This book should be essential reading for all in pastoral leadership. It may not be the best written, and the attempts to pin various patterns of behaviour or psychology on Old Testament leaders jars (and smacks of a rather weak attempt to give it biblical credibility or foundations) - hence only 3 stars.

But having said that, the 5 dark side areas (was I the only one who kept hearing James Earl Jones as Darth Vader whenever those words appear?!) are crucial, if painful, areas for exploration. No one gets off lightly - we all have our dark sides.

No doubt the simple questionnaires to identify one's own tendencies are a crudely simplistic, but the processes for self-examination are a necessary place to start in the pursuit of understanding ourselves better.

It's not easy reading, nor will pride remain intact if applied with honesty. But we, and those we lead, will be all the better for it. I just wish some I could mention would read this...