A cutting-edge, neuroscientific approach to quiet your unkind mind—and cultivate the self-compassion, confidence, and courage you need to thrive.
Does it ever feel like there’s a hypercritical, negative voice inside your head, telling you that you aren’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or worthy of success or love? Negative self-talk is all too common, especially for women. This inner critic originally served an important evolutionary purpose—to ensure survival. The problem is, this voice can be difficult to “switch off,” leading to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. So, how can you move past negative self-talk and start living with confidence?
Written by a psychologist and expert in negative thinking, this book shines a light on where your hypercritical inner voice comes from—a deeply rooted survival mechanism in the brain called the default mode network (DMN). Using powerful skills drawn from neuroscience, you’ll learn how to flip the switch on your unkind mind, so you can move past self-critical thoughts, increase self-compassion, and decrease feelings of shame, guilt, regret, and inadequacy.
You’ll also discover how
Stay calm and present in social settings Stop comparing yourself to others Reconnect with your true inner voice—your kind mind Live with courage and authenticity Once you understand where your inner critic comes from, you’ll feel more empowered to tune it out, focus on your true inner voice instead, and get back to living your life with all the courage and confidence needed to thrive. This book will help guide you, step by step.
Betsy Holmberg, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist and author specializing in overthinking and negative self-talk. She writes for Psychology Today, and has been featured in radio, television, and podcasts. Before settling into writing and therapy, Betsy ran the global behavioral health service line at McKinsey & Company, a premier consulting firm, where she ranked in the top 5% of all consultants. She also worked at Harvard and co-authored several peer-reviewed academic journal articles on non-suicidal self injury and suicidal thoughts. She is trained in Cognitive-Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral therapies, and has treated clients of all ages and presentations. Betsy received her doctorate, master's and B.A. in Psychology from Duke University.
3.5 stars A decent & fairly quick read. Mostly ideas or concepts I was already familiar with, but a good refresher. I wish some of the additional images/resources, that were notated throughout, had been included in the print version versus only online (because I didn’t go look for them).
Notes: CEN central executive network = focus on something, color of sky, math problem VS. DMN default mode network = inner monologue (p 8).
DMN’s top concerns: fitting in, fretting, failing
On suicidality “As a system, we tend to treat the individual and make assumptions about their stability when we should be looking at their environment to figure out why the DMN is processing so much rejection and uncertainty” (p 21).
Techniques to turn off DNM: Move the Dog - “All the space in the world belongs to me, yet I share it with you” (p 35). Put the underproductive gossiping employee (DNM) back in his cubicle, so CEN & the 5 senses can do their work.
Ignoring - think of the nuisance or ruminating (endless looping) thoughts (not so much for worries) as a boring TV show (reality tv or the spinning jewelry show). This conveys to your brain that the DNM thoughts are low priority that you can tune out. (p 38-39).
Active Listening -
Men & Women process stress differently. Female rat brains neurons fire faster in the locus coeruleus (one brain stress center) than males, & they have more receptors for stress related neurotransmitters, and the neurons don’t clear the neurotransmitters from the synapse as fast as males = female rats have longer lasting stress reaction. There’s also testosterone versus estrogen inhibition versus sensitizing the stress system. “On the whole, these results implied that women may have faster, more intense, and longer-lasting stress responses than men” (p 51).
The zones of regulation: depicts emotional state as a thermometer. “When you are feeling low and sad, you are in the Blue Zone; when you’re happy and engaged, the Green Zone. When you’re feeling frustrated, you’re in the Orange Zone, and when that gives way to screaming and slamming doors, the Red Zone” (p 71).
“Make a list of people from whom you will take criticism” (p 108).
On social media: “Researchers distinguish between active use-messaging and engaging with people directly-and passive use, aka scrolling. They find that negative outcomes from social media tend to relate to passive, not active, use” (p 111).
“You didn’t choose the hard things that have happened in your life. However, you can choose to work on them and heal from them” (p 122).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, New Harbinger, for providing me with a digital ARC, an uncorrected proof, so that I could read and review prior to publishing.
I requested a digital ARC of "Unkind Mind" because it was published by New Harbinger—a press I trust—and the author has a strong academic background. From the start, I could tell I’m older than the author and not quite the target audience. Still, there’s useful information here, especially for readers in their 20s or 30s who struggle with self-criticism.
Holmberg offers science-backed insights into quieting our inner critic, but the book is weighed down by too many acronyms. They often pulled me out of the reading experience, and I wish visuals or summaries had been included.
There are some strong chapters—on sleep, stress, therapy, and social media—that offer practical takeaways. I especially liked the “Loves of My Life” exercise and her point about decompressing before jumping into hobbies. However, the book would benefit from better editing and organization (please, more bullet points!).
I didn’t love the reference to Bessel van der Kolk, and I was surprised the author described things like deep breathing and binaural beats as new—many of us have used those techniques for years.
Overall, if you tend to be hard on yourself or are looking to build a kinder relationship with your thoughts, this book may be worth borrowing or buying—just be prepared to wade through a few acronym-heavy sections to find the gems.
