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Life's Too Short!: Pull the Plug on Self-Defeating Behavior and Turn on the Power of Self-Esteem
Examines the painful impact of low self-esteem and a poor self-image, explaining how to identify negative behavior patterns and develop the confidence and self-awareness to overcome them
Hardcover
First published August 15, 1958
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About the author
Abraham J. Twerski
148 books119 followersAbraham Joshua Twerski (Hebrew: אֲבְרָהָם יְהוֹשֻׁע טווערסקי) was an Israeli-American Hasidic rabbi, a scion of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty, and a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 2, 2021
In this practical, supportive and instructive work, Dr Twerski points out that self-defeating behaviour is a result of low-self esteem and not lack of ability.
Through some of the case studies of the more than 40 000 people he has assisted over the years, and humorous but instructive cartoons, the author explains how this is, and how it can be overcome.
Dr Twerski explains how if we expect rejection we will interpret all that happens as rejection and will behave in a way that precipitates rejection, so that we can blame our own behaviour, instead of believing it is due to something intrinsic to ourselves (which of course it is not).
Once we realize that we are of beauty and value we will not allow ourselves to be marred and damaged, and it is never too late to reverse the effects of self-destructive behaviour.
Once we know that insulting remarks are not true we are more able to not let them hurt us.
Once we feel good about ourselves, uncomplimentary remarks can be much more easily dismissed and and certainly need not make us feel worse about ourselves. Dr Twerski deals with fear of failure and what is known as "fear of happiness":
"It is hard to believe that there are people who dread enjoying life. Some people have a sense of foreboding. They are afraid that if they enjoy things something terrible will happen. Consequently, they consciously or unconsciously torment themselves or deprive themselves of pleasure.
They may feel so undeserving of good fortune that they anticipate misery. Sometimes this is tied to a religious belief in a punitive god who is going to punish them for being bad. Those who think they are bad expect to be punished. Sometimes they do not have a concept of a loving god, or if they do they may think of themselves as so unworthy that even G-D could not love them".
Dr Twerski deals with the symptoms and causes of depression, and points out that he has never come across a substance abuser who has not suffered from a low self-esteem before they fell into alcoholism/addiction.
Dr Twerski believes that at the core of every human being there is nucleus of pride, dignity and self-respect...at some point in a persons life, there is a breakthrough and the individual at least has a momentary awareness of his or her dignity and self-worth.
This book is highly recommended.
Merged review:
In this practical, supportive and instructive work, Dr Twerski points out that self-defeating behaviour is a result of low-self esteem and not lack of ability.
Through some of the case studies of the more than 40 000 people he has assisted over the years, and humorous but instructive cartoons, the author explains how this is, and how it can be overcome.
Dr Twerski explains how if we expect rejection we will interpret all that happens as rejection and will behave in a way that precipitates rejection, so that we can blame our own behaviour, instead of believing it is due to something intrinsic to ourselves (which of course it is not).
Once we realize that we are of beauty and value we will not allow ourselves to be marred and damaged, and it is never too late to reverse the effects of self-destructive behaviour.
Once we know that insulting remarks are not true we are more able to not let them hurt us.
Once we feel good about ourselves, uncomplimentary remarks can be much more easily dismissed and and certainly need not make us feel worse about ourselves. Dr Twerski deals with fear of failure and what is known as "fear of happiness":
"It is hard to believe that there are people who dread enjoying life. Some people have a sense of foreboding. They are afraid that if they enjoy things something terrible will happen. Consequently, they consciously or unconsciously torment themselves or deprive themselves of pleasure.
They may feel so undeserving of good fortune that they anticipate misery. Sometimes this is tied to a religious belief in a punitive god who is going to punish them for being bad. Those who think they are bad expect to be punished. Sometimes they do not have a concept of a loving god, or if they do they may think of themselves as so unworthy that even G-D could not love them".
Dr Twerski deals with the symptoms and causes of depression, and points out that he has never come across a substance abuser who has not suffered from a low self-esteem before they fell into alcoholism/addiction.
Dr Twerski believes that at the core of every human being there is nucleus of pride, dignity and self-respect...at some point in a persons life, there is a breakthrough and the individual at least has a momentary awareness of his or her dignity and self-worth.
Through some of the case studies of the more than 40 000 people he has assisted over the years, and humorous but instructive cartoons, the author explains how this is, and how it can be overcome.
