Politics and Conscience

Dag Hammarskjöld on the Art of Ethical Leadership

Look inside
Hardcover
$18.95 US
On sale Feb 25, 2020 | 152 Pages | 9781611807363

See Additional Formats
An accessible guide to the principles and vision of Dag Hammarskjöld, a man John F. Kennedy called "the greatest statesman of our century."

Dag Hammarskjöld served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 until his tragic Dag Hammarskjöld served as secretary-general of the United Nations from 1953 until his tragic death in a suspicious plane crash in 1961. During those years he saw the fledgling international organization through numerous crises with skill that made him a star on the international stage. As readers of his now-classic diary, Markings, are aware, Hammarskjöld understood political leadership as an honor calling for resourcefulness, humility, moral clarity, and spiritual reflection.

In this accessible handbook, acclaimed biographer Roger Lipsey details the political and personal code by which Hammarskjöld lived and made critical decisions. What emerges is the portrait of a man who struck a remarkable balance between patience and action, empathy and reserve, policy and people. Structured through short sections on themes such as courage, facing facts, and negotiation, Politics and Conscience offers a vision of ethical leadership as relevant today as it was in Hammarskjöld’s time.
Roger Lipsey is a biographer, art historian, editor, and translator. Among his many books is Hammarskjöld: A Life, hailed as the definitive biography of Dag Hammarskjöld. Lipsey speaks regularly at United Nations gatherings and under other auspices about Hammarskjöld’s life and legacy. He lives in the Hudson Valley.

About

An accessible guide to the principles and vision of Dag Hammarskjöld, a man John F. Kennedy called "the greatest statesman of our century."

Dag Hammarskjöld served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 until his tragic Dag Hammarskjöld served as secretary-general of the United Nations from 1953 until his tragic death in a suspicious plane crash in 1961. During those years he saw the fledgling international organization through numerous crises with skill that made him a star on the international stage. As readers of his now-classic diary, Markings, are aware, Hammarskjöld understood political leadership as an honor calling for resourcefulness, humility, moral clarity, and spiritual reflection.

In this accessible handbook, acclaimed biographer Roger Lipsey details the political and personal code by which Hammarskjöld lived and made critical decisions. What emerges is the portrait of a man who struck a remarkable balance between patience and action, empathy and reserve, policy and people. Structured through short sections on themes such as courage, facing facts, and negotiation, Politics and Conscience offers a vision of ethical leadership as relevant today as it was in Hammarskjöld’s time.

Author

Roger Lipsey is a biographer, art historian, editor, and translator. Among his many books is Hammarskjöld: A Life, hailed as the definitive biography of Dag Hammarskjöld. Lipsey speaks regularly at United Nations gatherings and under other auspices about Hammarskjöld’s life and legacy. He lives in the Hudson Valley.

Three Penguin Random House Authors Win Pulitzer Prizes

On Monday, May 5, three Penguin Random House authors were honored with a Pulitzer Prize. Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are the most prestigious awards in American letters. To date, PRH has 143 Pulitzer Prize winners, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Josh Steinbeck, Ron Chernow, Anne Applebaum, Colson Whitehead, and many more. Take a look at our 2025 Pulitzer Prize

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

Read more