Honoring the Self: Self-Esteem and Personal Tranformation Mass Market Paperback – September 1, 1985

First of all, I used to read a whole lot of self-help books in hopes of finding the cure to my problems. They have never really helped, but only left me searching for more. I'm so glad I found this book, because this book helped me understand everything. This book helped me understand who I am, why I think the way I think, and it's even helped me understand why I craved self-help books. Best of all, it's actually raised my self-esteem a LOT. I'm definitely a lot happier about myself after reading this book, and a lot sadder too (which is an integral part of a healthy self-esteem).Like I said, this book helped me understand the human psyche in regards to self-esteem. For example, most people think that a high self esteemed person is someone who is happy-go-lucky all the time, but that's really just false on many levels. I never liked the happy go lucky kinds, because it's like they are hiding something. This book helped me really understand why some people resort to being so happy-go-lucky.I expected this book to be one of those highly optimistic "think positively" books that are hard to believe, but I was so wrong. This book is written by a psychologist who specializes in the field of self esteem, and he is honest in every sense about the ups and downs of a human's psychology. This book is a description of the actions and attitudes that really make someone disown himself. This book also delves into the childhood developments that make who we are.In essence, this book is HONEST. It gives you the truths to pretty much everything about who you are and the way you think. It doesn't overly glamorize, nor overly depress things.I haven't read much fake self help books now, because I don't need it. I now understand what I need to really succeed in life, and understand what I need to do to be a stellar human being of high self esteem.Thank You Nathaniel Branden!

Not a typical book on self-esteem as any reader of Nathaniel Branden's books will attest. This was the first theoretical book I read of Branden's. I was first introduced to this amazing author's work in his action-oriented _How to Raise Your Self-Esteem_. There is no exaggerating in saying _Honoring the Self_ is life-changing in it's psychological and philsophical implications. It explains so much in terms of what self-esteem actually is and how it can be understood to affect any life pursuit or relationship you can imagine. The most important pursuit and relationship being one's happiness and self-actualization. Chapters on fear and guilt inspire self-exploration to depths we often neglect. The final section of the book offers a brief summary of the philosophical and political foundations necessary for a society of self-esteem. From an ethics of rational self-interest to a political economic system of free markets, this section is sure to provoke a re-thinking of some of your cherished beliefs. It is an excellent foundation for further research into self-esteem, philosophy and economics. However, if your primary interest is just self-esteem, the author's _The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem_ would be your next rewarding read. It is rare that a book will seem new and fresh with every read, but _Honoring the Self_ does just that. Read it twice, thrice, as many times as you can before it falls apart. Then buy another copy![This replaces my review from 1997, which is attributed to "A Customer." Amazon was unable to add my name to that review. It's 14 years later and I've nearly completed a PhD in clinical psychology with a research focus in self-esteem. I am indebted to Branden and his works--like _Honoring the Self_--for inspiring my career-change and helping me feel passionate about my work.]

Book is excellent!

I am a big fan of author Melody Beattie so after seeing Nathaniel Branden quoted extensively in one of her books, my interest was piqued and I bought this book. I am glad I did because I gained valuable insights into myself and my family of origin. For example, I had never heard of the concept of "psychological invisibility." Branden explains how a child can be raised by basically loving, non-abusive parents, and yet grow up feeling invisible and enter adulthood with a clouded sense of self because of the way the parents interact with each other and the child. He also explains that many people go through life with a tacit feeling of being "unfit" for this world, and how parents can and do unwittingly impart this impoverished sense of their own place in the world to their children. These concepts and several others helped me to put words to some experiences that I have had difficulty articulating. So, in that sense, this book is just simply good at what it claims to be: a self-help book. For a few dollars, I felt that I received what I might have spent a lot of money on in therapy/counseling.Another perk of the book is that it gives a good summary of the philosophy of Ayn Rand--something I've always been mildly curious about but never curious enough to explore in depth, so it was nice to be given a better grasp of that in a tidy summary.That said, there were other aspects of the book that I found too irksome not to mention. Branden argues that a high self-esteem automatically translates into being honest with ourselves about our true desires, and then pursuing those desires. He does not give much consideration to the possibility that a high self-esteem may, depending on the situation, translate into the responsible, freely chosen denial of one's desires in deference to the well-being of another. The choices in life which involve honoring self and honoring others are complex. Wouldn't the person with highest self-esteem grapple with that complexity, make the best possible choice, and then take responsibility for that choice? But Branden presents the human situation in a very flattened way in parts of the book, and I found it annoyingly pedantic.Lastly, at the end of the book he bares his teeth very aggressively against Christianity, Christ, the Cross. He argues that all of these are diametrically--almost diabolically--opposed to a sense of high self-worth. This portion of the book seemed to come out of nowhere for me and was baffling, since to my mind the hagiographies of Christian saints present a clear picture of what a truly self-actualized human being might look like. But regardless of my own beliefs, I tend to mistrust any presentation of any religion/theology in which someone appears to be grinding their own personal axe, and I certainly saw no need for it in what was an otherwise helpful book.

Difficult to read as print small and tight.

Helped me a lot to raise my self confidence. I highly recommend this book

Recomento para todos que querem se desenvolver e se tornar a melhor versão de si mesmos.

If you'd like to know about your childhood or how you should raise your children.. this is a must!

10/10