When Courage was the Essence of Leadership: Lessons from History

Leaders like Winston Churchill taught us to be courageous, to rise strong, and embrace fear. Steve Jobs was not absence of fear, yet he triumphed over it. Now, based on research conducted by the author, Emilio Iodice shows us how to put their ideas and those of other leaders into practice so we can step up and lead.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” 
Winston Churchill

“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” 
Nelson Mandela

 “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” 
Walt Disney 

In this book, Emilio showcases people who overcame fear.
It covers the great and the unknown, the rich and famous and the forgotten men and women who truly made a difference in our world. 

The book is organized in three parts: 

  • Political Courage covers the conflict between what is best for country vs. what is best for the politician. 

  • Personal and Professional Courage deals with our daily lives and our careers and our ability to confront pain, intimidation, survival and the willingness to do the
    right thing.

  • Spiritual Courage concerns our place in the universe, belief in a higher being and our mission to improve mankind and the world we live in. 

From the President to the fisherman, the peddler to the baseball player, to the nun and the holy man in India, each needs courage to lead by themselves. Their words, their lives are as meaningful to us today as they were decades ago. 

Your time is limited, so have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

This book is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.


‘Courageous leaders communicate well,’ writes Emilio Iodice. Truer words have never been penned.

History is replete with examples of courageous leaders communicating well. In ‘When Courage was the Essence of Leadership: Lessons from History’ Professor Iodice communicates so well all those lessons, and
presents these historically courageous leaders (from all sides of the political spectrum), you won’t want to put it down.

There may never have been a time in our history when courageous leadership was more yearned for. Here is a brilliant, concise and a precise treatise which exemplifies what the body politic hungers for in
our leaders.

If you are a lover of history and freedom, and are searching for the most accurate articulation of what you’ve been looking for in a leader, ‘When Courage was the Essence of Leadership’ is a must-read. I cannot
recommend it highly enough.
— Glenn Klein, Radio Talk Show Host