Gloria Steinem, icon of the women's liberation movement, is a co-founder of Ms magazine and author of the bestselling Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions .Revealing her own long quest for self-esteem, she explores the nature of this quality, showing how crippling a lack of it can be, and how recapturing it can transform our lives.Too many of us lose our sense of self-worth early on.Girls are especially vulnerable, often turning from free spirits into 'female impersonators' by adolescence.Gloria Steinem describes how, by returning to her childhood self through techniques such as imagery, guided meditation and artistic expression, she rediscovered the strong, secure person every one of us is born to be.She states reassuringly that anyone can heal the inner child of the past through these and other means, and inspires us with case histories of people who came to know how valuable they are.

"A heartfelt and hilarious collection of essays from the comedian and entertainer known for voicing Olaf in the ... Disney franchise of Frozen, and for his award-winning turn as Elder Cunningham in [Broadway's] The Book of Mormon"--

"This book will challenge you to rethink your vision of a good life. With sharp insights and lucid prose, Paul Bloom makes a captivating case that pain and suffering are essential to happiness. It's an exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity." --Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife One of Behavioral Scientist's "Notable Books of 2021" From the author of Against Empathy, a different kind of happiness book, one that shows us how suffering is an essential source of both pleasure and meaning in our lives Why do we so often seek out physical pain and emotional turmoil? We go to movies that make us cry, or scream, or gag. We poke at sores, eat spicy foods, immerse ourselves in hot baths, run marathons. Some of us even seek out pain and humiliation in sexual role-play. Where do these seemingly perverse appetites come from? Drawing on groundbreaking findings from psychology and brain science, The Sweet Spot shows how the right kind of suffering sets the stage for enhanced pleasure. Pain can distract us from our anxieties and help us transcend the self. Choosing to suffer can serve social goals; it can display how tough we are or, conversely, can function as a cry for help. Feelings of fear and sadness are part of the pleasure of immersing ourselves in play and fantasy and can provide certain moral satisfactions. And effort, struggle, and difficulty can, in the right contexts, lead to the joys of mastery and flow. But suffering plays a deeper role as well. We are not natural hedonists--a good life involves more than pleasure. People seek lives of meaning and significance; we aspire to rich relationships and satisfying pursuits, and this requires some amount of struggle, anxiety, and loss. Brilliantly argued, witty, and humane, Paul Bloom shows how a life without chosen suffering would be empty--and worse than that, boring.

From Hadley Freeman, bestselling author of House of Glass , comes a “riveting” ( The New York Times ) memoir about her experience as an anorexic and her journey to recovery. In 1995, Hadley Freeman wrote in her diary: “I just spent three years of my life in mental hospitals. So why am I crazier than I was before????” From the ages of fourteen to seventeen, Freeman lived in psychiatric wards after developing anorexia nervosa. Her doctors informed her that her body was cannibalizing her muscles and heart for nutrition, but they could tell her little else: why she had it, what it felt like, what recovery looked like. For the next twenty years, Freeman lived as a “functioning anorexic,” grappling with new forms of self-destructive behavior as the anorexia mutated and persisted. Anorexia is one of the most widely discussed but least understood mental illnesses. Through “sharp storytelling, solid research and gentle humor” ( The Wall Street Journal ), Freeman delivers an incisive and bracing work that details her experiences with anorexia—the shame, fear, loneliness, and rage—and how she overcame it. She interviews doctors to learn how treatment for the illness has changed since she was hospitalized and what new discoveries have been made about the illness, including its connection to autism, OCD, and metabolic rate. She learns why the illness always begins during adolescence and how this reveals the difficulties for girls to come of age. Freeman tracks down the women with whom she was hospitalized and reports on how their recovery has progressed over decades. Good Girls is an honest and hopeful story of resilience that offers a message to the nearly 30 million Americans who suffer from eating disorders: Life can be enjoyed, rather than merely endured.

In her remarkable national bestseller, Necessary Losses, Judith Viorst explored how we are shaped by the various losses we experience throughout our lives. Now, in her wise and perceptive new book, Imperfect Control, she shows us how our sense of self and all our important relationships are colored by our struggles over control: over wanting it and taking it, loving it and fearing it, and figuring out when the time has come to surrender it. Writing with compassion, acute psychological insight, and a touch of her trademark humor, Viorst invites us to contemplate the limits and possibilities of our control. She shows us how our lives can be shaped by our actions and our choices. She reminds us, too, that we sometimes should choose to let go. And she encourages us to find our own best balance between power and surrender.

