In an era when a viral social media post, cyberattack or political scandal can erupt into a global crisis within hours, Israeli strategist Itay Ben Horin argues that the defining test of modern leadership is no longer routine decision-making — but how leaders respond when everything begins to collapse.
That premise is at the center of “Crisis Management,” Ben Horin’s bestselling book in Israel, which has now been released in English for the first time. The book offers a behind-the-scenes look at how leaders navigate high-pressure situations, drawing lessons from major corporate failures, political scandals and international crises.
The English edition, published by Armin Lear Press, is available worldwide through retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Ben Horin, founder of the communications consulting firm Ben Horin & Alexandrovitz, analyzes 16 major crises in the book, examining how decision-makers responded in real time to events ranging from reputational breakdowns and cyber incidents to corporate and national emergencies.
The case studies include crises involving multinational companies such as BP and McDonald’s, public figures including cyclist Lance Armstrong, and world leaders such as former U.S. President Barack Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Rather than focusing only on leadership theory, the book combines narrative case studies with structured decision-making frameworks intended to help leaders operate under extreme pressure. Each chapter moves from a real-world account of a crisis to practical tools for assessing risk, prioritizing actions and managing communication during rapidly evolving situations.
The analysis also incorporates insights from strategy and communications professionals who were present in crisis response teams, offering perspectives from inside the decision-making process.
According to the publisher, the book outlines practical approaches to identifying the key decisions that shape the outcome of a crisis, managing uncertainty, responding to cyber incidents and communicating effectively when reputational damage is at stake.
Itay Ben Horin Photo: Alex Kolomoisky“Leaders are not remembered for the days when everything runs smoothly,” Ben Horin said. “They are remembered for the hours when everything falls apart. This book is about preparing for those hours.”
The book previously achieved significant success in Israel, and its English release aims to broaden its reach among executives, policymakers and consultants involved in crisis management across sectors including business, government and public relations.
Ben Horin holds a law degree and a master’s degree with honors in public policy from Tel Aviv University and is a graduate of the executive program at Harvard Business School. Over his career, he has advised hundreds of organizations across the business, public and security sectors and worked with senior political leaders during critical moments in their careers, according to the publisher.