Product reviews for The Little Book of Charisma

This is another addition to the `Little Book of-¦` series published by Crown House. It is aimed chiefly at teachers and purports to equip them with skills that will engage and motivate students in the same way that inspirational leaders in the wider world can command the attention and support of others. Hodgson is a skilled writer and in this book he certainly `walks his talk`. It is an engaging read, peppered throughout with humorous anecdotes and references to real-life people, using examples of how they have used the techniques he describes, often unconsciously. Readers familiar with Neuro-Lingustic Programming techniques will no doubt recognise those described, but the strength of this book lies in its accessibility and appeal to both the NLP novice and indeed the NLP veteran (this one at any rate.)

The book is structured around `patterns` (a fundamental concept in NLP) and there are 38 of them described, grouped under chapter headings: Identity/Beliefs/Communication Skills to name but three. Linked to each pattern is a `charisma activity`; so for example Pattern 18 which is called `Groups of Three` has a linked activity asking the reader to identify ways of organising a lesson so that the imparted information is put into groups of three. Skilled orators use this technique frequently - it is sometimes called the Rule of Three - and Hodgson also cites research suggesting that this approach is likely to mean that the learner retains more of what is said.

The result of all this is a very practical, skills based book. Being pocket sized it could be carried around school and whipped out for a quick perusal during a morning coffee break - potentially as stimulating as the accompanying slug of a caffeine enriched beverage.

My only complaint is one of omission - a few cartoons might have made a fitting accompaniment to the text; however this is a minor quibble about what is another welcome addition to the Crown House stable.