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cptnstphy 's review for:
The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism
by Olivia Fox Cabane
If I were to describe The Charisma Myth in one word, it would be "practical".
I imagine that almost anyone can benefit from this useful guide, but it's very much written with people in business, management and politics in mind. It's not malicious or overly harmful, but her guidance tends to be focused on how to help you manipulate people. She assumes that your primary goals are convincing people that they want to promote you or invest in whatever business scheme you're pitching. As a teacher, TCM will help me have more control over my class, but it would have been nice to read about a greater variety of clients and scenarios. Her book could have resonated with more types of people if she had inserted examples of non-business-related situations.
Her writing style was irritating at times, reminiscent of a bland and platitude-filled self-help book. Her exercises also ranged from helpful to bizarre. In one of her exercises, she recommended carrying around a stack of one-dollar bills and ripping one every time you fail to break a bad habit. I was truly aghast at this wasteful and privileged suggestion.
Overall, the Charisma Myth is extremely practical, and although I couldn't bring myself to give it a higher rating, I could see myself reading parts of it again to re-absorb its lessons. Through her many exercises and step-by-step instructions, you will practice and develop skills that may bring you more "success" in social situations: whether that means being offered a job or making people around you feel listened to and invested in your personal success.
I imagine that almost anyone can benefit from this useful guide, but it's very much written with people in business, management and politics in mind. It's not malicious or overly harmful, but her guidance tends to be focused on how to help you manipulate people. She assumes that your primary goals are convincing people that they want to promote you or invest in whatever business scheme you're pitching. As a teacher, TCM will help me have more control over my class, but it would have been nice to read about a greater variety of clients and scenarios. Her book could have resonated with more types of people if she had inserted examples of non-business-related situations.
Her writing style was irritating at times, reminiscent of a bland and platitude-filled self-help book. Her exercises also ranged from helpful to bizarre. In one of her exercises, she recommended carrying around a stack of one-dollar bills and ripping one every time you fail to break a bad habit. I was truly aghast at this wasteful and privileged suggestion.
Overall, the Charisma Myth is extremely practical, and although I couldn't bring myself to give it a higher rating, I could see myself reading parts of it again to re-absorb its lessons. Through her many exercises and step-by-step instructions, you will practice and develop skills that may bring you more "success" in social situations: whether that means being offered a job or making people around you feel listened to and invested in your personal success.