Bernard M. Bass - The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, and Managerial Applications

THEORY, RESEARCH, AND MANAGERIAL APPLICATIONS

Fourth Edition

Bernard M. Bass
with Ruth Bass

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This Free Press hardcover edition November 2008

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-1552-7
ISBN-10: 0-7432-1552-4
eISBN-13: 978-1-4165-4578-1

Without a doubt, Bass & Stogdills Handbook of Leadership has been the most widely used and cited reference book in the study of leadership. Even though there has been a dramatic increase in leadership books of all kinds, including reviews of research and other handbooks, I am quite certain that the impact of this, the fourth edition of the Handbook, will be equal to or greater than the last edition. Why?

For leadership scholars, the Handbook, in its three earlier editions, has been the primary reference bookour bible for all things leadership. I consult the Handbook on a nearly daily basis, so much so that it is the only book that has a permanent place on my work desk. I will retire my third edition to a shelf and replace it with this fourth edition.

The Handbook, thanks to the exacting detail of Bernie Bass, is a thoroughly comprehensive and well-organized review of the voluminous (and growing) leadership literature. To grasp the enormity of this task, two-thirds of all psychological and management research on leadership has been published since the last edition of the Handbook. The comprehensive nature of the Handbook means that scholars can find reviewed here research on nearly every leadership topic imaginable.

The longevity of Bass & Stogdills Handbook of Leadership, third edition, provided a bridge between the earliest research on leadership and the research that was being conducted at the time it was published. All too often, researchers are unable (or unwilling) to search the archives for elusive copies of early leadership research. This fourth edition of the Handbook covers the research history and brings it up to date. The fact that Bernie Bass has lived (and published in) the past seven decades means that scholars can use the Handbook as a tool to trace modern research from the present back to its earliest roots.

Finally, the Handbook is well written and arranged and provides a coherent structure to leadership. Leadership is a topic that has been studied from many perspectives by scholars from a myriad of disciplines. While the greatest contribution of the Handbook has been the sheer volume of information packed between its covers, it is Basss thoughtful organization and structure that help organize and define what is known about leaders and leadership.

Bernard M. Bass, one of the founders of the social scientific investigation of leaders and leadership, left us in 2007. Although he made enormous contributions to the field, this edition of the Handbook is Bernies most impressive gift to the leadership community.

As someone who has followed Bernie around at conferences, as he scurried from one leadership session to another, collecting copies of presentations and making connections with leadership scholars, I know firsthand that Bernie Basss heart and soul are in this handbook. His home office was crammed with copies of leadership books, journals, and papers, with his wife Ruth providing good organization to what otherwise would have been a mountainous clutter. It is very fitting that Ruth Bass, who contributed so much to Bernies life and his work, be a recognized co-author on this edition.

Bernies knowledge of leadership and related topics were truly encyclopedic. The knowledge of leadership research and theory that was inside Bernie Basss head could fill a dozen or more volumes the size of this Handbook. He had a very difficult time deciding what should be included, and he regretted greatly all that had to be left out. There are, after all, only so many pages that fit between a single cover.

Although I have consulted the Handbook countless times in my work, I also have had the good fortune of being able to consult Bernie directly on particular leadership topics, and he always had the answer. Those of us who study leadership and the many more who are deeply concerned about the practice of leadership in the world owe an incalculable debt to Bernie Bass.

As you get to know this edition of the Handbook, I am sure you will appreciate Bernie Basss legacy, and this final gift, as much as I do.

Ronald E. Riggio
Kravis Leadership Institute
Claremont McKenna College

On October 11, 2007, during the final stages of the production of the fourth edition of the Handbook of Leadership, Bernard M. Bass passed away. Bernie, who was 82 years old, was distinguished professor emeritus in the School of Management at Binghamton University (State University of New York) and a member of the academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College in Florida. He was also the founding director of the Center for Leadership Studies at Binghamton and founding editor of The Leadership Quarterly journal. In the seven decades after 1946, he published over 400 journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports; plus 21 books and another ten books that he edited.

He was a consultant involved in executive development for many of the Fortune 500 companies and delivered lectures and workshops in over 40 countries. He also lectured and conducted workshops pro bono for wide variety of not-for-profit organizations, including religious organizations, hospitals, government agencies, and universities. His work has been cited thousands of times and he received millions of dollars in research grants. Translations of his work have appeared in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese.

In addition to authoring the Handbook of Leadership, Bernie focused for 25 years on research and applications to management development of transformational leadership. Bernie was honored with many awards for lifetime achievement by several professional organizations, including the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Eminent Leadership Scholar Award from the Leadership Network of the Academy of Management. A Festschrift in his honor was held in 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, who was instrumental in the completion of the Handbook of Leadership; his daughter Audie; his daughter Laurie and her husband, Steve; his son Robert and Roberts wife Maryanne and their three daughters, Rebecca, Megan, and Lauren; his son Jonathan and Jonathans wife Patricia, with their three sons Joshua, Jeremy, and Jonathan Jr., and Jonathan Jrs. wife Christie and their two children.