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Book Review

Title Selected: Why Some People Lead, why Others Follow, and why it Matters

Authors Mark Van Vugt, Anjana Ahuja

Edition illustrated

Publisher Random House of Canada, 2011

ISBN 0307358623, 9780307358622

Length 262 pages

Selected is a thesis about the origins of social

organization and Mark Van Vugt and Ahuja (the

―authors‖) introduces the new theory of

Evolutionary Leadership. The authors argue that

modern leadership theories and the social

organization of nations and organizations – and

their leaders, often fail as the style of leadership is

at odds with the hardwired leadership preferences

humans have adopted through our 2.5 million

history as a species. The book is meant to sum

up van Vugt’s research to date and introduce his

findings to a wider and more lay audience.

“Leadership is entrusted from below, not appointed from above”

If you have ever been a part of an organization larger than one you will know

that where humans cooperate conflicts exist. Even in organizations of one

there are conflicts which goes to show our inability to live in peace. But why is

it that some in an organization lead and other follow? The authors suggest

that just as important as leadership is what they call followership. Humans

choose their leaders based on evolutionary instincts for optimizing survival,



and to follow them. Hence a conflict has arrived over the past centuries

through the industrial revolution whereby corporations owned by shareholders

appoint leaders from the top down. The authors also argue that when the

hunter-gatherers became farmers 13,000 years ago and thus gave rise to very

large societies such as we know today a disconnect between the leader we

personally know to the elected or otherwise appointed leader we only know

through media.

The authors’ conclusion – at least for now, is that successful organizations and

their leaders are so, as they accommodate the evolutionary leadership and

followership principles and keep organizations small and personal. Research

has shown that we as human beings have a capacity for a network of family,

friends and colleagues of 150 people. Just think of it as the amount of people

you have an ongoing conversation with. If you use social media such as

Facebook or LinkedIn you probably have around 150 connections, and so do

your connections. So organizations should be organized around this

number. The authors also suggest that particularly middle management

should be appointed from within, and selected by peers rather than being hired

from the outside and appointed.

The authors details six natural leader types and suggest that we all have these

traits to larger or smaller degrees which has successfully developed through

the evolution of human mankind. Each type has its own function within the

group and is needed at different times of the life of the group. The Warrior

primary role is to defend the group against external threats whether natural or

manmade. The Scout seeks new resources and opportunities for the group in

the external environment. The Diplomat forms alliances to outside group to

mutual benefit. The Arbiter maintains peace and harmony in the group. The

Manager allocates resources and organizes activities. The Teacher distributes

knowledge handed down the generations. The authors invite the reader to

participate in online research to further their studies and develop the theory.



If you have influence on how your organization, whether social or professional

is managed and organized you will find this book interesting and the authors’

further research enlightening. I think it is very worthwhile to heed their

recommendations particularly in these times of restructuring and re-organizing

to make companies able to whether the economic difficulties we are living

through in this decade.

A groundbreaking, evolutionary science-based exploration of the history of

leadership that explains how and why some men and women evolve into good

or great leaders, and some do not.

This is the first book of its kind — reaching into business, psychology, politics

and current affairs — to explore how leadership affects us all. Selected provides

deep insight into our personal and professional lives at a time when the world

urgently needs to acknowledge great leadership.

By,Chintan TrivediExecutive – HR

TOTO India Industries Pvt. Ltd.

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