The Conviction to Lead

THE CONVICTION TO LEAD
25 Principles for Leadership That Matters
By Albert Mohler

Al Mohler’s The Conviction to Lead wasn’t what I was hoping for. I had high hopes because I knew of his fabled revolution at Southern Seminary. Many people in Southern Baptists circles consider the theological and institutional overhaul Mohler sparked to be legendary. I looked forward to hearing his firsthand anecdotes and insights from this epic history. But Mohler hardly ever references or elaborates on this time period in his life. Consequently, the book feels flat, even platitudinous at times.

For a leadership book, The Conviction to Lead covers the typical bases. It provides a broad and brief survey of most leadership topics.

If you’ve never read a leadership book, it may prove to be a helpful start. In fact, as an introduction to leadership, I would recommend it.

But if you are familiar with the topics of leadership, this book will mostly be a review. And with each chapter consisting of no more than 3-5 pages, you will find only a cursory treatment of any of these topics.

So my verdict? Read it for an introduction or review of leadership. Don’t read it if you’re looking for juicy tidbits from Mohler’s story or if you’re looking for an intermediate or advanced treatment of leadership.

Mohler, A. (2012). The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters. Bethany House Publishers.

Happy learning!
Proverbs 3:13