The Soul of Shame

Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves

By: Curt Thompson

Narrated by: Jim Seybert

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The Gospel Coalition Top Books of 2015 in Faith and Work

Hearts & Minds Bookstore's Best Books of 2015, Applied Theology, Basic Christian Living, Whole Life Discipleship

We're all infected with a spiritual disease. Its name is shame. Whether we realize it or not, shame affects every aspect of our personal lives and vocational endeavors. It seeks to destroy our identity in Christ, replacing it with a damaged version of ourselves that results in unhealed pain and brokenness. But God is telling a different story for your life.

Psychiatrist Curt Thompson unpacks the soul of shame, revealing its ubiquitous nature and neurobiological roots. He also provides the theological and practical tools necessary to dismantle shame, based on years of researching its damaging effects and counseling people to overcome those wounds. Thompson's expertise and compassion will help you identify your own pains and struggles and find freedom from the lifelong negative messages that bind you. Rewrite the story of your life and embrace healing and wholeness as you discover and defeat shame's insidious agenda.

©2015 Curt Thompson (P)2017 Two Words Publishing, LLC. Recorded and distributed by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com

Best book I’ve read in years

The information in this book has changed my life. My wife is reading it at the same time, and the conversations that have come from our discussions have brought us together in a way I didn’t even know was possible. Understanding what shame is and how it has invaded every area of my life has brought so much awareness and helped me to understand the way it has shaped the story I tell myself about myself. The best part is that you can’t unsee this information; simply knowing shame is there and how it works already begins to undo the damage caused.

I am extremely grateful for this book. There is no way I can say in a few short sentences how important this information is to everybody. It not only shows us what we’re up against, but gives us the roadmap to healing and full integration of our mind, body, and soul that ultimately leads to living life as it was intended; full of joy, creativity, acceptance, community and love.

Life Changing

I have read/listened to several books on shame, but this is the best in terms of nuts and bolts application.

Fits the Liberal Christian Gospel

Those of a conservative evangelical persuasion would do better to read John Owen's treatment of shame in his work on the Holy Spirit (Pneumatologia), Book 4, Chapter 4-5 concerning the "defilement" and "pollution" of sin with its cleansing in the blood of Christ.

Interesting...

This is very good for anyone who is feeling deep shame or having trouble getting through this feeling. It explains everything you want to know about shame. Some are obvious and then some are not so obvious. This could be extremely helpful to a lot of people. Well written and narrated. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Eye opening

I had never considered shame as the soul driving force behind anxiety and avoidance behavior. This book has changed my approach in many ways. Great insight and worth the 8 hour investment.

Wonderful & Annoying

I will say this is a 5 star in defining, revealing what shame is and what to do about it.
I don’t like the doctrinal push on his view of God and Christ. I thought no as a psychiatrist he should be mindful that not everyone is a Catholic or a Christian or a believer in God. He should have stayed in the psychological wisdom the Bible does provide.. which he does 90% of the time - but as readers we become your patient or student. This though your book you enforce God, the Trinity and that will be disturbing to many listeners.

However as I bypass those issues and some of the rambling tangents ... I really do think this book is going to help me.

Not what I was looking for

Sorry to say but this book is not what I want or thought it was. If you want a book on the religious ideas of shame then this book is for you. But if you want something to explain shame and how we as humans deal with that this is not the book for you.

Inspiring!!!

At first I struggled with this book but my perseverence was worth it. This provided the answers to my lifelong struggle with shame and it offered me a path to freedom. So grateful!!!

Insightful and Illuminati

Curt Thompson helps us examine the source of our own shame and gives instruction on how to overcome shame and thrive in life and relationships.

Very helpful

This book explains in detail what shame is, how it manifests itself in our lives, how it works best when we don't know it's at work in our life and how to deal with it.

A must read

I started this book over a year ago, but it didn’t really catch me, I guess because I wasn’t in the right place yet. However through the various events in the intervening period I have come to realise just how present shame is in all of our lives. The book helps us confront the stories we tell and addresses the impact those stories have on relationships and interconnections around our lives. A must read for everybody.