Overcoming Shyness and Social Anxiety: How to Boost Your Social Confidence

This book is so much better than the gung-ho nonsense that is so often peddled under the auspices of 'self help' or 'self confidence'. It deals with the causes and the symptoms in a practical and empathetic manner.

The simple reason for the book's success is that it is written by an experienced nurse. She knows what she's talking about and has a practical bedside manner.

She talks at one stage of Shyness being a gift. At first I thought 'hand on a minute!' But she does make some valid points and, cynic though I am, I did finish listening to that section feeling more confident about the way my mind works and who I am.

What was REALLY nice about the book was that I was not compelled to change and be something I'm not. It is OK to be a bit shy - that's part of me. And that, again, made me feel more confident!

Either way with some practice I have felt a lot better about myself, less shy and very grateful to nurse Ruth (even though she has a man's voice in this audio book!)

I bought this book for my teenage son. He's always been fairly shy around new people and finds it hard to make new friends as a result. I know this can be hard for many people but for my son it was near to impossible. Although this book didnt instantly change his life around, it has definitely had an impact. He is still shy but seems more confident and unashamed of being that way.
He wasnt too eager to listen to this audio book at first (classic teenage 'I dont need that kind of stuff' response to it!) but I think even he would now admit that this book has really helped him. I cant praise this book enough for how it has helped my boy. Definitely worth a listen.

I love this book. I am a shy introvert and the description of one in this book embodies me. I have always wanted to maximize my potential and this book helps me in so many ways. I listen to it when I am about to sleep. It keeps me all revved up when I wake up in the morning. The way it is read also helps, the voice and intonation of the reader contribute to its being an excellent listening experience. Highly recommended!

As someone who suffers from social anxiety due to a horrid spate of bullying at school, I was looking for a way of addressing these issues via an audio book.



The information is horribly dry and just filled with statistics which ultimately do nothing apart from letting you know that your condition is quite common and is filled with terribly patronising by telling me that introverted people are more empathic..I dont care!



The advice in this book is filled with painful advice suggesting small talk introductions and getting people to talk about themselves as people like talking about themselves.



Its like a mix between a PHD and a well meaning mother offering impractical advice which doesnt address and solve the underlying problems.



A very poor and impractical audio book which does not tell you how to overcome shyness and social anxiety, but rather how to develop behaviour to blend in, to accept that this is your genetic lot in life via scientific data, to learn conversation techniques and that an introverted person is perfectly normal, so chin up and stop criticising yourself.



This book is written by someone who has not suffered from social anxiety and shyness, or has done and manages her condition by clinging onto scientific norms and "so tell me about yourself" types of conversation.



Absolute waste of time



Do not bother, it is an awful book.

A rather simplistic portrayal of what it means to be shy. This book has no pretensions to being an academic work, in terms of content, style and structure.

At times, it almost feels like the author is some sort of guru trying to instill in his ignorant followers a sense of self-worth.

It's most certainly destined for the uninitiated "general public", and there are some interesting insights for someone, namely myself, who has not explored the question in other books/articles.

Without wishing to give away the end, the suggested remedy seems to be that a) shy people have more worth than others, and b) just get out there and believe in yourself!

The music to announce each end of chapter is terrible. The narrator is good.