“Self-loathing is a dark land studded with booby traps. Fumbling through its dark underbrush, we cannot see what our trouble actually is: that we are mistaken about ourselves. That we were told lies long ago that we, in love and loyalty and fear, believed. Will we believe ourselves to death?” —from Unworthy As someone who has struggled with low self-esteem her entire life, Anneli Rufus knows only too well how the world looks through the eyes of those who are not comfortable in their own skin. In Unworthy , Rufus boldly explores how a lack of faith in ourselves can turn us into our own worst enemies. Drawing on extensive research, enlightening interviews, and her own poignant experiences, Rufus considers the question: What personal, societal, biological, and historical factors coalesced to spark this secret epidemic, and what can be done to put a stop to it? She reveals the underlying sources of low self-esteem and leads us through strategies for positive change.

From the day it was published, The Psychology of Self-Esteem was recognized as a groundbreaking book that shook the foundations of psychoanalysis. Dr. Branden's philosophy broke radically with the mainstream thinking of the time and set a new course for our understanding of ourselves and our deepest natures.The brilliance of this benchmark work shines through today as brightly as when it was published, and its message continues to be of vital importance as we enter the twenty-first century. The Psychology of Self-Esteem redefines the relationship of reason to emotion, the nature of free will, and the powerful impact of self-esteem on motivation, work, friendship, sex, and romantic love.

Free yourself from destructive behavior and learn how to break your patterns of self-hate and achieve personal fulfillment with this sympathetic and practical guide from the author of The Angry Book . Many of us know that self-destructive patterns are rooted in self-dislike, but few of us understand how to break them. In this wise and compassionate book, bestselling author and eminent psychiatrist Theodore Rubin shows us realistic ways to break these negative mental and emotional attitudes and build a strong sense of well-being and self-understanding. Dr. Rubin looks of how self-hate begins, is sustained, and eventually leads to destructive and defeating behavior—from alcoholism and drug dependency to perfectionism and fear of failure (or success). Offering practical and reassuring advice, he shows that the key to freeing yourself from these restricting emotions and habits is to find and examine the self-hate that generates them, and then to release your innate and powerful capacity for compassion. This warm, sympathetic, and ultimately practical guide to personal growth and fulfillment is timelier and more helpful than ever.

From the acclaimed author of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem comes a powerful guide to growing your self-confidence and creating a more fulfilled life. The challenge to honor the self calls on the heroic possibilities of our nature—on the will to think, to understand, to remain true to our understanding, to struggle, to endure, to persevere, and to remain open and responsive to life, sometimes in the face of dread, despair, confusion, and loneliness. —from the introduction What is the most important judgement you will ever make? The judgement you pass on yourself. Self-esteem is the key to success or failure. “Tell me how a person judges his or her self-esteem,” says pioneering psychologist Nathaniel Branden, “and I will tell you how that person operates at work, in love, in sex, in parenting, in every important aspect of existence—and how high he or she is likely to rise. The reputation you have with yourself—your self-esteem—is the single most important factor for a fulfilling life.” In Honoring the Self, Branden offers comprehensive, thoughtful advice for raising your self-esteem and teaches you how to: • Grow in self-confidence and self-respect. • Nurture self-esteem in children. • Break free of guilt and fear of others’ disapproval. • Honor the self—the ethics of rational self-interest. Self-concept is destiny. Using the sage advice and self-reflective prompts in Honoring the Self , you can discover the power of personal transformation and build a better life.

From Simon & Schuster, Taking Responsibility is Nathaniel Branden's guide to self-reliance and the accountable life, including self-realization through that self-reliance, offering a vision of society transformed by a new ethical individualism. The bestselling author of The Psychology of Self-Esteem presents an illuminating guide to self-realization through self-reliance and a vision of a society transformed by a new ethical individualism.

In this practical and supportive guide to self-esteem, Dr. Abraham Twerski explains how most self-defeating behavior stems from a sense of inferiority and that practically no one is immune to its hazards. Through his patients' life stories and the humor of cartoons, Dr. Twerski shows that people are far more capable than they consider themselves to be. His advice comes from his experience in helping over 40,000 patients create better lives. Let Dr. Twerski show you how to: * Recognize the symptoms of low esteem-- such as workaholism, anxiety, and depression-- and how to avoid these emotional pitfalls. * Form groups to create a network of comfort and support. * Identify negative behavior patterns and build the confidence to overcome them. * Defeat the self-image delusions that affect everyone. Life's Too Short offers the solutions to problems of inadequacy, shame, and poor self-image. Dr. Twerski's down-to-earth program and optimistic outlook is essential for anyone who feels that life is too short not to live to its fullest.

