By: Jason Turbeville on November 16, 2017
When I picked up Elliott’s Contemporary Social Theory I needed and introduction. I was not sure I understood what it meant, after the first chapter, I still am not one hundred percent sure but I think I have a work towards it. “What is Society” [1], this was a question I thought I had the answer for. …
By: Greg on November 16, 2017
“Christians in China Must Replace Jesus With Pictures of [China President] Xi Jinping or Lose Social Services”1 This was the headline this week after the President of China announced a call to help lift rural impoverished Chinese out of their way of life. He wants them to begin putting their faith in the country rather…
By: Shawn Hart on November 16, 2017
“There is, to date, no single adequate definition of society in social theory…”[1] And yet, in this fascinating and highly informative book, Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction, author Anthony Elliott dares to do just that. Elliott takes the struggle of dealing with modernity in an ever changing world, and diligently, through the works of scholars,…
By: Chris Pritchett on November 16, 2017
Anthony Elliot’s text, Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction, examines key scholars, concepts, and theoretical traditions in contemporary social theory. The first part of the book includes chapters that define society and social theory, and review classical theory. The author then explores various social theories in today’s contemporary society, including structuralism, post-structuralism, contemporary critical theory, feminism…
By: Dan Kreiss on November 16, 2017
It can be extremely ‘heady’ stuff, and for those outside academia discourse on Social Theory is confusing, jargon filled, and completely disconnected to real life. Yet the proponents of Social Theory offer us an opportunity to recognize that “we live in new worlds of social and cultural organization.”[1] Anthony Elliott attempts to provide a thorough…
By: Dave Watermulder on November 16, 2017
There’s an old adage that says, “it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” If you want to get ahead in life, in your career, or in new opportunities, it seems that the key factor often comes down to how well “networked you” are. It’s about who you know. In his expansive…
By: Jim Sabella on November 16, 2017
Honestly, what do I do? I want to be a realist optimist instead of a fearful skeptic, maybe a cautious tester, but probably not the transparent evangelist. [1] But we are living and leading in a time when more people than ever before are willing to share openly and publicly about themselves, their work and…
By: Lynda Gittens on November 16, 2017
This book, Open Leadership, is refreshing and has an inspiring view on effective leadership. A couple of points reflected were the open mindset and loosened control. Author Li examines the need for the leader to be open and receptive to new ideas.…
By: Mary Walker on November 16, 2017
Open Leadership is having the confidence and humility to give up the need to be in control while inspiring commitment from people to accomplish goals.[1] The old days are gone. CEO’s can no longer sit up in their top-floor, glamorous offices leading by fiat decrees, while ignoring the changes in technology going on all around…
By: Jennifer Williamson on November 16, 2017
Language is a funny thing, so deeply connected to a culture that it is like water to a fish—one rarely thinks of language unless and until one’s native tongue is no longer the medium in which one is navigating life. But 20th century pioneer of linguistics and semiotics, Ferdinand de Saussure, recognized language as a…
By: Jennifer Dean-Hill on November 16, 2017
Open Leadership is a guidebook offering methods and techniques of how an organization can develop a relationship with the consumer, establish trust and gain their loyalty. If marketing is to be effective, a relationship with the organization and customer is required. “Without a relationship in place, the best marketing campaigns will fall on deaf ears,…
By: Jay Forseth on November 15, 2017
[1] When my family eats at Cracker Barrel, we play the triangular game where we try to jump and remove as many pegs as possible. If you are not very good at the game, the game describes you as an IGNORAMUS. (Christian comedian Timothy Hawkins does the funniest show on this game). I have to…
By: Mark Petersen on November 15, 2017
Anthony Elliott’s classic text Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction lavished me with a readable and stimulating exposure to social theory developments over the past century of thought. What it does so well is help provide an explanation for events and trends that incite so much fear and unsettledness in our culture today. Knowing why traditional…
By: Stu Cocanougher on November 11, 2017
“Leadership is about relationships, and because social technologies are changing relationships, leadership also needs to change” (Open Leadership Audiobook – Chapter 7). OPEN LEADERSHIP I have been listening to the audiobook “Open Leadership” by Charlene Li over the past few weeks. Li is a social media expert and consultant. I listened as the topic…
By: Dan Kreiss on November 11, 2017
Finally, a book about the Jesuit order that recognizes them to be better role models than Attila the Hun. Don’t get me wrong, Attila has a number of good leadership qualities. His name is incredibly masculine and gives him an aura of mystique. He was known to be ruthless, not prone to being pushed around. …
By: Jean Ollis on November 10, 2017
With much acclaim, Chris Lowney’s book, Heroic Leadership, is inspired by Lowney’s time and experience as a Jesuit priest. In a 2016 interview for America, The Jesuit Review, Lowney states “There are too many definitions of leadership! Every pundit who is trying to sell books makes one up. So I prefer to go right to…
By: Chip Stapleton on November 9, 2017
While we have read many (many, many, many – a lot, okay) of books thus far in our doctor of ministry educational journey. Many of them have been interesting and insightful, many have helped broaden my understanding of leadership, some have confirmed long held beliefs while others have challenged them. Some have been practically helpful,…
By: Trisha Welstad on November 9, 2017
Who needs another leadership book? Apparently everyone. Chris Lowney, in his book, Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World, asserts that all people are leaders, influencing others through belief and behavior.[1] Lowney’s seven years in a Jesuit seminary followed by a career in investment banking provide him with foundational tools…
By: Kyle Chalko on November 9, 2017
Heroic Leadership has placed itself on the top of my list of favorite leadership books. It’s a significant and unique read for leaders today because it writes about a people, the Jesuits, who lived a certain lifestyle that would not be considered leader-like by many standards today. Surely Chris Lowney, who pokes fun at the…
By: Mike on November 9, 2017
Chris Lowney’s, Heroic Leadership is a values-based leadership model that originated in 1540 from a Catholic priest and now boasts over 21 thousand business professionals in the world’s largest religious order, the Jesuits.[1] The books main themes are “forging seamless multinational teams, motivating performance, being open to change, and staying adaptable.”[2] This book “focuses on…
