The Psychological Assessment of Political Leaders: With Profiles of Saddam Hussein and Bill Clinton | 
| Creator: Jerrold M. Post
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 567899
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.6
ISBN: 0472068385
Dewey Decimal Number: 324
EAN: 9780472068388
ASIN: 0472068385
Publication Date: March 23, 2005
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Product Description
In an age when world affairs are powerfully driven by personality, politics require an understanding of what motivates political leaders such as Hussein, Bush, Blair, and bin Laden. Through exacting case studies and the careful sifting of evidence, Jerrold Post and his team of contributors lay out an effective system of at-a-distance evaluation. Observations from political psychology, psycholinguistics and a range of other disciplines join forces to produce comprehensive political and psychological profiles, and a deeper understanding of the volatile influences of personality on global affairs.
Even in this age of free-flowing global information, capital, and people, sovereign states and boundaries remain the hallmark of the international order -- a fact which is especially clear from the events of September 11th and the War on Terrorism.
Jerrold M. Post, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry, Political Psychology, and International Affairs, and Director of the Political Psychology Program at George Washington University. He is the founder of the CIA's Center for the Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Trying to anticipate leaders next move July 30, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
If someone wants to know how many ways are available to assest traits of a leader personality this is the book to do so.
Curious Coupling December 21, 2003
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
Of all persons to be paired in a remote manner by psychological review, it's interesting that the author should explore the personalities of these two prominent persons while both are alive, and in theory, able to defend themselves. While Hussain may not have been available previously upon the initial writing, the fact that he is now in custody makes the analysis considerably more pertinent in view of recent news reports and discussion about what to do with him. While it is not the pairing that most would imagine could produce the height of contrast given the monstrous depiction of Hussain's crimes, the concept of evaluating the psychological profiles of leaders who wield such enormous power by their charisma as well as their position in world events is an admirable endeavor, and may well aid us in choosing talented leaders with great vision, and hence, great potential to either help or harm the world in due measure. Certainly, such a projection by perspective may lead to evaluation of other important figures in positions of influence, either in government or in business with decidedly greater opportunity to see where or by whom the nation is being guided, and in what direction. It may even prove useful for many in Congress who seek to leverage their positions of influence in certain directions, or who may use them to stall and thwart legislation recognized to be important or urgent. Could this pattern also apply to the Supreme Court to greatly increase the degree of scrutiny by which our "elected" leaders govern themselves? What a prospect! Imagine the secrets that would unfold given the nature of egos that inhabit our universe and where they seem to congregate and preside. These eyepopping examinations may provide entirely new perspectives and responsibilities when it comes to elections, giving us both foresight and more than a little hindsight. Surely, pairing these two between the covers of this anthology meets that criteria well.
Read This If You Want a True Insight into Saddam Hussein March 28, 2003
21 out of 25 found this review helpful
Like the first reviewer, I too watched Post on C-Span describing his studies and answering questions. Unlike the first reviewer, I was struck by Post's professionalism, wisdom and mastery of his subject. He was also, quite righly, unwilling to be drawn into political debate, although some questioners attempted to goad him into it by making outrageous statements of political fiction disguised as questions.I feel the first reviewer is biased and even admits to not having read the book. This is a book that should be read be every thinking person who has an interest in world conflict and how the psychological make- up of leaders effects the conduct of their policies and administrations. His description of Saddam Hussein, compiled after years of meticulous research and interviews, shows how a miserable childhood combined with a specific psychological make-up can produce a "malignant narcissist", who is a danger to everyone around him. It shows that trying to "give him a chance to reform", is a policy that is bound to fail, because it will only fan his delusions further. SH is not, according to Post a madman but a calculating planner with clear goals and objectives. SH is also, it seems, a murderous sociopath. This book is like having the play-book on SH. It enables us to understand what he does, why he does it and how he is likely to react to events and to the pressure brought to bear on him by military action. It enables one to gain an insight into events beyond the polemic of political debate. READ IT!
 Questioning Objectivity March 24, 2003
5 out of 61 found this review helpful
I suspect that the review by Amanda Kane hits the nail on the head. I have not read this book but just finished seeing a talk by this author about his book on C-Span.I saw bits and parts of his talk, but it was not holding my interest as I was hearing mostly "the same old stuff" about Saddam. I saw mainly the question and answer period. The book title shown on the screen was only the first half of the title, the more general "The Psychological Assessment of Political Leaders." I heard him mainly discussing Saddam Hussein in a world context.
Someone asked him whether he had done a profile on Bush and Sharon. I was struck by the abruptness of his reply, about Bush, that he restricts himself to foreign leaders, and about Sharon, bruskly, no he hasn't done him. My alarm bells of "What is his political bent vs. objective scientific study" immediately went off. This was compounded when the camera finally panned to the view of his book, the title in full and the picture of Bill Clinton. Following this he was asked about a profile of Arafat, which he happily answered. I came to the Amazon site interested in find out more. I did, enough to know that this is not a book on which I would waste my time.
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