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Confidence: How to Succeed at Being Yourself
Helps readers build inner strength, handle rejection, develop uniqueness, keep flaws in perspective, make friends with one's body, find a place to excel, expand one's network of love and help others become more confident, in a book that includes fascinating stories and anecdotes, showing how to increase self-confidence without falling into the trap of self-worship. Original.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Alan Loy McGinnis
35 books36 followersAlan Loy McGinnis was an author, Christian psychotherapist, and founder and director of the Valley Counseling Center in Glendale, California, United States. Today there are over 3 million copies of his books in print. Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 1, 2009
I read about halfway through this book and decided that I had had enough. It was clear what the recurring theme was throughout this book, encountered on almost every page I read.
I'll sum the entire book up in one sentence: You need to have God to be confident.
Bullshit. It might help to have God, but you don't have to in order to be confident about yourself.
I hated that the book was preaching the author's religion at me. If I had wanted a sermon I could have gone to church.
One could wonder why The Golden Compass commanded such a religious rage while this book did not. I wonder if Mr. McGinnis had said you had to worship Satan in order to be confident if there would have been an outcry at it too. Ah, shame on sheep.
I'll sum the entire book up in one sentence: You need to have God to be confident.
Bullshit. It might help to have God, but you don't have to in order to be confident about yourself.
I hated that the book was preaching the author's religion at me. If I had wanted a sermon I could have gone to church.
One could wonder why The Golden Compass commanded such a religious rage while this book did not. I wonder if Mr. McGinnis had said you had to worship Satan in order to be confident if there would have been an outcry at it too. Ah, shame on sheep.
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May 30, 2024So interesting! With any other author, I would have forgone, in judgement of the title, however this author is great! Although I was a tiny bit skeptical, it paid off.
First time for me hearing the author's voice; not what I expected (on the audiobook: hilariously outdated, talking about tape sides, mildly delightful in a reminiscent sense).
As for the content: it was much more than the title implies, he digs deeper on the root causes of various issues, and how we can overcome - already gold, for doing that! It was thought-provoking in some things I never knew or had thought of, in such a way: thinking about the roots of how we grew up, and thinking forward to how we can do better with our children, and in-between, a better understanding of others, and how we can be more understanding, loving humans towards each other, and have a better personal identity/outlook more correct to Biblical standards, etc.
He mentions hypnosis, which I find very odd & I don't think I'm a fan, but his research & testimonials in every other area are always a huge value.
First time for me hearing the author's voice; not what I expected (on the audiobook: hilariously outdated, talking about tape sides, mildly delightful in a reminiscent sense).
As for the content: it was much more than the title implies, he digs deeper on the root causes of various issues, and how we can overcome - already gold, for doing that! It was thought-provoking in some things I never knew or had thought of, in such a way: thinking about the roots of how we grew up, and thinking forward to how we can do better with our children, and in-between, a better understanding of others, and how we can be more understanding, loving humans towards each other, and have a better personal identity/outlook more correct to Biblical standards, etc.
He mentions hypnosis, which I find very odd & I don't think I'm a fan, but his research & testimonials in every other area are always a huge value.
August 29, 2022
It's partially great, the ideas and strategies we're realistic enough to apply ourselves. The author also delves through different aspects of our inside and outside world.
On the contrary, most of it preached through the idea of god and bible. And for me, I don't really recognized Bible as a great reference in proposing the ideas. It dismay some of the suggestions and ideas that the author. This includes preaching, love god, and to satisfy catholic manners. It would be much more better if other psychoanalytical facts spitted through, and there should be more of Jungs and Freud, I mean they are practically expert with these and they had huge amount of research about that.
On the contrary, most of it preached through the idea of god and bible. And for me, I don't really recognized Bible as a great reference in proposing the ideas. It dismay some of the suggestions and ideas that the author. This includes preaching, love god, and to satisfy catholic manners. It would be much more better if other psychoanalytical facts spitted through, and there should be more of Jungs and Freud, I mean they are practically expert with these and they had huge amount of research about that.
December 19, 2020
Read this with my sister; or rather, she started it, and I finished it. Everything is a blur this year. I think I thought it was worthwhile. Wasn't that long ago, but I can't remember. Yup, 2020. 3.5 seems fair. After all, I did finish it in a year, where I found it impossible to finish much of anything.
January 16, 2021
Excellent book. I purchased it years ago, still quote it often. I have purchased several books for friends over the years and have even used its principles when talking with people. I read a tonne of self help books during a specific season in my life, this is the only one that did any good - and that I even remember.
As for the author bringing up God a lot...he is a priest after all. One has to kind of expect that.
As for the author bringing up God a lot...he is a priest after all. One has to kind of expect that.
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April 14, 2021It was okay for me
February 28, 2015
Has great anecdotes on how people struggled with being confident and people who were confident in themselves. Those stories inspired each section while some are from the experience of the author on how to be confident. There are some points though that still needs to be elaborated further. I think this is a great read because I find it very relevant and 'necessary' at the time in my life when I read it.
April 9, 2015
I am giving this 4 stars because I took many notes of how to be happier with myself. I just could've done without God on every page. Only I have the power to change my life, no one will help get there but myself. But like I said, if you ignore that, this book still sends a great message and life changing advise.
Currently reading
September 16, 2007learned to have confidence...
December 18, 2012
Need to read it again! It's been 15+ yrs!
November 21, 2014
Easy to read, good ideas. Could have expanded topics more, but just a nice little upbeat book.
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January 22, 2016I've recommended this to several coaching clients who consistently give it excellent feedback for helping them to boost and fuel their confidence.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews