Dr. Harris’s pragmatic approach to self-development really resonated with me. I am not the kind of person who believes in quick fixes, and that is not what The Confidence Gap offers. Rather than relying on a gimmicks and, ultimately, skimming the surface of self-confidence, Harris challenged me to look within myself, identify what I believe is holding me back, and then make it my ally. As I know from experience, this process requires work—luckily, this book comes with plenty of exercises to help its many lessons sink in. After investing time and effort in The Confidence Gap, I have found that I look at my own limitations with a deeper understanding and with something resembling fondness.

While any fan of self-development media will likely enjoy this book, I think this is an especially good one for skeptics like me. Dr. Harris makes no bones about some of life's most difficult hurdles. He knows that there are countless self-help titles out there, and he does not attempt to compete with them by spewing the same mantras we have all heard countless times. This is self-development for people who recognize their blemishes and personal hang-ups. Rather than seeking to fix your life in one go, Harris will guide you to instill values that are designed to help build confidence from the ground up.

Did you know?

• Russ Harris has benefitted directly from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. His experiences as a doctor and therapist led him to share this treatment with not only his patients but also other doctors and the general population.

• Since 2005, Harris has run more than 800 two-day workshops at the professional and personal level.

What listeners said

• "Russ Harris is a guru for the pessimist set. Mindfulness without the affirmations. There's no magic here. But there are plenty of thought exercises to help you accept yourself and to make your best decisions, sitting with your anxieties and fear, but seeing past them." — Susie, Audible listener

• "The world is full of advice on boosting confidence, and most of it is crap. This book lays out the reasons why and replaces the crappy rules with ones to live by. I'm going to read it at least once again. Already, I have been living by what I've learned from this book and it's really helped. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who's ever struggled with motivation, discipline, or confidence." —Diana, Audible Listener

• "In summary, if you experience anxiety and want to increase confidence then The Confidence Gap is the book for you. It's interesting, well-written and directly applicable to life. It takes work, though—you have to do the exercises and put in some time to increase certain mindfulness skills. It's worth the work it takes, though!" —Riker, Audible listener

Quotes from The Confidence Gap

• "The world is full of people who are trying to purchase self-confidence, or manufacture it, or who simply posture it. But you can’t fake confidence, you have to earn it. If you ask me, the only way to do that is work. You have to do the work."

• "What holds you back is not fear, but your attitude towards it. The tighter you hold on to the attitude that fear is something 'bad' and you can’t do the things you want until it goes away, the more stuck you will be."

• "Fear is not your enemy. It is a powerful source of energy that can be harnessed and used for your benefit."

• "Rule 1: The actions of confidence come first; the feelings of confidence come later."

About the author and performer

Dr. Russ Harris is a world-renowned trainer in ACT, psychotherapist, medical doctor, life coach, and consultant to the World Health Organization. He has run hundreds of workshops, providing training for more than 50,000 health professionals around the world. He is the author of nine books, including The Confidence Gap and The Happiness Trap, which has sold more than a million copies worldwide and been translated into 30 languages.