Dr. Malangwasira has learned to be a leader himself in his family, community, and as a teacher and scholar in his field. But he wasn't always a leader. He grew up in a repressive country where the president controlled everything. In fact, you could not get an A in agriculture in school because, as Dr. Malangwasira explains, "Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the Life President of Malawi, had already passed with an 'A.' Since he was regarded as the messiah, nobody could pass with the same grade." Dr. Malangwasira grew up in a post-colonial country in which the power of white rulers continued to influence the government and sustain the belief that whites were superior and, therefore, made the best leaders. Fortunately, Dr. Malangwasira was able to realize that these views of leaders were not true, and he was able to find a better way of life in the United States.
By clarifying what makes a true leader, Dr. Malangwasira allows readers to recognize true leadership and aspire to it. However, before leadership can happen, people must first become followers. Much of the book is devoted to how to become a good follower because without followers, there can be no leaders. Furthermore, in order to lead, you have to understand what it is to be a follower so you know your followers' mindsets and how to motivate them.