The Confidence Gap

A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt

By: Russ Harris, Steven Hayes PhD - foreword

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Too many of us miss out on opportunities in life because we lack self-confidence. Whether it's public speaking, taking on a leadership role, or asking someone for a date, there are situations in which we just don't feel equipped to handle the challenges we face. Russ Harris offers a surprising solution to low self-confidence, shyness, and insecurity: Rather than trying to "get over" our fears, he says, the secret is to form a new and wiser relationship with them. Paradoxically, it's only when we stop struggling against our fearfulness that we begin to find lasting freedom from it. Drawing on the techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a cutting-edge form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, The Confidence Gap explains how to: Free yourself from common misconceptions about what confidence is and how to build it; transform your relationship with fear and anxiety; clarify your core values and use them as your inspiration and motivation; use mindfulness to effectively handle negative thoughts and feelings.

©2011 Russ Harris (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Today's Daily Deal--The Confidence Gap

I listened to The Confidence Gap some time ago but never got around to writing a review for it because there's one thing in it that you HAVE to do: you have to actually ACT. What?!? I'm into listening to guidance, not actually living a full life...!
But since my therapist and I have switched to what the book expounds on, I've found myself dipping into it again and again. We're doing ACT--Action Commitment Therapy with, yes--heavy sigh--doing things concretely to gain self-confidence.
If you've been around the whole confidence book block, a lot will be familiar to you. But I like The Confidence Gap because it has all of that plus a few nuggets here and there that were new to me. The best thing about it is that, while you need to actually do things, this isn't another Fake It 'Til You Make It book. This addresses what stops us most: FEAR (by the way, F.E.A.R. turns up as an an acronym as something else also). Here you'll learn to be The Fear Whisperer, to learn to live with fear as easily as you do with a simply pesky fly--you'll stop noticing it when you stop fighting it so hard.
I also like that the book addresses really shaping and believing in our personal values: they're the key to growth, the magic glue, that keeps you going towards your long-term/short-term goals.
I got this book in a Kindle Unlimited/Whispersync bundle, so I didn't pay full price for it, and I'm glad, as I already have books on self-confidence, introverts, just plenty of self-development. But it's worth it if you haven't tried much before. And it's definitely worth it as a Daily Deal!

qaulity with little salesmanship

Many practical exercises that show a real knowledge of how the mind works. Many of the exercises revolve around becoming aware of what your mind is doing. Not just another pump you up book.

Love it!

I really enjoyed this book. It has great advice. It's not the usual self help book that tells you to meditate and repeat affirmations. It's what I was looking for. Thank you!

Hands down the best self help book!!

Helpful, practical, and doable. I have listened to my self books, wanting to improve myself. I do believe I have listened to the most helpful and practical one yet! Now to ACT! I do thank Russ Harris for valuing helping others.

This is the answer for future leaders and thinkers

I’ve been reading lots of self help books throughout my life. This is the only and most honest book to create true self confidence by living in your own principles and rules.

accessible advice

it is not anything revolutionary but I found the advice that is based on ACT therapy very useful. breaking down goal oriented achievements into smaller value wins while being mindful along the journey to achieve a state of flow under any circumstance and lots of advice on how to go about it. I need to go back and do all of the excercises in the book and practice the techniques but even just listening I have found I have been implementing the advice and becoming aware of these self defeating thoughts that keep me from getting what I want. ultimately it is up to me to get to where I want to be and this book was a good step in that direction.

Just Amazing

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book about 6 times so far. If you have no interest in ACT, this book is phenomenal. If you do... It's even better. The performance is just about perfect, too. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Life Changer

The content is rich and applicable. I also love the narrator, and that's important for audio books! Solid.

amazing.

I've listened to many self help books and this is by far the best. I was looking for something to help my confidence in my career, and found something to help me with my life. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to improve themselves in a multitude of areas. this isn't just about confidence.

It takes a long time

This book is definitely not something you listen to in a day, but it is worth it! It is actually so much better that you can't listen to it that quickly. It took me weeks to finish it, but I needed weeks to fully absorb everything. This is the kind of book you read two, three, four times.