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

by Matthew McKay PhD (Author), Patrick Fanning (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,387 ratings
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Purchase options and add-ons

If you struggle with low self-esteem, or you’re seeking positive and effective ways of building a healthy sense of self-worth, this much-anticipated fourth edition of the best-selling classic by Matthew McKay is your go-to guide. This fully revised edition features an innovative application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to self-esteem, and utilizes updated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you create positive change and thrive.

Circumstances and status can affect self-esteem—many factors can contribute to the way we see ourselves—but the one contributing factor that all people who struggle with low self-esteem have in common is our thoughts. Of course we all have a better chance of feeling good about ourselves when things are going well, but it’s really our interpretation of our circumstances that can cause trouble, regardless of what they are.

This revised and updated fourth edition of the best-selling Self-Esteem uses proven-effective methods of CBT and relevant components of ACT to help you raise low self-esteem by working on the way you interpret your life. You’ll learn how to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy self-esteem, how to uncover and analyze negative self-statements, and how to create new, more objective and positive self-statements to support your self-esteem rather than undermine it. And with cutting-edge material on defusion and values, you’ll learn to let go of judgmental, self-attacking thoughts and act in accordance with what matters to you most, enhancing your sense of self-worth.

If you struggle with low or unhealthy self-esteem, this new edition of Self-Esteem, packed with evidence-based tips and techniques, has everything you need to improve the way you see yourself for better overall well-being.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    376 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    New Harbinger Publications
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1626253935
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1626253933
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“McKay and Fanning recognize the complexity of the human tendency toward self-criticism. Their carefully written, cognitively oriented self-help book wisely avoids simplistic solutions, offering instead a systematic approach to self-esteem development.”
—Robert E. Alberti, PhD, author of Your Perfect Right

“Positive self-esteem is the centerpiece of a healthy personality. McKay and Fanning’s book offers us a valuable storehouse of tactics and strategies for constructing—or renovating—the foundation of our self-esteem.”
—Philip G. Zimbardo, PhD, author of Shyness

“Self-Esteem is truly a very special title. Good writing is especially necessary for self-help titles. ... I feel a special enthusiasm in bringing it to the notice of our audience.”
—The Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, including The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Self-Esteem, Thoughts and Feelings, When Anger Hurts, and ACT on Life Not on Anger. He has also penned two novels, Us and The Wawona Hotel. McKay received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, and specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and depression. He lives and works in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Patrick Fanning is a professional writer in the mental health field. He has authored and coauthored eighteen self-help books, including Self-Esteem, Thoughts and Feelings, Couple Skills, and Mind and Emotions.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Harbinger Publications; Fourth edition (August 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1626253935
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1626253933
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,387 ratings

About the author

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Matthew McKay PhD

Matthew McKay PhD

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Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, including The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Self-Esteem, Thoughts and Feelings, When Anger Hurts, and ACT on Life Not on Anger. His books combined have sold more than 2.5 million copies. McKay received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. In private practice, he specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and depression.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,387 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

Diane E.
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional read
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024
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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.
2 people found this helpful
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Veronica Holder
5.0 out of 5 stars So helpful
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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Therapist recommended this. Great book. I learned a lot of good confidence tools from this book.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2023
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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.
7 people found this helpful
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D.Farrar
4.0 out of 5 stars The critical voice
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2010
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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.
32 people found this helpful
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Juliet A. Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Silence Your Inner Critic and Clean Your Screen!
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2013
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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.

[...]
22 people found this helpful
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Jesse
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
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Very thought out workbook
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Rosanny
5.0 out of 5 stars Great if you’re open to its ideas
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2020
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This is my first review on amazon. I haven’t read the entire book, but If I change my mind I will update this.

Heres the catch: you have to come with a certain sense of awareness to read this book.

People who have reviewed the book poorly have mentioned it not changing them or that its very psychological or hard to follow. Prior to reading this book I’d gone to therapy and went through a life coaching program so I have a general understanding of the concepts and an openness to them. Very important to be open to these ideas, rather than thinking this is some “woooha” stuff. What does therapy lack that this book has? A well rounded, thorough and complete coverage of everything you need to tackle mindset (the root off all evil in your life). This gets straight to it, but you have to be wiling to do the work.
68 people found this helpful
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kelley
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for therapists
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2022
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As a therapist/social worker, this book is great. It really helps guide the therapist with using CBT in rebuilding self esteem. It has great examples. The book is structured well and is easy to follow.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Liana Vilela
1.0 out of 5 stars Não tem como traduzir
Reviewed in Brazil on July 23, 2021
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Comprei o e-book e achei que teria como traduzir! E agora não consigo devolver.
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NipuniO
5.0 out of 5 stars An easy read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2023
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I am not a native English speaker and the language is very simple and easy to understand. A smooth read and it keeps me engaged, which is huge as I suffer from reduced attention span. I am still reading the first few chapters, and it is definitely a helpful book - it is not just a read, but a workbook which makes you to think about yourself and act accordingly. I have started feeling better about myself since I started reading the book.
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Kay
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will change your life
Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2020
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This book legitimately changed my entire life. It was like a bible for addressing every issue I have faced with my interpersonal relationships, mental health and overall mindset. I didn’t realize that these issues were tied to low self esteem until I read this book. I read every chapter and did every exercise and I can see ripple effects in every area of my life. I have recommended this book to atleast a dozen women since I read it.
4 people found this helpful
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Shreya Patnaik
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in India on August 3, 2021
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A friend recommended this book to me. It’s a great great book. It is written by therapists themselves. And it has really powerful technique and chapters in it. I think skimming through this book would not be a good approach and whoever wants to get the best use of this book, should take their time with every chapter and not feel disheartened if it’s taking long to complete - as the joy of the book and the learnings, is in the journey. A life changing book - will definitely recommend to everyone who needs it!
One person found this helpful
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Taha
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, scientific book
Reviewed in Germany on January 22, 2021
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The one everybody must read to know self better
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