Dr Twerski explains how if we expect rejection we will interpret all that happens as rejection and will behave in a way that precipitates rejection, so that we can blame our own behaviour, instead of believing it is due to something intrinsic to ourselves (which of course it is not).
Once we realize that we are of beauty and value we will not allow ourselves to be marred and damaged, and it is never too late to reverse the effects of self-destructive behaviour.
Once we know that insulting remarks are not true we are more able to not let them hurt us.
Once we feel good about ourselves, uncomplimentary remarks can be much more easily dismissed and and certainly need not make us feel worse about ourselves. Dr Twerski deals with fear of failure and what is known as "fear of happiness":
"It is hard to believe that there are people who dread enjoying life. Some people have a sense of foreboding. They are afraid that if they enjoy things something terrible will happen. Consequently, they consciously or unconsciously torment themselves or deprive themselves of pleasure.
They may feel so undeserving of good fortune that they anticipate misery. Sometimes this is tied to a religious belief in a punitive god who is going to punish them for being bad. Those who think they are bad expect to be punished. Sometimes they do not have a concept of a loving god, or if they do they may think of themselves as so unworthy that even G-D could not love them".
Dr Twerski deals with the symptoms and causes of depression, and points out that he has never come across a substance abuser who has not suffered from a low self-esteem before they fell into alcoholism/addiction.
Dr Twerski believes that at the core of every human being there is nucleus of pride, dignity and self-respect...at some point in a persons life, there is a breakthrough and the individual at least has a momentary awareness of his or her dignity and self-worth.
This book is highly recommended.
Merged review:
In this practical, supportive and instructive work, Dr Twerski points out that self-defeating behaviour is a result of low-self esteem and not lack of ability.
Through some of the case studies of the more than 40 000 people he has assisted over the years, and humorous but instructive cartoons, the author explains how this is, and how it can be overcome.
Dr Twerski explains how if we expect rejection we will interpret all that happens as rejection and will behave in a way that precipitates rejection, so that we can blame our own behaviour, instead of believing it is due to something intrinsic to ourselves (which of course it is not).
Once we realize that we are of beauty and value we will not allow ourselves to be marred and damaged, and it is never too late to reverse the effects of self-destructive behaviour.
Once we know that insulting remarks are not true we are more able to not let them hurt us.
Once we feel good about ourselves, uncomplimentary remarks can be much more easily dismissed and and certainly need not make us feel worse about ourselves. Dr Twerski deals with fear of failure and what is known as "fear of happiness":
"It is hard to believe that there are people who dread enjoying life. Some people have a sense of foreboding. They are afraid that if they enjoy things something terrible will happen. Consequently, they consciously or unconsciously torment themselves or deprive themselves of pleasure.
They may feel so undeserving of good fortune that they anticipate misery. Sometimes this is tied to a religious belief in a punitive god who is going to punish them for being bad. Those who think they are bad expect to be punished. Sometimes they do not have a concept of a loving god, or if they do they may think of themselves as so unworthy that even G-D could not love them".
Dr Twerski deals with the symptoms and causes of depression, and points out that he has never come across a substance abuser who has not suffered from a low self-esteem before they fell into alcoholism/addiction.
Dr Twerski believes that at the core of every human being there is nucleus of pride, dignity and self-respect...at some point in a persons life, there is a breakthrough and the individual at least has a momentary awareness of his or her dignity and self-worth.
April 17, 2020
I was introduced to Twerski by my medical doctor girlfriend. He is a genius and really has created a useful model of how human behavior works.
I gave this book to a friend of mine who was suicidal and it changed his life. That is enough proof to me that this is a must read.
I gave this book to a friend of mine who was suicidal and it changed his life. That is enough proof to me that this is a must read.
October 1, 2021
Very basic. Not the best from Twerski
June 27, 2012
This book gives you perspective on common challenges that we all periodically go through and what others struggle with on a daily basis and how to handle the struggles, become a better person, and how to understand those with the certain character flaws. Fantastic book!!!
October 18, 2007
I find myself quoting from this book all the time. The author gives really down-to-earth examples of how to deal with difficult life problems, particularly self-esteem issues.
August 30, 2013
This was meant to be about self esteem, but is dated and trite. Most statements that are meant to be insightful are obvious, and yet not backed up with anything.
December 1, 2013
Despite being published in 1958 many of the concepts and ideals still hold true today. Some of the messages might be common sense but a refresher course in common sense is sometimes what we need.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews