Charisma by Charles Lindholm
Charismatic leaders are believed by their followers to have superhuman powers. The faithful are willing to sacrifice everything, including themselves, for the sake of their leader. Using a number of perspectives that take into account group dynamics and individual character, this book argues that charismatic involvement is a deeply embedded potential for all human beings. The theory is tested through specific cases: Hitler's Germany, Manson's Family, Jonestown and the experience of shamanism in non-Western societies. The book concludes with a discussion of alternatives to charisma in modern society, focusing especially on romantic love, and considers the form future charismatic moves may take.