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Responsibility Rebellion: An Unconventional Approach to Personal Empowerment
Many of us crave more fulfillment in life, but we don’t know how to find it. We try everything to feel better, from changing jobs and dating new people, to attending therapy and taking pills. We grasp at the superficial, and externally overcompensate for our internal voids and self-doubts. What we don’t realize is that avoiding responsibility only postpones the inevitable—that nothing about our life changes until we change. You will not become empowered until you choose to take responsibility for the role you’ve played in undermining yourself. Finding more fulfillment, satisfaction, and inner-peace is your responsibility because no one else cares. In Responsibility Rebellion, author Kain Ramsay discusses why we often rely on easy steps and magical formulas to find fulfillment, only to come up short. He’ll equip you with a structured roadmap for personal growth and progress—one that shows you how to be better, rather than feel better.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2020
117 people are currently reading
1359 people want to read
About the author
Kain Ramsay
1 book13 followersKain began his working life in the British Army as a Royal Engineer in 1996. After retiring from the military, Kain went into business development and marketing before focusing on modern applied psychology and social entrepreneurship.
He created two curriculums of personal development and modern applied psychology-based elearning courses in the 2010s after recognizing ‘online’ as a vehicle to deliver education. As conventional education collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kain founded his first $5M worldwide training company.
A teacher to 650K+ learners at the forefront of applied psychology, Kain is a lifelong student of history and human behaviour. His distinctive teaching style resonates with students worldwide, inspiring them to reach beyond what they believe possible.
A social entrepreneur and active thinker with many ideas to share, he lives in Scotland with his wife, Karen. Appreciating the quiet life, you’ll rarely find Kain entertaining crowds. He works outside the public eye on social projects that are important to him.
He created two curriculums of personal development and modern applied psychology-based elearning courses in the 2010s after recognizing ‘online’ as a vehicle to deliver education. As conventional education collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kain founded his first $5M worldwide training company.
A teacher to 650K+ learners at the forefront of applied psychology, Kain is a lifelong student of history and human behaviour. His distinctive teaching style resonates with students worldwide, inspiring them to reach beyond what they believe possible.
A social entrepreneur and active thinker with many ideas to share, he lives in Scotland with his wife, Karen. Appreciating the quiet life, you’ll rarely find Kain entertaining crowds. He works outside the public eye on social projects that are important to him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 29, 2020
I've enrolled to several of Kain's courses on Udemy so I had a sense of what to expect from this book. I still had a few eye-opening surprises, and they made me take a good, hard look at myself, only to discover that contrary to my beliefs I'm not doing that great just yet on the whole self-improving personal growth journey. So I'm truly grateful for the lessons.
I really enjoy Kain's direct, no-nonsense style and his sense of humour. It's one of the main reasons why I enjoy his teachings so much. Many people around the world could hugely benefit from reading this book. I know that a lot more would be unmoved by or reject its contents altogether, and even try to bring him down, but whoever is genuinely interested in becoming a better version of themselves should grab a copy! I hope it will be translated to many other languages as well to reach a wider audience.
I really enjoy Kain's direct, no-nonsense style and his sense of humour. It's one of the main reasons why I enjoy his teachings so much. Many people around the world could hugely benefit from reading this book. I know that a lot more would be unmoved by or reject its contents altogether, and even try to bring him down, but whoever is genuinely interested in becoming a better version of themselves should grab a copy! I hope it will be translated to many other languages as well to reach a wider audience.
September 1, 2020
I bought “Responsibility Rebellion” out of curiosity as relates to a project I have, as well as the book’s great Kindle price. The title “Responsibility Rebellion” spoke to me as I just finished a CHARACTER COUNTS! class. In the CC! pillars of character list, Responsibility is right behind Trustworthiness and Respect and right before Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship (TeRRiFCC for those who like acronyms). So, what could Ramsay’s book say about responsibility? Plenty in the 270 page book. Actually, he uses the word “responsibility” about 74 times and “rebellion” 7 times, a tenth as much.
The book is about how you deal with the most important person in your life — yourself. It talks about mastering yourself (seeing yourself more clearly) and rebelling against messages that tell you you’re not enough. Ramsay writes, “There are two parts to changing one’s beliefs. The first stage involves overcoming the fixed mindset [rebelling] and replacing it with a growth mindset, whilst the second stage involves replacing your limiting beliefs with new, liberating beliefs.” Mostly this is done by searching for the truth about what your core values are. Ramsay says that core values are the fundamental principles you live by and measure your standard of living against. Finding them and, perhaps more importantly, living by them will help you not only find happiness but, even better, fulfillment.
The author spends many pages going into detail about these concepts, sharply defining them, and painting word pictures along the way with personal stories and allegories such as the ”crow and the scorpion,” as well has fascinating tales about the “too-energetic girl,” the “elephant,” and the “birdcage.”
At this point, I should tell you that my project was updating my own book, a book about George Washington’s character. In view of what Ramsay has to say, did Washington assume responsibility for his actions? Did he have the courage to rebel? Yes, I think most people would agree. But since Ramsay’s book talks a lot about emotion, learning about it and controlling it, I thought I’d share with you this story of what you may not know: Despite the impression of being a “marble man,” Washington was a very emotional person, one who struggled continually to keep his temper under control.
Gilbert Stuart, the artist who painted George Washington’s image which is now on the ubiquitous dollar bill, once said of Washington, “All his features…were indicative of the strongest and most ungovernable passions, and had he been born in the forest…he would have been the fiercest man amongst the savage tribes.” President Washington had been praised for his “great moderation and calmness during the very trying situations in which he has so often been placed, yet those who have been acquainted with him the longest and most intimately say, that he is by nature a man of fierce and irritable disposition; but that, like Socrates, his judgment and great self-command have always made him appear a man of a different cast in the eyes of the world.” So what was Washington’s secret? I think it can be summed up in this challenge in his own words: “There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.”
Seeking and living the truth about yourself is my quick summation of what “Responsibility Rebellion” is all about. Of course, you’d need a book to detail what all that means, and, luckily, you have it in Ramsay’s well-written work. And, what was especially gratifying about the book for me is newly appreciating the interaction: taking responsibility (character) can lead to rebellion (liberty), just as rebellion (liberty) can lead to responsibility (character).
Oh, and to satisfy any curiosity about the book’s low Kindle price? View it as an invitation/entree to many other Kain Ramsay empowerment products. And the character you build along the way, of course, leads to liberty…and fulfillment!
Bottom line from a fellow author: Great read!
The book is about how you deal with the most important person in your life — yourself. It talks about mastering yourself (seeing yourself more clearly) and rebelling against messages that tell you you’re not enough. Ramsay writes, “There are two parts to changing one’s beliefs. The first stage involves overcoming the fixed mindset [rebelling] and replacing it with a growth mindset, whilst the second stage involves replacing your limiting beliefs with new, liberating beliefs.” Mostly this is done by searching for the truth about what your core values are. Ramsay says that core values are the fundamental principles you live by and measure your standard of living against. Finding them and, perhaps more importantly, living by them will help you not only find happiness but, even better, fulfillment.
The author spends many pages going into detail about these concepts, sharply defining them, and painting word pictures along the way with personal stories and allegories such as the ”crow and the scorpion,” as well has fascinating tales about the “too-energetic girl,” the “elephant,” and the “birdcage.”
At this point, I should tell you that my project was updating my own book, a book about George Washington’s character. In view of what Ramsay has to say, did Washington assume responsibility for his actions? Did he have the courage to rebel? Yes, I think most people would agree. But since Ramsay’s book talks a lot about emotion, learning about it and controlling it, I thought I’d share with you this story of what you may not know: Despite the impression of being a “marble man,” Washington was a very emotional person, one who struggled continually to keep his temper under control.
Gilbert Stuart, the artist who painted George Washington’s image which is now on the ubiquitous dollar bill, once said of Washington, “All his features…were indicative of the strongest and most ungovernable passions, and had he been born in the forest…he would have been the fiercest man amongst the savage tribes.” President Washington had been praised for his “great moderation and calmness during the very trying situations in which he has so often been placed, yet those who have been acquainted with him the longest and most intimately say, that he is by nature a man of fierce and irritable disposition; but that, like Socrates, his judgment and great self-command have always made him appear a man of a different cast in the eyes of the world.” So what was Washington’s secret? I think it can be summed up in this challenge in his own words: “There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.”
