The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know

This book is truly amazing. It is filled with knowledge on the female brain. Not only does it encourage you that confidence is not a one size fits all, you either have it or you don't, it shows you small ways to slowly gain confidence. I recommend this book to anyone, especially if you're a woman. You will not regret it.

Fascinating. Probably one of the most useful "self-help"books for women I have ever read. Very comprehensive coverage of the topic as it pertains to women, with easy to understand synopsis of the results from numerous researchers.

This books contains wonderfully practical ideas: new ways to look at life, short cuts to making your work better, ways to understand the dynamics of work & personal relationships. It was easy to read and a page turner.

This was a beneficial read in several ways, the first directly regarding confidence factors for all professional business women as well as new and current information about the role that genetics play and how we can now discover and research the results from our own DNA.

Even through the introduction, readers can tell the authors' main idea that motives them to write this book is to let women find their own confidence codes. And this is a book that has a lot of diligent efforts.

The Confidence Code by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay is a wonderful book. It's funny (Katty Kay learning to kiteboard), relatable (stellar international leaders Christine Lagarde and Angela Merkel comforting each other when male politicians beat up on them), and easy to read. Well researched, the book contains pages of helpful information, not only to understand why we as a gender tend to lag in confidence but also what to do about it. (Although the book would be good resource for any adult who lacks confidence, it's aimed at women.)

Apart from making you feel good, why is confidence important? According to the authors, ..."there is evidence that confidence is more important than ability when it comes to getting ahead," on the job and in life generally. Good compensation, happiness, and professional fulfillment may depend on confidence. Not born confident? Don't worry. "The newest research shows that we can literally change our brains (to make us) more confidence prone."

There's a lot of wisdom in the Confidence Code. One nugget is this: "Most people believe they need to criticize themselves in order to find motivation to reach their goals. In fact, when you constantly criticize yourself, you become depressed, and depression is not a motivational mindset." Also, "...Of all the warped things that women do to themselves to undermine their confidence, we found the pursuit of perfection to be the most crippling...you'll inevitably and routinely feel inadequate."

But most of us are perfectionists. How do we overcome these behaviors?

To get answers, Shipman and Kay interview and cite many thoughtful and engaging experts, who are quoted throughout the book, but the short course is this: Stop overthinking everything. Have courage, take action, congratulate yourself for trying regardless of outcome, and move on. Engage in self-compassion. Practice / do the work. Mastery in one thing spills over into other areas. Meditation can shrink your amygdalae (the region of the brain that amps up fear) and stimulate your prefrontal cortex (the calm, rational area). If that's too much work, concentrate on how you present yourself physically. Practice power positions. Spread out. Take up space. Keep your chin raised. Don't use "upspeak" (i.e. sound like a Valley Girl when you talk).

There's so much more, but here's the thing I want you to remember: the development of confidence is volitional - a choice. Or as Shipman and Kay put it: "Our biggest and perhaps most encouraging discovery has been that confidence is something we can, to a significant extent, control." What an important life skill for women of all ages to learn, and to teach their daughters and granddaughters.

A very useful compilation of opinion and historical reporting. However, I was left with the question "so what?". No real suggestions or recommendations so one could conclude the situation is what it is, live with it.

This book is actually . . . helpful! It answers a number of really interesting questions I've often wondered about, such as whether confidence is genetic, and how much that matters. It is helpful to know that some of the most accomplished women in the world struggle with confidence, feeling it and exuding it. But better still, this book offers concrete and actionable strategies borne out in scientific research for those less well-endowed in the confidence department. There's something to be done about it. Claire Shipman and Katty Kay have cracked the code and are thankfully hewing to their gender's stereotype by sharing with the rest of us. Great book!

I have straddled between being confident and being weak which is almost like a basic math problem where a positive and a negative equates to a negative. On one hand I have been able to achieve great heights and on the other I have immobilized myself by great fear. This book made certain self sabotaging attributes I have carried around for years more prominent and identifiable. So much so, I now believe I can actually address them one by one and seek the achievements in life I have always sought. Look, everyday is and will be a challenge to some extent as this is just the way life is, but I do believe I have a fighting chance and I attribute lessons within this book for assisting me in adjusting my behaviors to address them each day of my life, expanding my reach and ultimately achieving my potential even when the peaks and the valley's of life roll in and out.

Sad to think that all these years later, women STILL haven't gained the confidence to "go for it" unless they're 100%! My master's thesis dealt with this same subject almost 25 yrs ago - and the results then were nearly as were presented in the book: women need to find that confidence they have in academia & make it a way of life IN life.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written, entertaining, and well researched. Many of these types f books can either get far to bogged down into the science or become just a series of anecdotes that have little to do with my own life. This one not only investigated the reasons why women struggle with confidence, but gave practical tools to improve. Highly recommend!

I really liked The Confidence Code because of three main things: 1) the emphasis on psychological studies, 2) the expert weaving of personal anecdotes with those of other high-profile women, and 3) the frankness in the style of writing. The argument that Kay and Shipman present is clear, and their ultimate conclusion is obviously well-supported with much evidence. Very glad I took the time to read the book (which, in reality, wasn't very long), and these lessons will be valuable not only for me, but also for my future daughters!

One of the best books for present and potential career women. Where Sheryl Sandberg gives us general advice, Kay and Shipman give us specific examples on what we need to know about ourselves and what we need to work on to help us succeed. It not only gives us guidelines on analyzing our strengths and weaknesses but also gives us reasons for these strengths and weaknesses based on scientific research. I recommend this book for all women.

After hearing Katty and Claire talk about their book on my local PBS station, I was intrigued. These women have written a nice introduction to a struggle a lot of modern American women deal with: lack of confidence. With a fair amount of research on their side, and the objectiveness to point out their own negative habits, The Cofidence Code provides a quick read with a powerful punch. I felt myself within the page of this book, and after reading it, I feel better able to connect all of the little puzzle pieces needed for self created confidence, something I really have been struggling with. It was also interesting reading the science behind all of this. The application of this book is helpful and relative not only to ones self, male or female, but in the raising or teaching of youth. Not quite a self help book, the advice they do still provide is sound and helpful, but the clear point of the book is getting out there and doing is the only scenario that will truly give any woman the confidence she is looking for.

Great read.

This book shows why bookstores had a value. Had I glanced through this book, I never would have purchased. Despite claiming it is the science and art of self-assurance, it is the science.

Do not buy if you are looking for tips.