Michael Mandelbaum has written a fascinating book examining the role of major political leaders in shaping our recent history, for better or for worse. He is a highly regarded author with an insightful understanding of the factors that have shaped conflict and progress over the past century. Some of the titans featured in this podcast based on his book operated within democratic settings and left democracy stronger than they had found it, while others, tyrants with diseased minds, tended towards coercion rather than persuasion when exercising power and contributed to making the 20th century a blood-soaked century, without parallel in terms of human suffering. In an age of rising authoritarianism, this podcast delivers important warnings for our collective future.