This is a book about Julius Caesar and what he means to modern leaders. It is not a biography, and it is not intended to be a history book in the traditional sense. There are plenty of such works out there, and for me to try to recreate them would be a waste of my time-and yours. Besides, I'm not a historian. I just like history.
It struck me that for as many great books on Caesar as there are, they all explore Caesar in his own time. There is very little written to help us answer the questions "So what? What does any of this mean to me all these years later?"
Historians and academics certainly spend considerable energy discussing-and often arguing about-the true nature of Caesar's character. But one thing about the great man never comes up for debate: he was an exceptionally effective leader. There is a wonderful historiography for Caesar, a wealth of great books and articles, each adding its own color to the canvas that makes up the picture of his life. But there's nothing quite like this out there: a look at Caesar as a leader through modern eyes. This book explores not just who Caesar was but how we can take the blueprint of leadership he gave us to be better leaders in our own time. Caesar was a lot of things: politician, statesman, general. Now let us add "teacher" to that list.
As we explore the leadership genius of Caesar, it is worth noting the violence that hung in the air like a putrid fog, permeating every aspect of Roman life. One of the best ways to seal your fate in ancient Rome was to try to cut into the advantages that the oligarchy held tightly. Caesar entered the political landscape with a controversial reform agenda, one that was sure to be brutally suppressed by the senatorial order. It was a violent time, and it would take someone of extraordinary talent to get anything visionary accomplished. That he succeeded in implementing his agenda and consolidating all the power in Rome for himself proves his mettle as a leader. What was it about this guy that made him such a phenomenal leader, and what-if anything-does that mean to us all these centuries later? These simple questions are the heart of this book.
One last note about the organization of the book: I have picked and chosen events from Caesar's life to explore his revolutionary leadership style and point out the modern leadership lessons that his extraordinary life offers us today. A historian reading this book might be frustrated by its asymmetry (and its lack of chronology). Some things that are of great historical importance have been overlooked, while other, more minor events are amplified to highlight the leadership lessons they teach us. The focus of this book also means that some people and events that deserve study or that have a role to play in a more complete historical narrative have been left behind. (Sorry in advance, Clodius!) All of this is in service of my main goal: extracting the great lessons from Caesar's career that we can use to become better leaders today.