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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5)
Genre: Self-help / Psychology / Personal Development / Motivational / Non-fiction

Book Review:

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic's ''Confidence'' is a refreshing and much-needed antidote to the cult of relentless positivity that dominates so much of the self-help genre. With the rigor of a leading psychologist and the clarity of a gifted writer, he dismantles the myths we've been sold about confidence and offers a more nuanced, realistic, and ultimately more useful way of thinking about ourselves.

The central argument of the book is both simple and revolutionary: our obsession with building high confidence may be doing more harm than good. Chamorro-Premuzic marshals an impressive body of research to show that overconfidence is often linked to narcissism, poor decision-making, and even failure. Meanwhile, those who are plagued by self-doubt and insecurity are often more self-aware, more diligent, and more likely to seek feedback and improve.

This is not, however, a book that tells you to simply accept your insecurities and give up. Instead, it offers a path toward genuine, earned confidence—the kind that comes not from empty affirmations, but from real competence and achievement. He argues that we should focus less on boosting our self-esteem and more on developing our skills and knowledge. True confidence, he suggests, is a byproduct of mastery, not a prerequisite for it.

The book is packed with fascinating insights and practical advice. Chamorro-Premuzic explores the difference between confident and competent people, the role of humility in leadership, the dangers of the ''confidence culture,'' and the importance of self-criticism for growth. He draws on examples from business, sports, and everyday life to illustrate his points.

The praise from other experts is well-deserved. Laura Vanderkam calls it a book that ''will never look at the concept of self-esteem the same way again.'' Heidi Grant Halvorson says it's ''a life-changing book'' that will convince you that much of the advice you've been given is ''worse than useless.''

''Confidence'' is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt held back by self-doubt, for anyone who has ever wondered why the most confident people aren't always the most successful, and for anyone seeking a more authentic and effective path to personal and professional growth. Highly recommended.