Seeking and living the truth about yourself is my quick summation of what “Responsibility Rebellion” is all about. Of course, you’d need a book to detail what all that means, and, luckily, you have it in Ramsay’s well-written work. And, what was especially gratifying about the book for me is newly appreciating the interaction: taking responsibility (character) can lead to rebellion (liberty), just as rebellion (liberty) can lead to responsibility (character).
Oh, and to satisfy any curiosity about the book’s low Kindle price? View it as an invitation/entree to many other Kain Ramsay empowerment products. And the character you build along the way, of course, leads to liberty…and fulfillment!
Bottom line from a fellow author: Great read!
August 17, 2020
The last self-help book I will ever read.
July 28, 2020
If you’re looking to find your direction in life, if you’re looking to find a way to make your life meaningful, this is the book that will lead you to find those answers. The authors start setting the tone of this journey immediately in the introduction. Right at the start you’re likely to find yourself saying, “hey I feel that way” or “I’ve said that to myself a thousand times”. Some might say this is a “self-help” book; but, it’s not...it’s a self-growth book. One inspiring theme that runs throughout this book is about taking responsibility for the direction of my life, regardless of where I’ve come from or what’s happened to me in the past. This book shows one how to take that responsibility and become empowered to make choices and plans for living a meaningful life and having a positive impact on the world around us. Early sections discuss looking at the current beliefs about oneself and how we look at the world. How certain beliefs are the source of limitations to engage in one’s dreams and goals. The importance of becoming aware of what core values are and; not only the impact they have on one’s life, but how they are often the source of our internal conflicts. Great coverage about stages of emotional and cognitive maturity. This book is about discovering the many components of who I am, who I want to become and how to become the person I want to be. But it all gets back to responsibility. As Kain Ramsay say’s “Responsibility Leads to Empowerment.” That word “Responsibility” was once a dirty word to me. A sense of shame that I was never responsible “enough”. Over the years of working on my inner self, that word “responsibility” became a source of freedom and insight to my growth. What makes this book so engaging is the author's approachable style of communicating and providing many personal experiences to illustrate his points. Wherever you are on your personal journey to self discovery and growth, you’re sure to find valuable insights here. But, the key to change is putting these insights into action and that’s where our personal responsibility comes into play.
October 2, 2020
Kain Ramsay has developed an excellent program online, via Udemy, for developing skills in coaching and support for cognitive behavioural therapy.
As this is one of my fields, I thought that his book would be useful, but it is really more of a self-help/self awareness/self-development book for people to work on themselves.
For myself, familiar with CBT as well as logotherapy and having used both in my work, it was nice but not necessary; I was already familiar with these principles and guidelines, and use them in my practice.
However, it is the BEST book I've seen in a long while, perhaps in decades, for people looking to get over themselves and develop lifelong skills of being responsible, functioning, progressing, and decent human beings.
I highly and strongly recommend it for anyone wishing to work on himself/herself and evolve as a fully functioning productive human being.
As this is one of my fields, I thought that his book would be useful, but it is really more of a self-help/self awareness/self-development book for people to work on themselves.
For myself, familiar with CBT as well as logotherapy and having used both in my work, it was nice but not necessary; I was already familiar with these principles and guidelines, and use them in my practice.
However, it is the BEST book I've seen in a long while, perhaps in decades, for people looking to get over themselves and develop lifelong skills of being responsible, functioning, progressing, and decent human beings.
I highly and strongly recommend it for anyone wishing to work on himself/herself and evolve as a fully functioning productive human being.
July 16, 2020
I am reading and learning from this book about how I live my life with an internal identity from which I operate and navigate my world. I may not even be aware of who my identity is until I come to a place of conflict and begin searching for answers in order to change. I may have been victimized in my past, but I don't have to wear that identity if it doesn't serve me now in the present. I define myself -- not what happened to me -- the truth of which is so freeing to me. And this is a book to shine a light into the darkest corners of my life and free myself from what no longer empowers me to live as my highest self.
January 17, 2021
3 1/2 stars
The parts I liked I ended up really liking, with messages and lessons that resonated with me, but those were spread out with so many repetitive and redundant parts in between that seemed to just go on and on as if just to fill out pages and chapters; except for the last few pages that seemed to bombard the reader with information, I was imagining the writer rushing to fit in as much as he can in before the book ends, despite him stretching it out throughout the book. I truly appreciate what I got out of this book, I just hate that it was delivered in the format it was.
