Charisma

This new edition of Charisma: Micro-sociology of Power and Influence is thoroughly updated and revised for today’s classroom and contemporary cultural context. New to this edition is the inclusion of fresh case studies of cultural power and influential figures, new chapters on Taylor Swift and Steve Jobs, and a theoretical introduction to illuminate key processes of personal influence, public image, and expanding social movements. Randall Collins, one of the premier sociologists of the contemporary era, shines critical light on how leadership works in today’s fast-paced and changing society, as it evolves beyond the pandemic era. This book asks the vital questions: What is charisma? And how does it relate to the media of communications and the pace of technological innovation? What do charismatic leaders look like under the micro-sociological microscope? World-renowned sociologist Randall Collins provides a highly readable exploration of the various forms of charisma and how they elevated Jesus, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Lawrence of Arabia, Hitler, Churchill, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Madame Mao Zedong, Taylor Swift, and others. He explores four types of charisma: frontstage, backstage, success-magic, and network-building charisma. The book exemplifies Collins’s sophisticated micro-sociology in accessible and compelling prose, to show how sociology unveils hidden discoveries. This will be an essential resource for students, instructors, and researchers in sociology, social theory, cultural sociology, political science, cultural studies, communications, and business management.

Randall Collins is Professor of Sociology Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. His articles and books are influential in many academic disciplines throughout the world. His books include Explosive Conflict: Time-Dynamics of Violence (Routledge, 2022) and Conflict Sociology: A Sociological Classic Updated (Routledge, 2010).