

Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall
Inspiration for "The Hollow Crown"
- Eliot Cohen's experience in Washington, D.C., observing powerful figures rise and fall, inspired his book The Hollow Crown.
- He saw people "swimming on a sea of glory" only to have their pride break, leading to their downfall, mirroring Cardinal Wolsey's speech in Henry VIII.
Shakespeare's insights on power dynamics
- Shakespeare's plays offer insights into power dynamics applicable beyond politics, relevant to business, personal lives, and any hierarchical organization.
- Cohen suggests viewing organizations as "courts" with kings, courtiers, and jesters to understand their internal power dynamics.
Shakespeare's Influence on Historical Figures
- Abraham Lincoln, a Shakespeare enthusiast, found particular resonance in Macbeth, even quoting a chilling passage days before his assassination.
- Winston Churchill also loved Shakespeare, reportedly reciting lines along with actors during performances, as recounted by Richard Burton.































When people think of the plays of Shakespeare, they tend to think of his comedies and tragedies that spotlight interpersonal dynamics like love and jealousy, pretense and reality. But my guest would say that many of Shakepeare's plays, especially his sometimes overlooked histories, are also unmatchable in revealing the dynamics of power.
Eliot Cohen is a military historian, political scientist, professor of international studies, and former State Department counselor, as well as the author of The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall. Today on the show Eliot takes us through what Shakepeare's plays can teach us about navigating the three-part arc of power: acquiring power, exercising power, and losing power. Along the way, we discuss how these lessons in leadership played out in the lives of real-life historical figures as well.
Resources Related to the Podcast
- Plays discussed:
- AoM Podcast #853: The Real Rules of Power
- AoM Podcast #792: How Power Corrupts
- AoM Article: A Lesson From TR & Taft on Pursuing a Life You Like
- AoM Article: There Is No Indispensable Man
- Robert Caro's biographical series on LBJ
- All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
- Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime by Eliot Cohen
Connect With Elliot Cohen
