Confidence: Becoming the Person God Made You to Be

by Alan Loy McGinnis

Discover how you can: build inner strength, handle rejection, develop your uniqueness, keep your flaws in perspective, make friends with your body, find a place to excel, expand your network of love, and help others become more confident. These and other practical guidelines, along with fascinating stories and anecdotes, show how you can increase your self-confidence without falling into the trap of self-worship. A book to help you succeed at being yourself.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Alan Loy McGinnis was an author, Christian psychotherapist, and founder and director of the Valley Counseling Center in Glendale, California, United States. Today there are over 3 million copies of his books in print. Wikipedia

Reviews

[Eric Maier · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about halfway through this book and decided that I had had enough. It was clear what the recurring theme was throughout this book, encountered on almost every page I read.

I'll sum the entire book up in one sentence: You need to have God to be confident.

Bullshit. It might help to have God, but you don't have to in order to be confident about yourself.

I hated that the book was preaching the author's religion at me. If I had wanted a sermon I could have gone to church.

One could wonder why The Golden Compass commanded such a religious rage while this book did not. I wonder if Mr. McGinnis had said you had to worship Satan in order to be confident if there would have been an outcry at it too. Ah, shame on sheep.

[Sarah♥]

So interesting! With any other author, I would have forgone, in judgement of the title, however this author is great! Although I was a tiny bit skeptical, it paid off.

First time for me hearing the author's voice; not what I expected (on the audiobook: hilariously outdated, talking about tape sides, mildly delightful in a reminiscent sense).

As for the content: it was much more than the title implies, he digs deeper on the root causes of various issues, and how we can overcome - already gold, for doing that! It was thought-provoking in some things I never knew or had thought of, in such a way: thinking about the roots of how we grew up, and thinking forward to how we can do better with our children, and in-between, a better understanding of others, and how we can be more understanding, loving humans towards each other, and have a better personal identity/outlook more correct to Biblical standards, etc.

He mentions hypnosis, which I find very odd & I don't think I'm a fan, but his research & testimonials in every other area are always a huge value.

[Irish Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's partially great, the ideas and strategies we're realistic enough to apply ourselves. The author also delves through different aspects of our inside and outside world.

On the contrary, most of it preached through the idea of god and bible. And for me, I don't really recognized Bible as a great reference in proposing the ideas. It dismay some of the suggestions and ideas that the author. This includes preaching, love god, and to satisfy catholic manners. It would be much more better if other psychoanalytical facts spitted through, and there should be more of Jungs and Freud, I mean they are practically expert with these and they had huge amount of research about that.

[Mpho3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this with my sister; or rather, she started it, and I finished it. Everything is a blur this year. I think I thought it was worthwhile. Wasn't that long ago, but I can't remember. Yup, 2020. 3.5 seems fair. After all, I did finish it in a year, where I found it impossible to finish much of anything.

[Chris Troesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I purchased it years ago, still quote it often. I have purchased several books for friends over the years and have even used its principles when talking with people. I read a tonne of self help books during a specific season in my life, this is the only one that did any good - and that I even remember.

As for the author bringing up God a lot...he is a priest after all. One has to kind of expect that.

[Zintle]

It was okay for me

[Steve Sellars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas for developing healthy self confidence. Ideas I liked--the balance between distinguish between who you are and what you do VS find something you like to do and do well then do it over and over. There is a balance between not letting work be your entire identify but at the same time seeing value in how Good created you to work and appreciating and using the gifts He gave you.

Good thoughts on taking initiative in relationships and the value of loving and serving others. Happiness and confidence are elusive when you set out to get them. They are by-products of loving, serving and worship.

The last chapter on self confidence without self worship is great! Jesus do sum it up perfectly in the 2 greatest commandments--love Good and love others like you love yourself. Definitely glad I read this one.

[John Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has great anecdotes on how people struggled with being confident and people who were confident in themselves. Those stories inspired each section while some are from the experience of the author on how to be confident. There are some points though that still needs to be elaborated further. I think this is a great read because I find it very relevant and 'necessary' at the time in my life when I read it.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this 4 stars because I took many notes of how to be happier with myself. I just could've done without God on every page. Only I have the power to change my life, no one will help get there but myself. But like I said, if you ignore that, this book still sends a great message and life changing advise.

[Nerrizza lucero]

learned to have confidence...

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need to read it again! It's been 15+ yrs!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, good ideas. Could have expanded topics more, but just a nice little upbeat book.

[Jeff Lampson]

I've recommended this to several coaching clients who consistently give it excellent feedback for helping them to boost and fuel their confidence.