• The Charisma Myth

  • How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism
  • By: Olivia Fox Cabane
  • Narrated by: Lisa Cordileione
  • Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (5,913 ratings)

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The Charisma Myth  By  cover art

The Charisma Myth

By: Olivia Fox Cabane
Narrated by: Lisa Cordileione
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Publisher's summary

What if charisma could be taught? For the first time, science and technology have taken charisma apart, figured it out and turned it into an applied science: In controlled laboratory experiments, researchers could raise or lower people's level of charisma as if they were turning a dial. What you'll find here is practical magic: unique knowledge, drawn from a variety of sciences, revealing what charisma really is and how it works. You'll get both the insights and the techniques you need to apply this knowledge. The world will become your lab, and every person you meet, a chance to experiment.

The Charisma Myth is a mix of fun stories, sound science, and practical tools. Cabane takes a hard scientific approach to a heretofore mystical topic, covering what charisma actually is, how it is learned, what its side effects are, and how to handle them.

Please note: The accompanying workbook for this title is available at AskOlivia.com/book/exercises/.

©2012 Olivia Fox Cabane (P)2012 Gildan Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"Fox Cabane's distinct writing style...makes listening to each chapter both informational and fun. Each exercise is practical and easy...If you are interested in increasing your ability to be charismatic in your unique setting or employment, this audiobook will give you direct skills to use" ( PsychologyToday.com )

What listeners say about The Charisma Myth

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

the mystery of the missing workbook

It is apparently a deep, dark secret that Audible doesn't wish us to know, but in spite of their failure to provide a pdf to accompany this book, the author herself does so on her website. She provides a free 10 page pdf "workbook" with the information that other reviewers lamented the lack of. I found this through a google search on the book's title and posted the url in a review I submitted previously. Audible did not see fit to publish that review (deep, dark secrets, I'm telling you), but I'm trying again. Google it for yourself, but be sure to select the link that lists 'Workbook and Audio files" (easy, Audible, it's not the audiobook) since I couldn't find it when I selected the link to her homepage.

As I said, my previous review, created specifically to provide this information, was quashed by Audible censors, but here we go again. Do your worst Audible.

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648 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent treatment of a fascinating topic.

My library includes some 700 books, many about similar topics. This book is near the top. The central message of this book is that you must control your internal monologue to be effective in interpersonal interactions. The book had just the right amount of scientific data to keep a scientist interested, and just enough animated discussion to make it a delightful page turner.

I have been working on my internal monologue for many years, so this book came a bit late for me. But for those who suffer from brain ANTS (automatic negative thoughts), I recommend first that you read Feel The Fear and Do it Anyway, then this book and you will be much more effective in your daily life.

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353 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, but better as a book...

Any additional comments?

I LOVE the information in here, only problem is she did not include a PDF and if you really want to work the teachings in this book you need the chart and graphs she refers too. I eneded up frustrated because I wanted to get maximum benefit from the fabulous information in this book but was limited without the visual aids. It is VERY good, even just to listen too, and interesting but wish she had of included a PDF. :(

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158 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Needs summarized workbook; Loses value without

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Anyone that owns the physical book, considering that would be the only way to actually do the activities when she says things like "Fill out the form below to find out your results regarding this principle." Too bad I can't open and fill out the audio book...duh

What did you like best about this story?

Useful ideas overall.

What does Lisa Cordileione bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice. But how about what I am lacking from not having the book: The tables, graphs, visuals, and worksheets

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Charisma Myth?

none.

Any additional comments?

Give me the work materials needed to make this audio-book useful.

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101 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

It can be learned ... and ... it does work!

This book is fantastic! I am going to listen to it 2 or 3 more times there are so many suggestions to work on. The ideas presented are easy to understand and the things that the author suggest doing are all essentially 'simple'. You just might need to be a little brave with some of them, but mostly it is just remembering what to do.
It will feel funny at first, but then it quickly becomes second nature. I have started with a few of the techniques and it is having a noticeable impact on my life in just a few weeks. I am more confident and better able to communicate with people.
The narration was well done and a pleasure to listen to. I recommend this book to anyone who can't understand why no one will listen to them.

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77 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Practical Tips for Social Situations

What did you love best about The Charisma Myth?

There are many exercises to "trick" your brain into acting more charismatic. Because your brain can't differentiate between reality and your imagination, these techniques are highly effective.

