Profiles in Audacity: Great Decisions and How They Were Made

by Alan Axelrod Narrated by Scott Peterson

Overview

A journey of exploration through history's great decisions and those who had the courage to make them. In brief, compelling, and inspiring vignettes, bestselling historian Alan Axelrod pinpoints and investigates the make-or-break event in the lives and careers of some of history's most significant figures. Axelrod reexamines history by revealing the answer to the fascinating question of why the people who made history made their choices-and conveys the resonance of those choices today. The 46 profiles range from ancient times to the present day and include Cleopatra's decision to rescue Egypt; Washington's decision to cross the Delaware and win; Gandhi's decision to prevail against the British Empire without bloodshed; Truman's decision to drop the A-bomb and end WW II; Rosa Parks decision to sit in for civil rights; Boris Yeltsin's decision to embrace a new world order; and Flight 93's decision to take a stand against terror.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

Prolific author Axelrod (Profiles in Leadership) examines 46 individuals who, in choosing a particular course of action, distinctly influenced history as we know it. Breaking his book up into five parts-"The Decision in Crisis," "The Decision to Venture," "The Decision of Conscience," "The Decision To Risk Everything," and "The Decision To Sacrifice"-he profiles each figure and examines the reasoning behind his or her decision, from Cleopatra ("The decision to rescue Egypt"), to William the Conqueror ("The decision to prevail"), to Abraham Lincoln ("The decision for freedom"), to John F. Kennedy ("The decision that imperiled and saved the world"), and onward to Todd Beamer and Flight 93 ("The decision against terror"). Each profile is not much more than a vignette, each ending with the author's coda on the person's life. If this sounds familiar, it's because it is. Although the repeated use of the word decision may be supposed to cast these stories in the light of leadership guidance for executives and managers, the book is really an elementary history reader for those seeking such an introduction either through their high school or public library collection.-Judith Klamm, Kansas City P.L., MO Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

From the Publisher

[A]n insightful collection of vignettes ranging from ancient times to present.” –Booklist

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172558368
Publisher:	Ascent Audio
Publication date:	08/18/2010
Edition description:	Unabridged

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