House Rules

“In business, politics, religion, or the nonprofit sector, authentic leadership requires trust-based relationships. Anyone who fails to constantly build trust may become the ‘boss,’ but never the leader. Larry captures our need as leaders to first and foremost focus on the impacts of our decisions and actions on those we aspire to lead.” 

—Ron Holifield, Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Government Resources 

“Larry James is the kind of leader I aspire to be: authentic and effective. He continues to grow and evolve to meet today’s challenges. House Rules provides an inside look at his journey as a leader while discerning core leadership principles that result in resilient, impactful teams. While House Rules is set in the complex, sometimes dangerous world of community development, the lessons are transferrable to any aspiring leader.” 

—Carol Redmond Naughton, President, Purpose Built Communities 

“Many people genuinely want to help fight poverty. But there's a gap between wanting to see change and truly making change happen. Larry James’s leadership is closing the gap. I learn everything I can from Larry.”  

—Rev. Paul Rasmussen, Senior Minister, Highland Park United Methodist Church 

“House Rules is a compassionate, honestly lived, and warmly told account of Larry’s twenty-five-year journey working with the poor in Dallas, both individually and systemically. The human stories, lessons learned, and questions raised are not only crucial to our national debate on rising inequality and shrinking resources, but also instructive to well-intended religious, civic, and business leaders.” 

—J. McDonald Williams, retired CEO of Trammell Crow Company, Founder and Chair of Foundation for Community Empowerment

“Without dismissing empirical research on effective leadership, Larry rightly emphasizes that, ultimately, leadership is an art. Larry captures insights that I emphasized in my forty years of teaching and consulting with executives, and he adds relevant principles that, based on my experience, ring true. His clear, refreshing style makes this book even more valuable as a resource for leadership development in any organization.” 

—Jere E. Yates, Professor Emeritus of Management, Pepperdine University  

“Dallas is a better city because of the stellar leadership of Larry James. He skillfully leads with head, heart, and humility—a rare combination. I’ve always wondered what his secret was for such exceptional leadership. House Rules contains the essence of this leadership. Take this book and absorb it; you will be a better person and a better leader.” 

—Bryan Carter, Senior Pastor, Concord Church 

“Larry James speaks words of wisdom and unity in our current world of polarity in politics, wealth distribution, and racial disparities. House Rules contains forty years of life lessons and leadership advice from a man who is not merely talking about change but living it.” 

—Jeffrey Zsohar, M.D., Medical Director of Baylor Scott & White Community Care Clinics 

“Every time I have the opportunity to talk with Larry James, I walk away with new leadership insight. This book is like a lifetime of visits with Larry, and it showcases how leadership, grounded in emotional intelligence, is in his humble bone marrow. The advice is practical, and the invitations for reflection helped me look at old dilemmas with fresh eyes.” 

—Michelle Kinder, Executive Director, Momentous Institute 

“House Rules begins as a practical, honest guide for nonprofit leaders. It ends with the kind of philosophical and insightful approach to addressing poverty that could only come from Larry James.”  

—Daniel Roby, Executive Director Austin Street Center 

“If you are leading in city government, establishing a social enterprise, joining a movement, or raising kids in the city, there is something for you in this book. If you are doing all of the above, it is necessary reading. House Rules is one of those books that will become your companion. ahead and get two copies. You will want to share with someone you care about.” 

—Liz Cedillo-Pereira, Director, Office of Welcoming Communities & Immigrant Affairs, City of Dallas