There is no formula for becoming humble--not for individuals, and not for nations. Benjamin Franklin's dilemma--one he passed on to the young United States--was how to achieve both greatness and humility at once. The humility James Madison learned as a legislator helped him to mold a nation, despite his reputation as a meek, timid, and weak man. The humility of Abigail Adams fed her impossible resilience. Humility of all kinds is deeply ingrained in our American DNA. Our challenge today is to rediscover and reawaken this utterly indispensable, alarmingly dormant national virtue before it's too late. In Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America's Greatest Virtue, Dr. David J. Bobb traces the "crooked line" that is the history of humility in political thought. From Socrates to Augustine to Machiavelli to Lincoln, passionate opinions about the humble ruler are literally all over the map. Having shown classical, medieval, and Christian ideas of humility to be irreconcilable, Dr. Bobb asserts that we as a nation are faced with a difficult choice. A choice we cannot put off any longer. "The power promised by humility is power over oneself, in self-government," says Dr. Bobb. "[But] humility's strength is obscured by the age of arrogance in which we live." George Washington's humility, as great as it was, cannot substitute for ours today. We must reintegrate this fundamental virtue if there is to be an American future. The rediscovery of humility's strength awaits. "Humility is essential to good character--and to our country. In this smart and lively book, David Bobb illustrates this virtue with the stories of five great Americans. And he reminds us that humility is at the core of our national creed of equality and liberty." --Paul Ryan "Nothing defies political correctness and the prevailing zeitgeist as radically as the notion that humility remains an important virtue. Dr. Bobb not only makes the case for this dismissed and disregarded value but emphasizes its importance as part of the American national character." --Michael Medved, syndicated talk radio host "A lively and counterintuitive argument, spiced with witty prose and engaging vignettes of Franklin, Washington, Madison, Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Abigail Adams." --Robert Faulkner, professor of Political Science, Boston Colle≥ author, The Case for Greatness "Dr. David Bobb has written a timely and timeless book on a vital virtue absent from far too many leaders today. Humility should be required reading for leaders in the public and private sector as well as in our homes and communities. In an age of arrogance there is much to be learned and strength to be gained from returning to the principle, power and pattern of humility contained in this extraordinary book." --Mike Lee, U.S. Senator, Utah

The media is saturated with images of leaders as powerful, headstrong individuals, who are certain of their position and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their organizational goals or personal ambitions. In reality, far too often, a leader’s ego gets in the way of sound decision making, adversely affecting the organization and the individuals involved. This insightful book, based on cutting edge research, advances a new model for understanding effective leadership. Nielsen, Marrone and Ferraro advocate the idea of leading with humility, a trait that is rarely discussed and frequently misunderstood. Humble leaders consider their own strengths, weaknesses and motives in making decisions, demonstrating concern for the common good, and exercising their influence for the benefit of all. Leading with Humility offers students and leaders clarity in understanding the connection between leadership and humility, and teaches them how to enhance their own abilities to become better leaders.

“This inspiring book belongs on the desk of every CEO and politician. With eye-opening case studies and recommended behaviors in every chapter, it's an indispensable user guide for servant leaders.” —Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager and coeditor of Servant Leadership in Action On the most fundamental level, leaders must bring divergent groups together and forge a consensus on a path forward. But what makes that possible? Humility—a deep regard for the dignity of others—is the key, says distinguished leadership educator Marilyn Gist. Leadership is a relationship, and humility is the foundation for all healthy relationships. Leader humility can increase engagement and retention. It inspires and motivates. Gist offers a model of leader humility derived from three questions people ask of their leaders: Who are you? Where are we going? Do you see me? She explores each of these questions in depth, as well as the six key qualities of leader humility: a balanced ego, integrity, a compelling vision, ethical strategies, generous inclusion, and a developmental focus. Much of this book is based on Gist's interviews with a dozen distinguished leaders of organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, Costco, REI, Alaska Airlines, Starbucks, and others. And the foreword and a guest chapter are written by Alan Mulally, the legendary leader who brought Ford back from the brink of bankruptcy after the 2008 financial collapse and whose work is an exemplar of leader humility.

Almost all self-help books emerge from one of two flawed views of the self, and these mutually exclusive ditches are destructive. The Ditch of Smallness says that people are fundamentally bad and that humanity's greatest spiritual threat is pride. The Ditch of Bigness says the exact opposite: people are fundamentally good, and shame is our greatest danger. Dan Kent presents a third view, a road between the ditches. He shows how the humility Jesus revealed offers the most accurate and freeing view of the self. Whereas shame and arrogance are dysfunction steroids (making our depression darker, our anxiety tighter, our addictions stickier, and so forth), humility, as Jesus teaches it, counteracts shame and pride, thereby subverting two major psychological forces that thwart us. Once we embrace this new way of seeing ourselves--how Jesus sees us--we begin to relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us in a way that allows us to overcome a whole host of vices and self-sabotaging behaviors. Furthermore, whereas the ditches both lead to powerlessness and passivity, humility as Jesus teaches it is empowering, fosters proactivity, and serves as a scaffold for true confidence.

You hold the secret in your hands. We live in a narcissistic age, when our leaders and celebrities seem very impressed with themselves—and they think we should be impressed with them, too. Many believe that the key to success is a supersized ego. “Wrong,” says Pat Williams. “The key to true success is a humble spirit. Almost all of the people we regard as truly great—people who have had a lasting impact on the world—are people of humility.” Skeptical? Read Humility: The Secret Ingredient of Success, and let him prove it to you. With powerful insights from the sports, business, entertainment, military, and church worlds, Pat Williams will prove that you can be confident and assertive—and still be genuinely humble. And here’s the best news of all: Humility is a learnable skill. If you’ve been searching for that missing ingredient to becoming truly successful and influential, you’ll find it in Humility: The Secret Ingredient of Success. You will be inspired and motivated to spread the contagious, infectious character trait throughout your area of influence. . .while coming to understand that genuine humility not only gives you an edge in your career and relationships; it also helps you to develop a closer bond with your heavenly Father. Pat Williams knows success inside and out. He was general manager of the NBA Champion Philadelphia 76ers, and is the cofounder and senior vice president of the Orlando Magic, the author of more than a hundred influential books, and a noted public speaker. He shares stories of people from all walks of life who have achieved the pinnacle of success—and the secret of their success is humility.

Developing Cultural Humility offers a unique look into the journeys of psychologists striving towards an integration of multiculturalism in their personal and professional lives. Contributing authors—representing a mix of “cultural backgrounds” but stereotypically identified as “White”—engage in thoughtful dialogue with psychologists from underrepresented communities who are identified as established and respected individuals within the multicultural field. The contributing authors discuss both the challenges and rewards they experienced in their own journeys and how they continue to engage in the process of staying connected to their cultural identity and to being culturally responsive. In addition, psychologists who represent historically disenfranchised communities have similarly reflected on their own journey, while offering commentary to the personal stories of White psychologists. This text is useful for stimulating discussions about privilege, power, and the impact race has on either bringing people together or creating more distance, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It demonstrates to readers how to engage in the process of examining one’s own “culture” in more intentional ways, and discusses the implications as we move towards engaging in more dialogue around multicultural issues.