This book traces the history of the term 'charisma' -- and the various meanings assigned to it -- ­ from the first century to the twenty-first. From a marginalized religious concept in the first century to a widely used and popular term in the twenty-first century, this history explores the shifting cultural role of charisma over two millennia.

About the Author(s)

John Potts

JOHN POTTS is Associate Professor in Media at Macquarie University, Australia. He is author of Radio In Australia, Culture and Technology (co-authored with Andrew Murphie) and Technologies of Magic (co-edited with Edward Scheer).

Table of Contents

The Broken History of Charisma
The Roots of Charisma
Paul Invents Charisma
Charisma Suppressed
Weber Re-invents Charisma
Revivalism in the Twentieth Century
The Age of Media: Charisma and Celebrity
Charisma Past, Present and Future