Underestimated: The Surprisingly Simple Shift to Quit Playing Small, Name the Fear, and Move Forward Anyway

by Mary Marantz, Sharon McMahon (Foreword)

It's all been done. I can't start until it's perfect. What if the critics come? What if I start and then can't follow through? What if my voice doesn't matter? What if I don't actually matter? What if it's already too late?

Sound familiar? Do you find that year after year you stay stuck in the same tired, broken scripts fear uses on all of us?

It's time for a wake-up call. Because so often when faced with the choice between creating nothing and creating failure, we choose nothing. Another year goes by. The clock goes on ticking. And the world is worse for our absence. It's time to move from stuck to start.

This book does the heavy lifting to dismantle all the lies fear uses, move you out of an endless spiral of your own excuses (not to mention other people's opinions), and bring you right up to a threshold of no return--this place where we become people who feel the fear and move forward anyway. With equal parts powerful prose and tactical action steps, Underestimated will become the essential go-to field guide for anyone who is ready to once and for all quit playing small.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

Author, speaker, and podcast host, Mary Marantz, grew up in a single-wide trailer in rural West Virginia. The first of her immediate family to go to college, she went on to earn a law degree from the nation's #1 law school, Yale. After ditching six-figure-salary law firm offers in London and New York, she started a business with her husband, Justin. Together they have built a successful online education platform for creative entrepreneurs. She is also the host of the highly- ranked and popular podcast The Mary Marantz Show which debuted in the Top 200 of iTunes. Mary will release her first book, "Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful," in September. She lives in an 1880s fixer-upper by the sea in New Haven, Connecticut, with her husband, Justin and their two very fluffy golden retrievers, Goodspeed and Atticus. For more information, please visit MaryMarantz.com.

Reviews

[Sarah Butterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a lot of self-confidence, so I wasn't sure this book was for me. I didn't think I was holding myself back, but I recognized myself in these pages! Mary did a great job unmasking the various faces of fear in our lives and empowering readers to go after their dreams and goals. The writing is a blend of research, personal anecdotes, charming illustrations, and fun pop culture references. Easy and inspiring to read!

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. Most of the idea were things I’ve read before. There wasn’t much that kept my attention and I didn’t take anything new away from the book.

If you’re in a spot where you need something positive that will help remind you of all the ways you are amazing (because you are) this will hit the spot.

[Natalie Franke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary did it again—I loved this book immensely. She wrote the words that my heart deeply needed.

[Kim Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Underestimated, you will feel encouraged and empowered to show up and no longer underestimate yourself. Mary comes out swinging in full force as the kind of coach and friend we all need. She shoots straight, gets in some brutal (but loving) knock out punches, and then sticks her hand out to help you back up again. In these pages you will find a good friend who sees the best in you with eyes of empathy; a friend who doesn’t let you stay where you’re at but calls you up (not out) to be the absolute best version of yourself.

Mary’s writing flows like spoken word as she seamlessly weaves in science, business, story, and humor like none other! It is full of wit and pop culture references woven in as effortlessly as a Gilmore Girl.

I HIGHLY recommend that you read the pages WHILE listening to Mary’s reading of the audiobook! …And no matter what, don’t skip the footnotes on this one!!!

[Patrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary Marantz's personal story is interesting, and she is beautiful writer, but this book just didn't do it for me. This is really a self-help book to help you face fear, take chances, avoid perfectionism, etc. and while I certainly have room to grow in all these areas, there wasn't anything really new here for me. I did listen to the audiobook and in retrospect these type of books really should be read, not listened to, to better absorb the lessons. I still don't think I would enjoy this one much more.

[AMY E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready to name your fear and move forward? You’re in the right place! Marantz tells fear where to go and doesn’t look back! In the process, you’ll learn to do the same! She’s a come-beside-you friend who will walk you through the trenches of not enough to help you stop playing small and begin to believe in yourself! Don’t wait another day to start reading this book and living your life to the full!

[Kara Louie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great descriptions on negative thinking patterns and how to recognize if these things are something you do and how they hold you back. Very good commentary on generational reasons for this type of thinking as well. The only thing I wished for was more solutions on how to personally break these cycles. That’s a big ask as it is so personal but it left me feeling a bit like “I totally see that happening but now what?”

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a very experienced procrastinator, I found many parts of this book insightful:) Overall, the book gets you thinking more deeply about the attributes you think to be true about yourself and what really might be happening instead. A motivational work to peel back some of the layers that make up all of us in different ways and encourage action to be our best.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a week or more since I finished this on audio. At the time, I remember thinking that it wasn't really surprising and new information, but I found that I really liked it. Alas, as the short time has elapsed since finishing and writing this review, I can't say that much of the information has stuck with me.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, here's the thing... the first half of this was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Really helpful and insightful.

The second half was ⭐️⭐️✨. I quit at 64%. Maybe I just had already gotten what I needed, or maybe the author was repeating the same thing in different ways.

While this is not strictly an enneagram book, it does play a part, and if you're a 4 (iykyk) then this might be 🔥

[Jodi Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t looking for a self-help book, but this one resonated.

“ Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do. Zig Ziegler.

“ You will never change your life until you change something you do daily”

“ Consistency is the habit of keeping promises to yourself”

I also love how the author’s southern accent comes out when she gets passionate about a topic.

[Tamara McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This messed with me in all the best ways. The chapter on procrastination has been transformative for me. I’m still mulling it over.
Mary is wise and witty. Her writing is smart and engaging - the sweet needed for the deep truth she brings.

[Donna Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this one. But… I did come to like her pop culture references in how we think, act and speak to ourselves. It is apparent she is brilliant and her connections to psyche and mindset is empowering.

[Melissa Mulvaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book unlocked hidden fears and lies I was believing in my life.
I will never be the same because of the wisdom and truth Mary Marantz lovingly and truthfully unearthed in me through her book.
If you struggle with being stuck in your life, this is the book that can change everything for you!

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary didn't really tell me anything that I didn't already know, but she presented the info in a way that resonated with me. I found myself thinking about what she said long after I put the book down. I am definitely in the "I can't start until it's perfect." camp. It has stopped me time and time again. I wrote down some of her insights in hopes of when I find myself heading down that path again. Hopefully, I will think back to her words, stop old habits, and create a way forward.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent but I think I would have gotten more out of it if I had read it rather than listened to the audio.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book I needed in this season. The procrastination chapter was an especially good kick in the butt I needed!

[Ginny Yurich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read anything Mary wrote!! Loved this! It paired so well with her memoir Dirt.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Mary Marantz!