The parts I liked I ended up really liking, with messages and lessons that resonated with me, but those were spread out with so many repetitive and redundant parts in between that seemed to just go on and on as if just to fill out pages and chapters; except for the last few pages that seemed to bombard the reader with information, I was imagining the writer rushing to fit in as much as he can in before the book ends, despite him stretching it out throughout the book. I truly appreciate what I got out of this book, I just hate that it was delivered in the format it was.
July 16, 2020
This book is one of those no-nonsense books, full of practical ideas that one can implement in their lives.
October 1, 2025
I kindly request from the author to translate this brilliant book to Arabic and to other languages as well. It is a classic and ground breaking.
October 28, 2020
How to find more fulfillment in life.
April 3, 2021
One of my favorite books so far
Packed full of different ways to think about the challenges of life and how to manage them.
Packed full of different ways to think about the challenges of life and how to manage them.
July 17, 2020
You will learn about Beliefs, how you can think different and about your reactions in life.
It is the perfect book if you want to learn more about yourself.
Τhis book will change your life and your thinking!!!
It is the perfect book if you want to learn more about yourself.
Τhis book will change your life and your thinking!!!
July 24, 2020
This is not one of those book on self improvement which you read and keep back on the shelf with a false promise to yourself that you will implement all that one day.
This book gives insights and pointers to get started right away, to keep moving forward and onwards... Start rebelling!
This book gives insights and pointers to get started right away, to keep moving forward and onwards... Start rebelling!
July 16, 2020
Really good book very insightful
July 17, 2020
There are so many 'ahha' moments throughout this gem of a book! One I'll be re-reading again for sure!
April 11, 2021
4 stars for some of the messages, 3ish for the writing. Will probably reread this one at some point.
June 7, 2021
Bullshit.Nothing new,Just another bad boring repititve self help book,copy and paste from another self help books.Waste of time and money.
February 11, 2023
Probably a great book for the right reader. To begin with the caveats: as other reviewers have noted, the slightly scolding tone and the generalisations about 'people' (presumably including the reader) didn't sit well with me as I didn't see myself in most of the examples. The author has a pet hatred of Instagram culture and celebrity-mediated consumerism, which is not unjustified, but it becomes a little shrill and repetitive. Also, the approach may be 'unconventional' to a reader who has not come across CBT before, but it didn't really offer more than a fair synthesis of some important approaches that have had currency in therapeutic psychology for quite a while.
However, I did persist with reading and found myself highlighting more and more paragraphs as I went on. I appreciate the author's candid use of his personal experiences, and there are some challenges in here that I needed to hear. Ultimately it is a good manifesto and tool kit for someone who is serious about doing the work involved in taking responsibility for their lives - and it may be especially effective if they have never thought about it before. I'd recommend this book to the right person.
However, I did persist with reading and found myself highlighting more and more paragraphs as I went on. I appreciate the author's candid use of his personal experiences, and there are some challenges in here that I needed to hear. Ultimately it is a good manifesto and tool kit for someone who is serious about doing the work involved in taking responsibility for their lives - and it may be especially effective if they have never thought about it before. I'd recommend this book to the right person.
October 23, 2022
My responsibility as a human being has never been more clear
I was a lost soul trying to understand what am I supposed to be really doing in life.
This book made me understand that we have our own paths in life. We carve them out ourselves, being selfish in a good way is the only way forward.
I wish I read this book sooner, probably something I would read as a post-college grad to get a grasp on what life has to offer me after getting that degree.
Nevertheless, very real content, it feels like Kain is speaking straight to me or right by me and he gives you the no fluff version of it all.
I was a lost soul trying to understand what am I supposed to be really doing in life.
This book made me understand that we have our own paths in life. We carve them out ourselves, being selfish in a good way is the only way forward.
I wish I read this book sooner, probably something I would read as a post-college grad to get a grasp on what life has to offer me after getting that degree.
Nevertheless, very real content, it feels like Kain is speaking straight to me or right by me and he gives you the no fluff version of it all.
January 16, 2022
Kain Ramsey has written an excellent book for our times. He has focused on individual responsibility. He explains through the chapters how we can better our lives by taking responsibility for ourselves. Taking responsibility is a concept we used to be experts on in Western Civilization. Unfortunately, we have left it behind through recent generations to the point where we have whole groups of victims. The book has solid concepts and actions to take. I listened to this on Audible. I wish Kain had taped his reading. I think it would have been better.
