lucas, and Timothy R. McMahon ISBN: 978-0-7879-8213-3 List Price: $35.00 Paper 512 pages.

This thoroughly revised and updated best-seller is designed to help college students understand that they are capable of being effective leaders and to guide them in developing their leadership potential. Exploring Leadership incorporates new insights and material developed in the course of the authors’ work in the field, with their own students, and with colleagues who have used the book in their work with students. The second edition contains expanded and new chapters and also includes the relational leadership model, uses a more global context and examples that relate to a wide variety of disciplines, contains a new section which emphasizes ways to work to accomplish change, a new chapter on developing leadership identity, and concludes with concrete strategies for activism.

Written in an accessible style, the book can be read by any interested student, but is designed for use in leadership development courses, workshops, and programs on campuses and in youth organizations.

Praise for the First Edition:

“My students have been searching for a leadership book that they don’t have to translate to their experiences. At last, here is a book that integrates cutting-edge ideas of leadership with examples and stories from college students.” —Kathleen E. Allen, senior fellow, Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland.

“As a long-time teacher of leadership courses, I know that my students will resonate with Exploring Leadership. The book presents a well-developed analysis of both the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of leadership as a relational process and also challenges student readers to think about how they might practice leadership throughout their lives.”—Sara A. Boatman, vice president for student affairs, Nebraska Wesleyan University.

A Social Change Model of Leadership Development Guidebook Version III By: Marguerite Bonous-Hammarth, Tony Chambers, Leonard s. Goldberg, Cynthia S. Johnson, Susan R. Komives, Emily Langdon, Carole Leland, Nance Lucas, Raechele L. Pope, Dennis Roberts, and Kathy M. Shellogg. List Price: $25.00 Paper 160 pages.

Funded by the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Development Program of the U.S. Department of State and developed by The Working Ensemble, headed by Alexander Astin and Helen Astin of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, this guidebook presents the Social Change, or 'seven' Cs, model of leadership development. It posits that leadership develops at the individual, group, and community levels with the goal of creating change to benefit the common good. The guidebook explains each component of the model, shows how they are interrelated, and offers ideas about how one can develop each facet of the model.