Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem Paperback – Illustrated, August 1, 2016

I'm a therapist, I often use this book with clients. Very helpful

Great book so far. Showed it to my counselor and they agreed it has some great methods in it to help with self esteem

I got so much out of this book. The section on Meeting and Disarming the Critic was the very enlightening. I have sticky notes all over that section, along with highlighted portions and underlined sentences. There is so much of me in those pages. I need to feel right, achieve and control negative feelings and that is just for starters. I also have fear of rejection, anger and guilt. My inner critic is more easily silenced, thanks to the work I did in this book.I also learned quite a bit from the Myth of Reality section. In this segment the author describes ones head as having TV screen in it, through which everything is filtered. Therefore, we see things not as they truly are, but through our filter. This was very helpful to me as I have learned to take peoples criticism of me at face value, or I'm better at it, at least. They are seeing me and my actions through their screen, which is adjusted for them. They criticize what they see on their screen, not me. After studying this book I can see how my perception of myself affects how I interact with everyone in the world. Asking For What You Want and Needs Versus Wants are also very helpful sections. The Wants Inventory was very effective! This book is a must have for anyone who wants to raise their self-esteem.[...]

I really wanted to read this book as I am 49 and still dealing with the pain of low self-esteem. I had very high expectations for this book. I have never read a book on self-esteem before and at 49 I am ready to be healed from the pain of low self-esteem. One would have to be aware that for a book to accomplish this feat would be a major accomplishment.To really get the most out of the book there are several exercises to do in the book. I chose not to do them the first time through, but I am planning on going back and reviewing. I'm sure the exercises will be very benefical in changing the way we think about ourselves.There is a section on affirming our worth I found to be quite controversial. The authors gives us a choice of four different ways to deal with our sense of self worth. The first is to view our human worth as an abstract concept that upon examination, has an extremely fragile basis in nature. So we are better off not even think about the concept of self worth with this option.The second way to view self worth is to see it as being equally distributed and immutable. This view lines up more with what I have been taught. If there is a God then he created us in his own image and he still cares about us.The third option is to acknowledge a time in your life that you had a sense of self worth and to just know it exists. You don't have to think about where it came from. When you struggle with low-self esteem you can just remember the good times and draw from those experiences. The authors says "You can't keep it from shining, you can only keep yourself in the shade by letting your pathological critic throw up clouds of confusion or by crawling under the rock of depression."The fourth way do deal with the problem of self worth is to take a good look at your self through the lens of compassion. You realize that we are all humans with basic needs. We must find food, shelter, emotional support, rest and shelter. We all have our struggles to fulfill our basic needs. Our worth is valued by looking at the effort.Is there one of these options that works better than the others? Is it subjective? Where can we find the answers? The book makes some very good points and is quite thought provoking.

My therapist recommended this book, and initially, I was skeptical about CBT, thinking it was more of a superficial solution to deeper issues. However, this book changed my perspective. It’s thorough and extremely logical. Even though I’m only halfway through, it has already brought profound shifts in my thinking (and perfectionism), helping me distinguish between my ”shoulds” and my true values, and improving how I view and handle mistakes. This book is making me a better person and a better mother. I know it’s a cliché to say “everyone should read this book,” but I genuinely believe it. Read it, do the exercises, whether you have self-esteem issues or not.

I am not done reading but I’m taking time to do the exercises and I think it makes sense. If it will equip me fully I’m not sure but I love it so far

I wish this book had been available 40 years ago!!! The insight and understanding I have learned has been life changing with healing habits and health. I am recommending this book to everyone.

The author is very knowledgeable in the subject. I got a lot of insights from reading this book. Very thorough. I highly recommend it to anyone who is doubtful of himself or critical. 5 stars. You can really sense the professionalism of Mr. McKay. Loved the book.