True Face - Sei echt. Sei furchtlos. Sei du selbst.

by Siobhan Curham

Die Welt, in der wir leben, scheint perfekt: retuschierte Körper in der Werbung; Celebrities, die ihr geschöntes Leben zeigen; und Facebook-Freunde, die uns an ihren Erfolgen teilhaben lassen. Schöner, schlanker, glamouröser, beliebter ... Teenager haben die schwierige Aufgabe, zwischen all diesen trügerischen Idealbildern ihre Lebenswirklichkeit zu finden – sich selbst zu finden.

Siobhan Curham wirbt in diesem Buch dafür, die Masken abzulegen und der Perfektionspolizei den Rücken zu kehren. In wunderbar warmherzigem Ton ermutigt sie Mädchen und Frauen von heute dazu, ihre Träume zu leben, »echt« zu sein. – Ein besonderes Coaching-Buch für die Mädchen der Facebook-Generation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

Hi, I’m Siobhan - which for those of you not familiar with the wonder of Irish names, is actually pronounced, Shiv-on!

I’m an award-winning author of over 50 books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, young adults and children, and my first book was published back in 2000, so I’ve been at this writing game for almost a quarter of a century now.

I’m also a former council estate kid and a university drop-out - I dropped out because I didn’t think I had what it took to make it in the middle class world of publishing. Thankfully I managed to overcome my self doubt and fear and achieve my writing dreams, and now I love helping others do the same through my mentoring, courses and talks.

I don’t know about you, but during the pandemic I felt as if my life had collapsed in on itself and I’d had to shrink myself to fit this strange new world of lockdowns and zoom calls (oh, so many Zoom calls!) and working from home and working alone. Even when things returned to some semblance of normal back in 2022, I felt that I’d lost sight of who I was and I’d definitely lost my joy for living.

Then, an unexpected trip to Jamaica changed everything, jolting me back to life and reminding me of who I truly am. In a bid to never lose sight of myself and my sense of wonder and purpose again, I started travelling more and writing a weekly Substack letter called Wonderstruck. And in September 2023 I gave up my home in the UK and pretty much all of my worldly goods to solo travel the world while I write my books and mentor other writers.

I send Wonderstruck out to my subscribers every Sunday morning, writing about the places I visit and the lessons I learn there. My sole aim for writing this letter is to inspire others to rediscover their own sense of purpose, wonder and adventure.

If you've enjoyed reading any of my books I'd love it if you joined the Wonderstruck community over on Substack.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing my books, I really appreciate it!

Siobhan

Substack: siobhancurham.substack.com
Facebook: Siobhan Curham Author
Instagram: @SiobhanCurhamAuthor
Twitter: @SiobhanCurham

For more information about my books, mentoring and courses, please visit: http://www.siobhancurham.com

Reviews

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Face is one of those books that I hope/wish would find its way into every school library so that as many readers as possible could get their hands on it. Plus quite a few grown-ups - I think there is something for everyone in Siobhan Curham guide.

Some things in True Face will jump out more for you than others because that’s the way of it. For me it was one particular paragraph that ended up in a Twitter discussion with the author, which consequently ended up in a post on truefacerevolution.com, you can read it here:
You Are Not Your Pain – How to Turn Your Hurt Into Gold

While reading True Face I was nodding along thinking ‘Yes this makes so much sense’ and ‘why can’t we all do this?’ There is a little of a protective bubble feeling you have in the middle of listening to Siobhan (it feels a little like you have a wise sister talking to you) but leaving the book you’re thrust back into a world where being your #TrueFace is quite a terrifying prospect at times.

#TrueFace is inspirational and I hope the book and you succeed in every way.

[Michelle (Fluttering Butterflies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great and informative self-help guide to navigating the pressures of friendship, self-image, love and careers amongst other things in this day and age. Very inspirational.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

received my copy in the mail just a few minutes ago. won it from www.librarything.com giveaway

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did.

As most (if not every) self-help book do, it comes from a place of certain privilege. Even though the author includes examples of famous women who came from a poor background (Oprah Winfrey, Marie Curie), the advice given aren't one size fits all. But if you take what you want and what you can from this book, I'm sure you'll feel better about yourself in a matter of days.

Example given: me.
Most self-help books I read make me cringe. Having anxiety means I can't bring myself to do half the things they suggest, or I can't keep their positive thoughts in mind long enough to turn my life around.
But with this book, I was actually inspired to do a few things that might really make a change.

I'm not saying it's perfect. I frowned while reading the section about romantic relationships because (1) it's heteronormative as hell and (2) it suggests everyone has romantic feelings. As an aromantic person, I resent that. I know it was written in 2015 (which, by the way, was late enough in the 21st century to use "they" instead of "he or she"...), but there's a serious lack of diversity in that part.

On the whole, though, it has really good advice that I hope young women try to follow. Because, as the author states numerous times, what matters the most is your True F-A-C-E (Free, Alive, Confident and Excited).

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting activities to do that were quite helpful. Halfway through the book I lost the will to continue but managed to finish it today, it got a bit repetitive after a while and I just wanted to get through it so I could say I finished it. I like the idea of getting back to your true self but I feel like it was all a bit long winded and over explained. Overall I enjoyed the True Face tasks but reading the book was a task in itself...

[Challa Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A self help book for the young woman today. This author is open and honest about her own struggles in finding and accepting her True Face. The exercises are short and easy to do yet are powerful. This book is full to only break over 200 pages. Recommend for book club of young woman (maybe 16 to 25) who wants to get a head start on breaking through the mold society creates and being their genuine self. Though the author is British and their are some examples and words of that culture I think everyone, regardless of local can relate. Don't rush the read. Do a chapter/activate a day or every few days to let the impact really sink in. High recommendation.

[Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think that this is necessarily a bad book. I think it would be really good for younger people to read, like around the age 12-14. I think this book would be perfect for that age groups.

That being said I feel like a lot of the book is very obvious. I feel like it's all stuff that I have been told time and time again. I don't feel like this offered any unique perspectives on life.

I did like reading the self love section. I thought the activities in that section were pretty good.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for teenagers. The most important message of this book is to be who you are, love who are and respect who you really are. Too often teens try to fit in with their peers, so they try to be someone that they are not. Ultimately, this does not work for anyone. There are so many insights and so much good advice in this book that I would recommend every teen, and their parents, read this book! It is awesome.

[Lyndsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a simple resource for teens (and preteens) who are challenged with living the perfect life (real life and online). Growing up and figuring out who you are is hard and staying true to that can be difficult. This book has journalling exercises and questions to help dive into who you really are and want to become.

[Annmarie Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of useful tips.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent gift purchase for girls ages 15-25. Also, a great book club read for a girls group.

[Vanessah · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's quite a bit of good advice in here, but I let this sit on my shelf for ages before finishing it. Pretty dry writing style and it felt really "happy go lucky" but in a forced way.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I don't generally read non-fiction, but when I heard about True Face by Siobhan Curham, I knew I had to read it. Young girls deal with such self-esteem problems, and are constantly being told by the media how they should look, and to strive for the "perfect" unattainable look. And here is a book especially for teens to combat those issues, and help them towards self-love, self-confidence and a healthy self-esteem.

True Face is a fantastic book, and so important. This is not like your usual non-fiction growing up books. This isn't a book about body changes and hormones, etc, this is a book about stepping back from the pressure to be someone you aren't, and get back to the real you, behind the masks - back to our True Face.

I am fortunate enough that my self-esteem and self-confidence aren't in too bad a shape, but I really, really struggled as a teenager. I didn't fit in, and being ginger and very skinny, I stuck out like a saw thumb. Add to that the fact that I was bookish, did well in school, didn't listen to the "right" music, wasn't rolling my skirt up, or walking around with the latest designer coat/bag/shoes, didn't have a boyfriend, and was pretty well behaved, I attracted negative attention. I was mildly bullied, and made to feel like I simply wasn't good enough. I can't tell you how big a difference True Face would have made to me back then.

True Face takes you through the masks we put on to try to fit in, asks you to think back to who you were when you were a child before self-esteem issues kicked in, experiences you've been through that may have caused you to get to a point where you started pretending, and then leads you through discovering who you really are behind the mask. With examples from Curham's own life and various people who share their stories, Curham gets you thinking about where things went wrong, and about how fantastic you are, the real you, and how there's no need to hide. True Face even tackles how to deal with that inner voice that tells you you aren't good enough, and how to ignore what we're told by the media. With the help of writing exercising to help you really dig deep, True Face is a fantastic book to help readers discover the "true you" - or, rather, come to realise just how wonderful the reader is and how unnecessary it is to fake it. True Face also goes into body image, romance, toxic friends and aiming for your dreams.

At times, True Face feels like it's aimed at younger teenagers with phrases such as Inner Voice of Doom, and possibly even a little cheesy, but this is easily overlooked with how great this book is overall, with the potential this book has to help so many young girls and women. Although I'm pretty sorted now, as I was reading, I was nodding along as I thought back over my own life. I had to sort through my self-esteem issues myself, and it took me a long while to figure out for myself where my problems stemmed and how to change my thinking about them, and with the help of a fantastic friend who has only ever seen the great things about me, but how much quicker this could have occurred if I had True Face, and how happier I could have been in my own skin much sooner!

Having had to work things out for myself, I can honestly say this book is absolutely spot on, and will help so many teens. True Face is inspiring, empowering, and ultimately freeing. An incredibly important book, and one all teen girls should own.

Thank you to Faber & Faber for the review copy.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW BY IMOGEN - YEAR 11

True Face by Siobham Curham is an insightful, confidence boosting non-fiction book. Siobham, who is a writer and life-coach has a very warm, honest tone recalling many of her own and some of her friends and clients real life experiences. True Face encourages the reader to be true to themselves in terms of image, attitude and dreams. Discouraging us from giving in to pressure from the media but instead embracing the people we really are and revitalising our inner love for ourselves.

Siobham covers a broad range of topics ensuring that there is something relevant for all readers. The book is split into small chapters allowing the reader to cover small sections at a time.

The book includes many insightful famous quotes from celebrities but also from Siobham herself. True Face is an empowering book that we can all gain something from and even if you are the sort of person that believes they are true to themselves, Siobham may surprise you, as she proves that at some stage we are all guilty of following the crowd.

Siobham is a very likeable author who writes with a combination of humour and sincerity, the book feels personal as she confines her own faults in you, the reader, allowing you to confess your own. She writes with an air of optimism, looking at bad events as experience for the future and seems to rejuvenate our inner love of life.

My favourite part of the book was when Siobham recalls a very moving story of illness and how that knowing that life can be taken away so easily made her appreciate how precious life is. I feel this really changed my perspective of life as Siobham discussed how frequently amidst the pressure placed on society to behave and look perfect we becoming transfixed on minute details losing sight of the broader picture.

True Face is all about self-belief and ensuring that you fulfil your dreams and aspirations without letting other people’s view, media portrayals and your ‘inner voice of doom’ get in the way. Siobham reassures the reader that they are not alone with feelings of anxiety, self-doubt and being over critical. Siobham encourages the reader to write a ‘journal’ about your feelings and doing alternative exercises to help you realise your true self. Although these exercises may not be applicable for all readers it is nice to read about her personal experiences and some of her client’s experiences as they are very relatable and reassuring.

From looking at the front page the book looks as if it is primarily aimed at teenage girls, although, there are many topics and advice that are relevant to women of all ages. I would thoroughly recommend reading this book, giving it a 4/5 overall as it has given me a fresher more positive outlook on life and it has a very clear heartwarming message to live life to the full as ‘you’, and be the best ‘you’ you can be.

[Michelle Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siobhan Curham has an important message for young people in her book – to work out who they are, and to be themselves. It’s backed up by a website http://www.truefacerevolution.co.uk and it’s obviously something she’s very passionate about.

The first part of the book encourages the reader to keep a journal, and Siobhan guides them through exercises to work out what they were like as children, and what they want to be right now, whilst turning the inner negative voice into a positive one.

After this, she looks at being yourself in various circumstances, such as dating, friendship, finding your style etc.

Whilst it’s aimed at young people, there are aspects within which any age group can make use of – although I would really like to see a version aimed at older readers, who may have very different types of negative aspects and experiences to overcome and turn around.

I’m not sure that many teenagers would fully engage in the journal aspect of the book, but it’s done in such as way that it’s not essential.. it’s quite possible to consider the aspects in your mind, although taking more time with it may help. Overall though, the messages within this book are so important, and I hope it makes its way into every school library – and I hope young people start to take notice!

[Chrissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely agree that ‘this book is like a breath of fresh air!’ It’s definitely something that I would have loved to have read when I was younger. I found it inspirational to read as an adult. Siobhan has a way with words and her advice on dealing with body image, bullying, social media, love and life is so spot on and turns negative mindset around to encourage readers to think of themselves in a much more positive manner.

I work with children between the ages of 4-11 and I have already experienced many children with self-esteem issues. Sadly many of these children have been female, which just reinforces the pressure young children are under due to our society obsessed with image and perfection.

True Face is full of chapters which are easy to read, informative, inspiring and fun. There’s a hashtag for people to use at the end of the chapters which is often an inspiring little motto. It’s definitely aimed towards teenagers, but I think there’s much older readers can take from it too.

I know I felt much more inspired after True Face. So much so, that I stopped to write a letter to myself, reminding myself of how far I’ve come despite the obstacles that have been in my way.

[Beth Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book aimed at teen girls helping them to live authentically. Wise, detailed and compassionate advice for contemporary teens - definitely a hot recommendation for girls 13-19 who want to feel more themselves, more genuine, less 'constructed'.

[Charlotte Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important messages for teens everywhere, aimed particularly at girls but hope some boys pick it up too. Although the approach is rather cringey for wrinklies like me, I think / hope that teens will lap it up. Very readable and enjoyable.

[Katey Lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas to help build self esteem, especially suitable for teens. Exercises to think about your own self worth, plus shared experiences from the author make this an engaging read and self help workbook.

[Pia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sei dir selbst treu.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information for a young reader. Nothing was eye opening for me but it I think it would be a helpful book to open discussions when my daughter as she gets older.