What did you like best about this story?

The message that anyone can improve their charisma.

What three words best describe Lisa Cordileione’s performance?

Professional, precise, too fast.

Any additional comments?

I use the techniques from the book all the time now and will continue to do so. Highly recommended.

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63 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Want to know what makes charismatic people tick?

If you want to know what makes charismatic people tick, then I guarantee you find this book interesting and informative. The Charisma Myth is a thought-provoking, well-researched book on what charisma is, broken down into its key components.

As I listened to this book, I found myself creating bookmarks and rewinding sections to listen to them again. I have always been interested in charisma and, before reading this book, I was sure that those who had it just came with it. However, I quickly learned that this idea was false when the author began introducing simple things you can do to instantly raise your own charisma. When I finished listening to the audio, I wanted to immediately pick up the hard-copy so I could highlight sections and use it for later reference.

While it should be noted that this book is not introducing anything brand new, it is not a book which is just reiterating points from a few other recently written books at all. This is the first book on Charisma I have read which successfully brings together countless concepts from other books and scientific articles; everything from Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” to articles in the Leadership Quarterly on “Charisma, Positive Emotions and Mood Contagion.”

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58 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I feel bad but don't buy this

Would you try another book from Olivia Fox Cabane and/or Lisa Cordileione?

Firs the best part of this book - the title - great title!However... I ignored what many reviews said - but its true - this book constantly refers to the lessons - from the print version - but the audio or the website has no support for the lessons. So you are left with a big bag of lessons and points in every chapter to act on right away - ( the author attempts to guilt you into doing the lessons - and thats fine - IF the format of audio book took that into consideration.)Different formats need specific producers. You will hear over and over " just look at the lesson below and start now..." as you are driving down the highway. The reader read a verbate of the book - how she did this knowing the use of her reading seems beyond me. But thats a small irritant compared to the book in any form. I have found great inspiration and life changing movement from many 'self help' books. This is not one of them, It has every overused generalized cliche from feel your angel wings to strut like a general. And I lost count at 147 points you should try and use every day.. I needed a book of crib notes for the book.It respectfully has a few good points in chapter 8 - that should be THE CHARISMA LEAFLET. But I had to wade through HOURS and HOURS of superlative drivel to get there.Its unfair to ask Audible for a refund but I would love the author to personally write me a check for the cost of the book and the cost of my time.

What do you think your next listen will be?

IF the author goes back to square one, started from chapter 8, sticks to the topic and goes MUCH deeper, and more authentically and then cuts out ALL the self help 101 - i would consider it. But with a title like this and then to deliver the kitchen sink of beginners self help was very iratating .

How could the performance have been better?

It should not have occurred

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Pain, disappointment etc., As my nephew said about a bad movie " Well thats ( in my case) 12 hours i'll never get back"

Any additional comments?

Please Audible - make sure the contents are specifically supported in the audio format, I have never written a negative review of a book here or on Amazon - but this book needs serious curation at many levels.

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51 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I'm glad I listened to it

Periodically I try to throw a self-improvement book into my mix of books. I don't always review these books because it doesn't seem fair to rate them the same way I do all the other books I read- based on their entertainment value. They aren't "page-turners", and I can put them down. Since this is now the sale book of the day I will throw out my two-cents on it.

The author is very knowledgeable, and presents a lot of new, useful information. I plan to listen to this book again in the future because it does contain a lot of ideas I believe can make a difference in my life. It seems like many self-help books have one or two good ideas, and they keep going over them again and again for the duration of the book. That is not the case here, Cabane's ideas don't repeat, and the stories and examples she discusses make the book fun to listen to.

If this topic sounds interesting to you, I would really recommend listening to this book.

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42 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

better than I thought it would be

Any additional comments?

The good and bad thing about this audiobook is that the most important tips & techniques are given right away, at the beginning. The descriptions of charisma as "warmth, presence, and power" were extremely helpful. I think about that all the time now. But the rest of the audio was basic, such as how to make eye contact, listen, and shake hands. Scattered throughout, there were some good tips on monitoring the pace and intonation of your voice. I just wish there had been more elaborate descriptions on how people perceive one another and maybe subtleties within the three "warmth, presence, power"... She does discuss combinations of the 3 and encourages people to make use of their "natural" talents rather than feeling like they have to be all things to all people.

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