Discover T he Virtue of Inner Strength by renowned self-esteem pioneer Nathaniel Branden, a compelling new work that reinvigorates his foundational insights while introducing a powerful new chapter: Self-Esteem as a Spiritual Discipline. Branden--who authored nearly 20 transformative books, including The Psychology of Self-Esteem and The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem --was among the first psychologists to rigorously define self-esteem as the experience of being competent to cope and worthy of happiness. In this essential new volume, Branden blends his hallmark psychological clarity with a fresh spiritual lens, showing how self-esteem is not only a path to personal wellbeing but also a deeper quest of consciousness and integrity. In The Virtue of Inner Strength, you'll: Learn why self-esteem is your most important right--and how defending it is essential for genuine happiness. Understand Branden's classic insight: "Self-esteem is the reputation you get with yourself," developed through competent, confident, courageous action--while misguided actions chip away at your inner strength. Explore his practical self-esteem methods--living consciously, accepting responsibility, integrity, purposefulness, assertiveness, and self acceptance--each building deep psychological resilience. The benefits for the reader: A renewed sense of personal agency: build trust in your mind and expand confidence that you deserve success, love, and fulfillment. Emotional resilience: confront self-doubt, face fears, and channel discomfort as fuel for personal growth. Spiritual clarity: deepen your connection to reality and develop a consciousness rooted in truth, purpose, and integrity. Life affirming habits: cultivate lifelong practices--living consciously, self-responsibly, and with integrity--that protect your inner strength even when challenged. Holistic balance: integrate psychological insight with spiritual discipline to emerge as a whole, self-empowered person. New in this edition: Self-Esteem as a Spiritual Discipline Branden elevates self-esteem from a psychological need to a spiritual practice --a disciplined way of orienting your awareness, truthfulness, and personal integrity. You'll discover: How self-esteem differs from fleeting self-image--a deep container for your thoughts, feelings, and responses. * Why self-esteem is more than "feel good"; when grounded in reality and built through the "six pillars," it transforms into a spiritual achievement. “/li> In a culture that often confuses self-esteem with vanity or entitlement, Branden's work stands firm: true self-esteem is earned, grounded, and crucial for navigating life's complexities. The Virtue of Inner Strength is your comprehensive guide to building an unshakable foundation of inner power--both practical and profound--rooted in psychological insight and spiritual depth.

Leonard Wolf, a retired professor now in his early eighties, is the kind of person who likes to use a medieval astrolabe, dress in Basque shepherd's clothing, and convince otherwise sensible people to quit their jobs and follow their passions. Leonard believes that inside everyone is an artist, and that happiness in life depends on valuing and acting upon one's creative impulse. In The Treehouse, her most personal book yet, Naomi Wolf outlines her father's lessons in creating lasting success and happiness, and offers inspiration for the artist in all of us. Drawn from Leonard's lecture notes, the chapters of The Treehouse remind us to "Be Still and Listen," "Use Your Imagination," and "Do Nothing Without Passion," and that "Your Only Wage Will Be Joy" and "Mistakes Are Part of the Draft." This is a journey of self-discovery in which the creative endeavor is paramount. The Treehouse is a stirring personal history, a meditation on fathers and daughters, an argument for honoring the creative impulse, and a unique instruction in the art of personal happiness.

"Why is low self-esteem such a pervasive issue in our generation? What is the Torah approach to balancing humility with embracing one's talents and strengths? Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, zt"l, renowned for his Torah wisdom, was a master in the complex dynamics of human psychology. His classic work Let us make man offers insights into the root causes of low self-esteem, expertly blending Torah concepts with psychological understanding. In its pages, readers will find practical guidance for overcoming the challenges of self-defeatism and unlocking their true potential."--Page [4] of cover.

Problems that require resolution from a Halachic perspective are not infrequent, and there is certainly no dearth of dilemmas that should be addressed from a psychological standpoint. However, many problems involve both - and, although much has been written on psychologic-halachic issues, there has been little, if any, example of practical application. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., an eminent psychiatrist who is well versed in halachah, has broad experience in both realms, and in their combined applications. In this book, he makes available some of his case material demonstrating an integrated approach to these sometimes thorny issues. Dr. Twerski's lucid responses to questions on specific life situations provide guidelines that can be of much broader relevance. Because he is convinced that most life-adjustment difficulties are the result of a distorted self-perception, with consequent low self-esteem, Dr. Twerski has prefaced his responses with several chapters on the vital role of a personal identity - hence the title, I am I. More than a fascinating review of other people's difficulties and their solutions, this is a book filled with insights that will enlighten countless people about themselves and the world around them. It is an invaluable contribution to self-knowledge in the light of Torah and psychology. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., is a descendant of the founders of the Chassidic movement, whose philosophy he embraces and applies in his psychiatric practice. An ordained Rabbi, Dr. Twerski is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pitttsburgh School of Medicine and founder and Medical Director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Twerski's earlier works, Living Each Day, Living Each Week, Growing Each Day, and Smiling Each Day, have established his position as a Torah scholar who possesses psychological insights that enhance application of Torah principles to everyday life.