There is a lot of information packed within these pages. More in fact than I could get from one reading. I found this book to be better than any I've read yet on the subject... yet, it still seems that there is an elusive, magical aspect of charisma that each author seems to miss. This may just be my personal viewpoint. Who knows, maybe I need to find the magical gem, insert it into the puzzle, and write the book myself. I have listened to tapes; watched videos; and read books by Tony Alessandra, and this guy rocks. Read this book by all means and add to your own charisma.

This book is a solid introduction to the subject of having more influence that will help those who feel challenged by social situations. Self-diagnostic questions and simple examples combine to give you a good sense of what you need to work on.

The author provides a number of definitions of charisma (including the one in the title of this review), and seems to focus on "the ability to influence others positively by connecting with them physically, emotionally, and intellectually."

Daniel Goleman has written a great deal about emotional intelligence (see his books, Emotional Intelligence and Working with Emotional Intelligence), and has noted that many people lack skill in this area. For those who have little of this capability, Charisma will provide a useful toolkit for assessing and adapting successfully in social situations.

The book is organized around a few key ideas: making a good first impression, making a good impression when you speak, being an effective listener, becoming more persuasive, using physical surroundings to your advantage, maximizing adaptability to the situation, and expanding your vision and ideas. These are all good areas to focus on, and few will find that they are equally strong in each one. Once you find your weaker points, the author provides you will simple, effective suggestions for improvement.

He sums up all his thinking in a Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would like done unto them.

If you want more advanced help in this area, you will find Goleman, Cialdini (Influence), and books on neuro-linguistic programming to be helpful.

The main point is that we should all work on our social effectiveness and comfort. All of us know more than any one of us, and we can accomplish much more together. Enjoy this stallbusting book and have more joy in your life!

Over the years, I have read countless books and articles, listened to tapes, and watched videos to learn the secrets to success. I've sat through seminars, workshops, speeches, and classes hoping to pick up one more little gem of an idea to improve my effectiveness.

In Charisma, Tony Alessandra has pulled all of that knowledge together in one place. After many years in business, and a whole lot of learning about how to be successful in sales, management, and life, I recognized quite a bit of the contents of this volume. I really enjoyed the refresher and reinforcement . . . and I picked up some new advice that I'd missed along the way.

The book starts, appropriately with an introduction to Charisma: "the ability to positively influence others by connecting with them physically, emotionally, and intellectually." From the introductory chapters, Alessandra takes us on a journey through seven fully-loaded chapters spilling over with the secrets of how to fashion and hone that influencing ability.

To enable you to see the framework of this tool kit, I'll list the chapters. Sending Out Your Best Silent Message, Speaking with Authority, Listening Attentively, Becoming More Persuasive, Using Space and Time to Your Advantage, Maximizing Your Adaptability, and Expanding Your Vision and Ideas. As a reader, you'll find yourself asking your author-mentor how he learned all this stuff! Wow! Your respect and admiration will grow, followed by appreciation as you put the many principles to work and start seeing results.

This book should be required reading for every salesperson, every high school senior, every young person starting out on a career. People who have been around for a while, but who have not yet achieved the success they desire, will also benefit greatly from this guidebook. The continual flow of advice and wisdom is interrupted by a self-test in every chapter. You'll be able to see yourself grow page by page.

Hint to make this a better world: Parents, buy this book for your kids.

PS: Alessandra is also author of The Platinum Rule. Read that one next!