Authors:
- Written by a pioneering practitioner and world-class business guru in the field of clinical and psychodynamic executive coaching
- A short and reflective book that addresses age-old questions about the human condition in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Turns an unblinking light on the things we push aside and then turns us to face them
Part of the book series: The Palgrave Kets de Vries Library (PKVL)
Buy it now
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Other ways to access
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.
Table of contents (11 chapters)
-
Front Matter
-
Back Matter
About this book
Written at a time of global pandemic, when we have been forced to confront age-old existential questions—Why are we here? Where are we going?—perhaps for the first time, Quo Vadis? is extraordinarily relevant to leaders, managers and anyone who wants to bring meaning and authenticity into their work and life. Manfred Kets de Vries argues that we need to address these fundamental and disturbing questions if we are to live fully and meaningfully. Too many people wake up on a Monday morning and do the same things they have done every Monday. They go to work and function on autopilot without questioning their purpose. But how can we make sure our lives are rich and fulfilling? How do we know we’re on the right track?
This is a book about death and the fear of death, about angst and absurdity; but it is also about endurance, honesty, well-being, responsibility, living with hard truths, creating meaning—and happiness.
Quo Vadis? makes us look full on at the things we prefer not to see. It is a short book that pulls no punches but is far from bleak. Instead, Kets de Vries shows that our life is enriched, and our ability to make meaning and find happiness is increased, when we acknowledge the inevitable price we have to pay for knowing our own mind and understanding our inevitable end.
Reviews
- Christoph Loch, Professor of Operations and Technology Management, Dean at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
“The purpose of most management literature is to make you feel smart and confident by confirming and articulating thoughts you already have had. This book is very different. Manfred Kets de Vries is a brave person and writer. Reading Quo Vadis?, perhaps the most poignant of all his books, is taking a risk. The risk of being challenged and changed as a leader, manager, and human being, in a way you have not been prepared for.”
- Ulf Lockowandt, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, EMBA Stockholm School of Economics, Head of Division for Special Operations Stockholm Health Care Services
“Quo Vadis? is Manfred Kets de Vries most profound book yet, challenging not just leaders but every one of us to find our own sweet spot combination of happiness and meaning in life. Every page confronts the reader with past and present choices and what he or she may be running away from. It also provides a guide to finding one’s personal goals, stop wasting time on things that don’t have meaning, and making the changes which may lead to “a life well lived.””
- PhilippeHaspeslagh, Honorary Dean and Partner Vlerick Business School, President of the Family Business Network Belgium, Chairman of Ardo
“A fascinating journey of coming to terms with life’s final destination. A tour de force from Professor Manfred Kets de Vries, the master of the psychodynamic orientation to management. Drawing on impressive philosophical, literary and scholarly sources, the author offers a unique perspective on handling the inevitability of death with humor, lightness and style. A must read for those considering themselves reflective leaders.”
- Stanislav Shekshnia, Senior Affiliate Professor, INSEAD, France/ Singapore, Senior Partner, Ward Howell International
Authors and Affiliations
-
Europe Campus, INSEAD, FONTAINEBLEAU, France
Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries
About the author
Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries is the Distinguished Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change at INSEAD, the Founder of INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre, Program Director of INSEAD’s top management program, “The Challenge of Leadership: Developing Your Emotional Intelligence”, and Scientific Director of the Executive Master’s program “Consulting and Coaching for Change”.
The Financial Times, Le Capital, Wirtschaftswoche, and the Economist have rated him among the world’s leading management thinkers. As a global consultant in executive leadership development, his clients have included many of the most important global organizations. He is the author of almost 50 books and hundreds of articles, the recipient of numerous awards, including two honorary doctorates, and chairman of the Kets de Vries Institute (KDVI), a boutique leadership development consulting firm.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Quo Vadis?
Book Subtitle: The Existential Challenges of Leaders
Authors: Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries
Series Title: The Palgrave Kets de Vries Library
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66699-6
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Business and Management, Business and Management (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-66698-9Published: 12 March 2021
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-66701-6Published: 13 March 2022
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-66699-6Published: 11 March 2021
Series ISSN: 2730-7581
Series E-ISSN: 2730-759X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVII, 105
Number of Illustrations: 3 b/w illustrations
Topics: Business Strategy/Leadership, Management, Personality and Social Psychology