Introduction * Draws attention to the conditions that give rise to pathological leadership * Outlines the purpose and methodology of the book Chapter 1 The Dark Cloud of Crowds * Analyses the development of populist movements with reference to Nazi Germany. * Discusses contemporary conditions that support the rise of populist movements, including the enabling roles played by social media and the internet. * Examines crowd psychology in terms of the "selfish herd", "mimicry", etc. Chapter 2 Let's Install Leaders for Life * Offers a tongue-in-cheek Swiftian proposal that proposes - in a satirical manner - that there are merits to installing "leaders for life". * Provides specific analysis of Donald Trump, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, Mugabe, and others. Chapter 3 The Little Drum Boy or the Rise and Fall of a Flawed Leaders * Through the creation of a modern-day fairy tale, the text describes the rise and fall of one "Little Drum Boy", with obvious reference the 45th president of the United States. * Detailed examination of the psychological factors that shaped the leadership style of "Little Drum", including his personal traits, skills, and family dynamics. Chapter 4 A Strange Tale of Hatred * Framed by the tale of a leader named "Bolsonaro", this chapter provides a psychological examination of hatred and how it is deployed by pathological leaders.
* In addition to analyzing hatred, the chapter also looks at anger, contempt, self-righteousness, and other emotions utilized by demagogic leaders. Chapter 5 I won't. Therefore I am. * Offers the tale of a queen who wishes to preserve her country by divorcing it from the larger federation of which it has been a part. The tale functions as an analogy of Brexit from a psychological viewpoint. * Provides a psychological analysis of the queen's motivations and personality traits, including her stubbornness, fear of an attack on her inner core, inclination to hold on to grudges and past injuries, etc. * Looks to reveal the underlying condition that create such a psychological state, such as the separation-individuation matrix. * Concludes with a discussion of how to deal with stubborn people.
Chapter 6 Life Lessons from the 'Great Mother' * A fairy tale about a grandma Black Widow spider that offers a psychological analysis of her from the perspective of the "Great Mother". * Includes a discussion of leadership, organizations and gender dynamics, including the dangerous duality of attracting and repelling. Chapter 7 Lions Led by a Donkey * A short conclusion that reminds the readers not only of the negative impact of incompetent, arrogant leadership, but also the value leadership in tough times. * Discusses the need for moral leadership, courage in making the hard decisions, and creating a legacy for future generations.