Thank you Net Galley, Betsy Holmbery, and New Harbinger Publications for an E-arc of Unkind Mind.
I loved this book and it really helped me reflect upon so many past life experiences and how my DMN was taking over. I loved the discussion and tie in with the Zones of Regulation. If high school me could have read this, I feel like my sense of self love would have been so much stronger in my early and late 20s. I can move forward and take control of my DMN as I move forward in life abs begin instilling many of these practices and though process with my 4 year old daughter to help her social emotional development flourish and thrive!
"Unkind Mind" by Betsy Holmberg, PhD is a thoughtful and illuminating book that explores the origins and impacts of negative self-talk. Dr. Holmberg, a psychologist with deep expertise in this area, guides the reader on an enlightening journey to uncover where that overly critical inner voice stems from. Through a combination of scientific research, real-world examples, and her professional insights, she sheds light on how our past experiences, relationships, and ingrained thought patterns contribute to the hypercritical commentary that runs through our minds.
This book goes beyond just explaining the problem - it empowers the reader with a comprehensive toolkit of practical, evidence-based techniques and exercises to help combat negative self-talk. From strategies to enhance self-awareness and catch negative thoughts, to methods for challenging and reframing those overly harsh self-criticisms, to practices for cultivating a more supportive, understanding and encouraging inner dialogue, Dr. Holmberg provides readers with a step-by-step path forward.
The included exercises, worksheets, and prompts are pragmatic and useful tools that help translate the book's ideas into concrete action and real change.
While incredibly valuable, the book's main weakness is that some of the explanations and language can veer into being a bit too technical, academic, and verbose at times. For readers picking up a self-help book in the midst of a crisis or difficult period, the lengthy and complex descriptions may be harder to engage with. Slightly more concise and accessible explanations could help the book's powerful ideas reach and resonate with an even broader audience.
Overall, "Unkind Mind" is an eye-opening and potentially life-changing resource for anyone looking to break free from the stranglehold of negative self-talk and cultivate a healthier, more compassionate relationship with themselves.
Betsy Holmberg’s book, Unkind Mind, is essential reading for women, and men too, who struggle with a nagging, unhelpful inner critic - in other words, most of us. Her research is extensive and her theories are backed by the latest advances in brain science. She offers a handy, easy to understand framework. She explains, through examples, that the thinking we do is through three primary brain networks, one destructive, one productive, and one that records what we believe is important. She has a comprehensive theory of how to quiet, and even silence, that primitive voice in our heads, while allowing the strong voice inside us thrive and become our primary voice. This recognition, in turn, can change what the brain thinks is most important. I really like her simple idea to say to yourself something like “oh, it’s that old familiar voice again - it lies”. She presents how these negative voices once helped us to survive, but now keep us stuck. Echoes from the past, often from childhood, hold us back and gradually erode our self-confidence; this inner talk, we erroneously believe, is our true self. Our vocal critics in life serve to amplify and validate that unkind voice in us. It makes the lies we tell ourselves about our shortcomings seem true. While she explores how our brains function, and the roles different parts play, her explanations are easy to understand. Dr. Holmberg’s references show that she has studied current authors of note. Her research is up to date and oh so helpful. She brings us awareness of our undermining voice. She gives guidelines on how best to drown it out with our wiser, truer, more constructive voice. This is a book that brings awareness about the power of what we say to ourselves. This is a future classic for all who seek to overcome people pleasing and incorporate the wisdom of self-awareness; all who, in short, want a happier life.
Thank you to Net Galley and New Harbinger Publications for a free e-ARC of 'Unkind Mind: The Neuroscience of Why Women Are So Hard on Themselves - and How to Quiet Your Inner Critic for Good' by Betsy Holmberg.
This was a really interesting non-fiction read all about the Default Mode Network (or DMN) part of our brain that can make up the 'unkind' part of our mind. Holmberg explains, in clear and understandable ways, how we often believe our negative thoughts come from ourselves and we are in control of them - when this isn't always the case.
Unkind Mind goes into the different situations that can make this self-talk worse, such as feeling stressed, or when you have experienced trauma. Some of these parts felt a bit common sense, but I learnt lots of new things and particularly found the information on the relationship between the DMN and trauma interesting. There were also a number of useful exercises and tips sprinkled throughout the book. Holmberg sets out a quiz on the different aspects of life that your DMN may focus more on which was really valuable for me to explore what areas I may need to consider and work on in relation to my DMN.
I loved the author's opinion on meditation and how it doesn't always work as the one-size-fits-all that it is often presented as! She offers a lot of alternatives that work much better for me (and I imagine many others).
The only criticism I have of Unkind Mind was that, although there are many references provided throughout and at the end of the book, there are some theories presented without providing evidence that I found slightly dubious - particularly the mention of dog packs and 'alphas' as my understanding was that this theory had been disproved.
Loved how relatable the author is with her readers. She writes as if she’s taking the journey with you. I appreciate how she explains the science behind the unkind words we use with ourselves. By chapter 3, I already noticed a huge reduction in the negative self talk. My husband also noticed a positive difference in me. I think every single woman on the planet would benefit from reading this book. Hasn't every single woman spoken negatively to themselves at least once in their life? I whole-heartedly recommend this book!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Do you say the same things to a friend that you say to yourself? I don’t, I'm not outwardly harsh. In Unkind Mind, Dr. Betsy Holmberg explains the historical relevance of the inner critic and why today this survival mechanism is no longer useful. She provides a wide variety of exercises for readers to identify negative self-talk and then easy to engage action steps for eliminating the toxic voice. Holmberg is relatable by sharing her experiences, explaining the science clearly and reminding us throughout the book not to take ourselves so seriously all of the time. This book’s message aligns with and supports my goal of living with more intention and authenticity.
The Unkind Mind is a great book to help understand the negative voices in your head. If you are a busy woman, juggling competing priorities while feeling like you’re barely doing all the things, this book can help you see the actual truth: you are doing great, it’s just the wrong voice in your head is doing all the criticizing. Betsy Holmberg provides insight, a technical explanation, and strategies to move forward.
The book helps you reflect on how things in your past influences your thoughts and gives included exercises, worksheets, and prompts that help you use the book's ideas to help you make real changes in your life to be a little kinder to your self and break your negative thinking.
For anyone seeking a path toward a quieter and kinder mind, this book is certainly worth reading.
The Unkind Mind is a compelling exploration of the neuroscience behind self-criticism, offering female readers valuable insights into the inner workings of their minds and practical strategies for overcoming negative self-talk.
Holmberg breaks down complex brain functions—particularly the default mode network (DMN)—in a way that is digestible for non-experts. Her clear explanations make it easy to understand why self-critical thoughts arise and how to manage them.
She also encourages readers to separate themselves from their negative inner dialogue, shifting the focus from self-improvement to self-acceptance. This perspective is refreshing and can be genuinely transformative for those struggling with self-doubt as many women are.
She offers actionable strategies to help readers quiet their inner critic and reconnect with their authentic selves. From identifying automatic negative thoughts to fostering self-compassion, the exercises provide a hands-on approach to mental well-being.
The inclusion of case studies and real-world anecdotes makes the book feel personal and relatable. Readers may find comfort in knowing they are not alone in their struggles.
While her insights apply broadly, the book primarily focuses on the female experience. Although she acknowledges that the science is universal, a deeper exploration of how self-talk manifests across different genders, cultures, and backgrounds could have broadened its appeal. Also her efforts to make brain science accessible don't factor in the non-specialist, some sections feel way too complex for those unfamiliar with neuroscience terminology like myself. More analogies or simplified explanations could have improved accessibility.
I thought her approach is empowering, making the book a valuable tool for personal growth. While a broader perspective and simpler explanations in certain sections could have enhanced its reach, the core message remains impactful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This book gave me many opportunities to think about how my DMN controls a lot of my negativing thinking, and as someone that lives with an anxiety diagnosis, it provided a lot of helpful perspective. I really appreciated how it wasn’t just the science of the work, but provided real world examples, exercises and worksheets to work through within the book.
Unkind Mind is a clear, compassionate, and science-backed guide to understanding and quieting the inner critic that many of us live with daily. Betsy Holmberg, a psychologist and expert in negative thinking, skillfully blends neuroscience with practical advice, making complex ideas feel accessible and easy to apply.
Holmberg doesn’t overwhelm you with too much jargon or theory, instead, she offers straightforward explanations and actionable tips that are easy to follow. Through the lens of the brain’s default mode network (DMN), she explains why we fall into patterns of self-doubt, comparison, and shame and more importantly, how to interrupt those patterns with compassion and presence.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone, but especially women, looking to break free from negative self-talk and reconnect with a kinder, more courageous version of themselves. It’s well-written, easy to digest, and filled with tools that can make a real difference in everyday life.
Thanks to New Harbinger Publications and NetGalley for the opportunity to read before release.
Reading this book I was sometimes overwhelmed by the scientific language, but still I was fascinated by the new perspectives provided. Still time will tell if knowing where the harsh self criticism comes from will help deal with it better and treat myself kinder.
This was a great book to read and learn all about your Inner Critic. Neuroscience of why Women are so hard on themselves. Self-Talk, turning it off, Stress and Emotions, how to reconnect with your true self, and Healing. A well written book, easy to read and follow. I learnt a lot and loved reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great insight on why women are so hard on themselves. It's written in a fun engaging language that keeps you turning the pages. There are a few exercises (also intriguing and fun) that make you think of your own behavior and reactions.
Overall greatly enjoyed it and would highly recommend
This is an excellent book! The author clearly presents the science behind overthinking and negative self-talk, and she also provides helpful strategies to bring yourself out of negative spirals when your negative and fearful neural network is working overtime. While some exercises are more meditative, the author gives many other strategies that do not involve meditation. With just the right balance of science background knowledge, humor, and helpful strategies, the author created a fantastic resource to help us all take charge of our negative thought patterns. I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read future works by the author!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.