Great book!

It truly delves deep into the realm of leadership and presents it in a real and unadorned way. There is no sugarcoating here, just a genuine desire to offer an authentic perspective.

This is a profound read. It is brutally honest about leadership and doesn't provide many solutions to the issues it points out. However, what it does point out is essential and shines a light on aspects that not many others do. In doing so, it gives the Lord the freedom to work in our lives, which is wonderful.

The only issue I have, to be completely honest, is the constant fluctuation in the use of pronouns. The consistent switching between "he" and "she" as the example leaders was quite confusing. I'm not sure if it's due to the American movement of being cautious with pronouns, but this back-and-forth made it difficult to follow at times.

Other than that minor drawback, it's a great book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in leadership.

Recently, I found this book in the drawers of my bedside table.

It was truly timely to take it out and finish reading the book.

This book is so good that it immediately caught my attention and held my interest from the very beginning.

The content is not only engaging but also extremely relevant and needed in today's world.

It offers valuable insights, perspectives, and practical advice that can have a profound impact on our lives.

As I turned the pages, I felt myself being drawn deeper into the story and the ideas presented.

It made me think, reflect, and question my own beliefs and actions.

I am truly grateful to have discovered this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read that can also make a difference.

When asked to discuss what empowers a leader to lead, we commonly utilize terms like authority, power, confidence, or charisma. Our strengths might assist us with specific tasks and opportunities. However, it is indeed our frailty and sin that reveal the glory of God's story.

The central message of this book is that God favors leaders who maximize the power emerging from brokenness. The most effective leaders lead with power due to their weakness and authenticity in "limping."

The beauty of a limp lies in the fact that it slows you down, compels you to take more time, and prevents you from accomplishing as much as you desire.

By exposing our sin through weaknesses, God repeatedly reminds us of our dependence on Him and redirects our praise to the only One worthy of it.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to how we handle five crucial leadership challenges: crisis, complexity, betrayal, loneliness, and weariness. The author contends that for each of these, there is a typical ineffective response, yet there is also the option of an effective solution.

Crisis should be confronted with courage, not cowardice; complexity with depth, not rigidity; betrayal with gratitude, not narcissism; loneliness with openness, not hiding; weariness with hope, rather than fatalism.

True strength must be brave enough to confess cowardice and gentle enough to admit self-absorption. Additionally, a limping leader must delight in the dignity of those who provide feedback about his failure, even if they do so in a manner lacking finesse or wisdom.

The reluctant limping leader doesn't merely bestow accolades upon others. It is his genuine joy to witness others awakening to their potential and surpassing their greatest dreams. It is the aspiration of every excellent teacher to have students who carry their work further than the teacher could. To be surpassed as the ideal and replaced as the goal is not a sign of failure.

This is a profound and challenging book, one that I'm certain I will return to again and again for rereading and reflection.

Two stars might seem rather harsh.

However, for me, this book was merely "OK". It falls within the leadership category.

But it is extremely specific to just a few aspects of leadership, namely humility and honesty.

As a result, I wouldn't necessarily label it as a great general leadership book.

I can understand the author's point that leaders should be honest about their own weaknesses.

Nevertheless, I don't believe they need to constantly focus on them and "display them all" at every available opportunity.

Most people tend to thrive under leadership that is both confident and transparent.

An imbalance between these two qualities is seldom effective.

In conclusion, while the book has some valid points about humility and honesty in leadership, it lacks the breadth and depth to be considered a truly outstanding general leadership resource.

Great book!


This is truly an outstanding book that has left a profound impact on me. I have a particular affinity for the last chapter, which holds a special allure. I first read this book several years ago, and it has since become a favorite that I return to time and again. One of the main reasons for my repeated visits is to reflect on and reconsider the roles of the priest, the prophet, and the king. These roles are complex and multi-faceted, and each one plays a crucial part in the overall narrative and themes of the book. By delving deeper into these roles, I gain new insights and perspectives that enhance my understanding of the story and its underlying messages. It is truly a remarkable book that continues to captivate and inspire me with each reading.

I had a strong desire to read this book. My hope was that it would clearly show me how an individual within the church could rely on others, remain steadfast and not falter. And most importantly, it would show how to lean on Christ especially in those times when one feels completely drained and has no strength left to give.

I patiently waited, turning the pages chapter by chapter. I held on to the anticipation that the book would offer the guidance and inspiration I was seeking. However, I had to wait until the second to last chapter before I found anything even remotely close to what I was looking for.

To be honest, I was truly disappointed. After all that waiting and anticipation, the book failed to deliver in the way I had hoped. It left me with a sense of unfulfillment and a feeling that perhaps my expectations had been too high. But still, I can't help but wonder what could have been if the book had lived up to my initial hopes.

You'll either like this book or you won't.

Most people who are big Strengths Finder 2.0 fans don't like this read. But I like them both. In fact, I firmly believe that they should be gifted together.

It was quite evident that Allender was still grappling with fresh wounds from Mars Hill as he penned this book. There is a certain rawness to some of the stories he shares. At times, I found his self-evaluation rather uncomfortable. Nevertheless, the closing chapters on prophet-priest-king truly captivated me.

It was a great read for my ministry team. It provided us with valuable insights and引发了许多深刻的讨论. We were able to explore different perspectives and apply the lessons learned to our own ministry work.

The book's unique approach and Allender's honest writing style made it a worthwhile addition to our library. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in personal growth and ministry.

Finally, there is a remarkable book on leadership that delves deep into the upside-down nature of the kingdom.

The chapter titled "No More Jackasses" is truly eye-opening as it elucidates numerous leadership pitfalls that one must strive to avoid. It provides valuable insights and practical examples that can help leaders steer clear of common mistakes and become more effective in their roles.

Moreover, the final chapter on the roles of prophet, priest, and king is an absolute gem. It offers a profound exploration of these crucial leadership roles and how they interact within the context of the kingdom. This chapter alone is worth the price of the entire book, as it provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for those seeking to lead with wisdom and integrity.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in leadership and the pursuit of excellence in the kingdom.

Dan doesn't attempt to force himself into the shoes of cultural leadership.

Aligning with Collin's concept of a level five leader, Dan posits that the most outstanding leaders among us are acutely conscious of their own weaknesses or "limps."

Rather than trying to conceal these flaws, Dan contends that the limp is an integral part of believability, followability, veracity, and authenticity.

This presents a remarkable exploration into the terrain of transforming difficulties and struggles into sources of strength.

It implies that leaders who are open about their imperfections are more likely to be trusted and followed by others.

By embracing their limps, they can build stronger connections with their teams and inspire them to overcome their own challenges.

This journey of self-discovery and growth is not only beneficial for leaders but also for the organizations and cultures they influence.

It encourages a more honest and transparent approach to leadership, one that values authenticity and realness above all else.

This article is filled with numerous relatable scenarios that anyone can easily identify with. It presents raw wisdom that cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of the matter.

Each scenario feels like a snapshot of real life, making it highly engaging and easy to follow. The raw wisdom shared within these pages offers valuable insights and lessons that can be applied to our own lives.

It's the kind of article that makes you stop and think, and it's definitely one that I will be reading again someday. The combination of relatable scenarios and raw wisdom makes it a truly remarkable piece of writing that leaves a lasting impression.

I can't wait to revisit it and gain even more from its profound words.

Ironically, the book “Leading with a Limp” commences with the word “leader” and concludes with the word “strong”.

Ironically, this book vividly emphasizes that leaders are required to lead in a state of brokenness. If you are in search of a glossy, step-by-step guide on how to be a flawless leader, then this is not the appropriate book for you. “Leading with a Limp” is an honest, biblically-based, educational leadership book that focuses on embracing the broken aspects of our humanity.

Dan B. Allender writes in the introduction, “Every one of your weaknesses is the doorway not only to better character but to leadership dividends so enormous that avoiding the necessary risk is utter foolishness. So face your fear, your narcissism, and your addictions, and begin to enjoy the freedom, the peace, and the power of leading with a limp.”

“Leading with a Limp” is like a toolbox filled with strategies on how to effectively utilize your weaknesses and make the most of your flaws, all while leading with a Christian character. Although, despite all the powerful messages in this book, I would be dishonest if I claimed it isn't targeted at a specific audience. This book is most definitely best suited for someone in the ministry or in training for the ministry. However, this does not undermine the powerful message the book presents. Instead, it offers those who are not in the ministry an insight into the challenges that those in the ministry face.

As someone who aspires to have a heart of servant leadership rather than a self-centered leadership role, there were numerous great topics covered in this book, such as being the chief sinner, gratitude, and truth. This book reveals that leaders with a servant's heart will accept their flaws, and by acknowledging their imperfections, they will spend far less time protecting themselves and more time creating an honest community.

Another quote that I adore from this book is “God inverts expectations, paradigms, and human wisdom. He chooses the foolish and the weak to subvert our natural tendency to pride.” Dan B. Allender has crafted a masterpiece of a book, a book of truth, humility, and mostly the allure of brokenness. I found that his examples and explanations were not dull or overemphasized. Instead, they were captivating and engaging.

In conclusion, this book would be a wonderful read for anyone, as we all lead in some way or another, but it would be most effective for those in the ministry. As you turn each page, you will come to realize that leadership is not about being showered with dollar bills. Instead, it is about the clashing of swords and the fight of your life.

This is a remarkable book that I will inevitably need to peruse in various seasons of my life.

It is through such repeated readings that I hope to fully understand the numerous ways in which my own leadership evolves, matures, and requires transformation throughout my lifetime.

The fundamental takeaway from this book is that leaders discover true strength when they are transparent and genuine about their own shortcomings.

Moreover, the book offers some profound insights into Christian offices or workspaces and the common issues that often arise within them.

It provides a unique perspective on how to navigate these challenges and create a more harmonious and productive environment.

Overall, this book is not only a valuable resource for personal growth in leadership but also offers valuable guidance for those working in Christian settings.

It encourages self-reflection and a willingness to embrace change in order to become a more effective and inspiring leader.

I look forward to delving deeper into its pages and applying its teachings to my own life and work.