Some leaders are tough as nails, like a leather-hided reptile. Others are warm, like a fur- covered mammal. But the best leaders exhibit crucial attributes of both — and emphasize them as particular circumstances dictate.

Those who can achieve this combination have the potential for greatness. Joe White explores these characteristics, with examples of leaders ranging from tough-minded Lou Gerstner at IBM to mammalian leaders like Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines and Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. White also describes other prerequisites for truly great leadership, including a passion to develop talented people and the ability to innovate and create change. Those who have combined all these traits include Abraham Lincoln, Jack Welch, Steve Jobs, and Martin Luther King.

Most compelling are the many anecdotes from White’s personal experiences — great successes and a major disappointment, described with unusual candor.

In the long line of leadership books, this one stands out for its clarity, readability, unique metaphor, and the credentials of its author. Enlightening, encouraging, and written with warmth and humor, it is truly a book for all leaders and for those seeking to understand The Nature of Leadership.