Leadership: Theory and Practice

This book will publish in a new edition on October 6, 2009. We are no longer supplying instructors with complimentary review copies of this edition.* Please click here to request a review copy of the new edition.

* If you need an urgent desk copy of the existing edition for a class this semester, please call 1-800-818-7243 and we will be pleased to process your request.

"The excellent work of Peter Northouse invites teachers to grow along with students in research-based knowledge of leadership theory and practice. Peter′s book leads in and of itself!"
―Taggart E. Smith, Purdue University


Heartened by the positive response to previous editions of Leadership: Theory and Practice, this Fourth Edition is written with the same objective to bridge the gap between the often simplistic popular approaches to leadership and the more abstract theoretical approaches.

In addition to the new two color-layout, the Fourth Edition also:

• Examines the latest research on culture, the dimensions of culture, and how culture affects the leadership process in a new chapter titled "Culture and Leadership".
• Takes a closer look at styles of female and male leaders, the causes for the "glass ceiling," and how the glass ceiling is being broken in organizational settings in a newly written "Women and Leadership" chapter.
• Includes new real-world case studies, research references, new figures and tables, additional research-based applications, and expanded discussions of selected leadership topics.
• Provides Instructor Resources on CD with PowerPoint slides, a test bank, writing assignments, chapter reviews, and much more. (Place your order with SAGE customer service)

IRCDs are available for qualified instructors only. To request an IRCD for this book please contact Customer Care at 1.800.818.7243 (6 am – 5 pm Pacific Time).

Intended Audience: This book will appeal to a variety of upper level undergraduate or graduate level courses in Management, Leadership, Educational Administration, Public Administration, Nursing and Allied Health, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Communication, or Religion. Political and military science studies, as well as corporate training and development programs will benefit from this book.

Praise for this Edition:

"The book presents basic concepts, research, and applications that are foundational to the study of leadership."
―Leila Gonzalez-Sullivan, North Carolina State University

"I have used this text with both graduate and undergraduate students. I recommend it highly!"
―Dr. Karl Strandberg, California State University, Dominguez Hills

"This book is a major source of insights and perspectives for all those studying on leadership courses in both the business and education sectors. It is also an excellent source for school leaders and educators who want to go deepen their understanding of leadership. After reviewing leadership books for over twenty years this book is by far one of the best I have come across."
―INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

"Northouse has given a gift to leadership professors and students by compiling this concise, insightful, critical, and user-friendly exploration of the somewhat bewildering and confusing literature on leadership theory."
―Robert E. (Bob) Colvin, Christopher Newport University

"Leadership: Theory and Practice provides excellent analyses of a number of leadership theories and research findings in considerable detail...The book succeeds in advancing our understanding of the different approaches to leadership and the methods by which it can be practiced more effectively."
― Ravindra Nath Saxena, ASCI JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT

"The additions to the Fourth Edition are excellent, especially the new section on ′Culture and Leadership′ and the updated chapter on ′Women and Leadership.′"
―Gill Robinson Hickman, University of Richmond

"Northouse skillfully presents both thorough and up-to-date theory on leadership in this Fourth Edition. The new leadership chapter addressing the topic of culture is especially informative for our increasingly global classroom discussions. His ability to provide great application-based cases helps this leadership theory come alive. Northouse continues to be a scholar, as well as a student, of current leadership knowledge."
―Mary F. Sully de Luque, Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management

"This book offers a full coverage of contemporary notions of leadership, including traditional theories, salient models, and new domains. The chapters on women in leadership, culture, and team leadership are welcomed additions. The sophisticated but readable style and the inclusion of superb case material make this book a valuable resource for both entry-level and advance leadership courses."
―Linda L. Putnam, Texas A&M University

"Excellent, well-written, and very practical.  A must for all Organizational Leadership classes."
―Dr. Kenneth Arndt, Argosy University

"Peter Northouse is a pioneer in the field of leadership studies.  He brilliantly captures the major theories and thinkers in our field with completeness, candor and an eye to the future."
―Adam Goodman, Northwestern University

Peter G. Northouse, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Communication in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University. Leadership: Theory and Practice is the best-selling academic textbook on leadership in the world and has been translated into 15 languages. In addition to authoring publications in professional journals, he is the author of Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice (now in its sixth edition) and co-author of Leadership Case Studies in Education (now in its fourth edition) and Health Communication: Strategies for Health Professionals (now in its third edition). His scholarly and curricular interests include models of leadership, leadership assessment, ethical leadership, and leadership and group dynamics. For more than 40 years, he has taught courses in leadership, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Currently, he is a consultant and lecturer on trends in leadership research, leadership development, and leadership education. He holds a doctorate in speech communication from the University of Denver, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communication education from Michigan State University.