July 29, 2022
LIFE-CHANGING!
Straight to the core principles that truly helps you have the mindset to change your life that you really want! Tons of self help books are out there but this is one of the best I’ve read. Wish this book was already written when I was in the middle of an extremely life challenge but that’s okay, it’s never too late to change perspective and truly learn in life.
Thank you Mr Ramsay, continue making an impact and a difference for those who are “ready and willing” to help themselves. 👍🙏😊
Straight to the core principles that truly helps you have the mindset to change your life that you really want! Tons of self help books are out there but this is one of the best I’ve read. Wish this book was already written when I was in the middle of an extremely life challenge but that’s okay, it’s never too late to change perspective and truly learn in life.
Thank you Mr Ramsay, continue making an impact and a difference for those who are “ready and willing” to help themselves. 👍🙏😊
March 3, 2024
Kain doesn’t mince words with the majority of this book. He targets why people grow and what may be holding them back. His use of content helps the reader establish mental images of why and how people choose to navigate life. I would recommend for anyone wanting less of an academic jargon feel, and more of applicable lessons learned from the school of hard knocks. His tone has the feel of an older sibling trying to help you out.
January 14, 2021
This is a fantastic book! About change, but not external change, but change within ourselves. We can change jobs, partners,houses, friends etc but if we dont change ourselvs, nothing else will. This book book gives you the tools to do just that. And is very easy to follow without any heavy jargon.
January 31, 2021
It is such an awesome book touching all the problems we have nowadays. I love the way how Kain is straightforward with the truth and doesn't sugar-coated anything. I am sure need to read this book over and over again and will find new nuggets in there. Thank you so much for taking the time and write it 📝🙏
July 29, 2022
Best thing I can say about this book is that I read it twice in a week. It was that good! I refer to it often for words of inspiration and reflection. It can be a life changer. One of the best. One other thing that I liked is it wasn’t loaded with 500 pages of fluff but 200 plus pages of great wisdom.
January 19, 2025
I am reading this book with some high expectations having gone through few courses of Kain in Udemy. This guy is an absolutely authentic, mind-opening, humble yet challenging person with diverse set of psychology courses to help most people (may not help those who have gone through extreme trauma in early childhood days, say<7 years) provided they are ready to change themselves.
September 3, 2020
Very clear. I have followed some of Kain's courses and found the book in line with what he tells again and again. The book read easily and had me nodding in agreement more than once. Recommend to everyone!
September 3, 2020
Simply amazing! It is truly an unconventional approach and a practical one. Kain is straight forward and honest and he asks everyone of us the same, to be honest with ourselves and live our true life. Highly recommended.
September 18, 2020
Highly recommended. Great book for personal development, and don't just stop there. Spread the knowledge.
I finished reading the Responsibility Rebellion last week. What a great read! I'm not into self help books but I picked up this one purely because the author is Kain, and I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, I was left feeling quite the opposite. I love the clarity with which this book has been written. So open, so detailed and yet super crisp. What I loved the most, was Kain's no nonsense attitude which reflected in the writing as well. There's a whole lot of great learning that one can use for themselves as well as for helping out others. And lastly, the book is named aptly, it really is one's own responsibility to better their lives and this book does full justice to the cause. Kudos and thank you Kain Ramsay for this amazing piece of work. 🌻💚
I finished reading the Responsibility Rebellion last week. What a great read! I'm not into self help books but I picked up this one purely because the author is Kain, and I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, I was left feeling quite the opposite. I love the clarity with which this book has been written. So open, so detailed and yet super crisp. What I loved the most, was Kain's no nonsense attitude which reflected in the writing as well. There's a whole lot of great learning that one can use for themselves as well as for helping out others. And lastly, the book is named aptly, it really is one's own responsibility to better their lives and this book does full justice to the cause. Kudos and thank you Kain Ramsay for this amazing piece of work. 🌻💚
December 25, 2020
Amazing
It is an eyeopener for me. All through the book from the starting to the end I have seen me and that need to be myself is more important. This is such a great work. Thankyou very much kain.
It is an eyeopener for me. All through the book from the starting to the end I have seen me and that need to be myself is more important. This is such a great work. Thankyou very much kain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews