Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsMixed feelings: be careful what you read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 July 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. There's some very strong sections written reliably and that are helpful, reminding me of therapy undertaken taken in the past.
Some parts however feel very opinionated and possibly influenced by wanting to create social media friendly soindbites. They can even be dangerous.
Take for example the subheader "You don't need to work on your self esteem"
This section quickly, actually, turns into a section on aiming to be "successful". These are not the same thing.
It feels as though this was misleading and an attempt to hit certain notes and create an ahhh moment rather than being accurate.
Self-esteem IS important. And if you don't attach it to being "successful" then it can be absolutely fine to work on it. This headline in the book is misleading and can make you think you shouldn't work on self esteem. I just think that's really unhelpful to convolute phrases like that, especially to people that can be feeling vulnerable and needing help.
The notion of not chasing success is fine, and certainly relevant to a world of social media. But that's just it - this feels reverse engineered to meet that customer base, and that just annoys and disappoints me. I expected better or somebody so qualified.
I think the author is commenting on certain toxic positivity in regards self esteem and I think she should just be clearer about that rather than saying "don't work on your self-esteem" like.. what the hell, what kind of statement is that?! We shoild cherish and protect our self-esteem, that's the truth. Is the author confused, or just willing to be misleading for a catchy subheading? It's clearly aimed at the social media market that has tried to capitalise on this word, but it's just as bad.
So yeah, you need to be careful with this author. She doesn't use words accurately and perhaps more for effect, or at least convolutes meaning in an unhelpful way.
Shame because it's got some really strong points and I love the feel of it.