91热爆

Exploring the paradox at the heart of charisma today.

We recognise its intangibility and often debunk it, but continue to crave it and even believe we can buy it.

Francine Stock's final attempt to pin down the alluring yet elusive quality of charisma.

Her starting point is the banking crisis of 2008. She talks with Elesa Zhendorfer about her new book on the role of charismatic leadership in the volatile world of banking.

She also hears from business journalist and broadcaster Peter Day, who passionately denounces the narcissistic role of so-called charismatic leaders in business and finance today.

Francine then returns to the beginnings of her search, hearing about today's version of charismatic Christianity in today's largely secular society, and its attempts to use charisma for the common good, in accordance with St Paul's original definition.

Francine concludes by wondering whether we can turn this gift of grace to shared advantage:

After all," she states, "We get the charismatics we deserve."

Producer : Beaty Rubens.

First broadcast on 91热爆 Radio 4 in September 2015.

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