Can one political leader change the course of history? Should CEOs be given big bonuses when a company performs well? Will firing a coach actually change the fortunes of the team? What does a religion’s success owe to a charismatic founder?


In a fresh take on the interplay of power, character and success, world-renowned historian and bestselling author Jared Diamond argues that great leaders are so much more than either heroic exceptions or products of circumstance. Looking at natural experiments in four different spheres – history, business, sport and religion – Diamond asks under which conditions is a leader most likely to make a difference and why.

Drawing on examples of iconic leaders – from Botswana president Seretse Khama to environmentalist Rachel Carson to legendary UCLA football coach John Wooden – Diamond shows us how effectiveness is determined by a range of complex interrelated factors, from resources to geography, culture to technology.

Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings is a thought-provoking assessment of when leaders can bring about effective change, when they don’t, and perhaps whether we need them at all.