The Charisma Myth: How to Engage, Influence and Motivate People
Most of us assume charisma is something you're simply born with. Olivia Fox Cabane disagrees, and she makes a convincing case. Drawing on research from behavioural science and psychology, she breaks down exactly what charisma consists of, how it operates beneath the surface, and, crucially, how ordinary people can genuinely develop it. The book balances accessible storytelling with solid, evidence-based insight. It's an engaging read rather than a dry textbook, moving briskly between illustrative anecdotes and specific, usable techniques. Cabane even addresses the less-discussed downsides of heightened personal magnetism, and offers guidance on managing those complications. The world, as she puts it, becomes your laboratory. Praise from respected voices reinforces the book's credibility. Stephen Kosslyn, director of the Centre for the Study of Behavioural Sciences at Stanford, calls it 'chock-full of wisdom, practical recommendations, and uncommonly good sense.' Robert Cialdini, author of Influence, commends Cabane for weaving rigorous science together with readable narrative to illuminate charisma's role in leadership. Psychology Today notes its direct applicability across a wide variety of professional settings. Whether you're socially confident or quietly struggle in a room full of strangers, there's something genuinely useful here. It's the kind of book that changes how you observe people, including yourself.
- Author: Olivia Fox Cabane
- Publisher: Penguin
- Genre: Economics
- ISBN: 978-0670922871
- Pages: 272 pages