Book Review: The Charisma Myth
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Mon, May 21, 2012
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and felt as though they were a million miles away? Have you had a conversation where you were supposed to be engaged, yet your mind 
was wandering and it showed? If so, and you desire to be the kind of person who is 100% present in your relationships and interactions, then you will benefit from The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane.
What is the myth of Charisma? The myth of charisma, according to the book, is that charisma is a gift to a select few. The author argues that this was prepetuated through the centuries by greek mythology. The truth is that charisma, as we currently understand it, is the art of connecting with people through everyday skills such as paying attention, listening, focusing your energy and more. And that those skills can be acquired by anyone.
An expert in human behavior, Olivia Fox Cabane has lectured at Harvard, MIT, Stanford and other places on how individuals can learn the practical skills that help people connect with each other on an emotional level. She certainly comes across as a credible expert and the book is full of practical advice backed up with some good psychological and scientific research. Most helpful was her identifying the barriers in our lives that prevent us from really projecting our warmth, interest and presence with others. Barriers like physical discomfort, emotional crisis, anxiety, social discomfort, and more.
I'm recommending the book, although after reading it I think it might be better on audio book, because it bogs down a bit in the middle. Having said that, I definitely benefited from the information and encouragement in this book.
David Curry.
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org