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The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

By: Dr. Nathaniel Branden
Narrated by: Dr. Nathaniel Branden
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Publisher's Summary

In The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, Nathaniel Branden presents the culminating achievement of a lifetime of clinical practice and research. In this penetrating and provocative program, he conclusively demonstrates the importance of self-esteem in our quest for psychological health, personal achievement, and positive relationships.

"Yet how do we gain true self-esteem?" Dr. Branden introduces the six pillars of self-esteem - six action-based practices for daily living. Here for the first time are simple but powerful exercises for increasing personal awareness and effectiveness. Exploring the importance of self-esteem in the workplace, parenting, education, psychotherapy, and society, Dr. Branden provides guidelines for those responsible for fostering self-esteem in others - and shows why a culture of self-esteem is imperative for survival in the 21st century.

©1994 Nathaniel Brandon (P)2000 Audio Renaissance

Critic Reviews

"The father of the concept of self-esteem has written his masterpiece." (Warren Bennis)
"The ultimate work on self-esteem. Truly a classic." (T. George Harris, former editor of American Health and Psychology Today)

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Not great

Prefer the book over the audio version. Not sufficient details as in the actual book. The book is really good and I recommend the book.

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18 people found this helpful

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lots of words for delivered content

admittedly many books are like this. To do all exercises every day I think would take more time than I have.

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18 people found this helpful

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Relatable and practical for transforming my life

Excellent insight, very relatable for me. I enjoyed the breakdown of how certain belief systems in religion messes up a child's self esteem. Also enjoyed the breakdown of the treatment from parents and teachers that effect self esteem.

Also found the stem sentence exercises very useful in bringing transformation in my life.

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Promising, but shallow

Dr Gabor Mate's more modern, less biased work gave me a much more thorough system of thinking to reflect on

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Meh

Not sure if it's just me being burnt out by too many self development books, but this never grabbed me and took me ages to finish.
If you're not engaged and there are large gaps in your listening you're probably not going to get much from any book, so I'll put this one down to "just me".

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Not life changing, but makes a lot of sense.

The best takeaway from this book for me was explaining how to compliment, reward or reprimand the actions of our children instead of the children themselves. This makes so much sense and explains a lot of what I'm seeing with my own children going through school with teachers and systems that don't build self esteem no matter how hard they try.

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Great advice

Great advice, but often bored me to sit through especially when sitting for longer then 30mins.

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Played it on repeat

Great concepts to be reminded of daily, get back to this book over and over again when I feel like I hit a slump

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Sensational and life changing

I have listened to this book more than once. This 3 hrs is more precious and valuable than any university courses. It will change your life for the better.

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Short but brillant

A brillant book which gives you the tools to boost your self esteem. A must listen.

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  • Leslie, children's author and teacher😊
  • 14-02-2015

Like listening to a psych professor but no help.

Spend your money on a book that offers you a way or ways to improve your self esteem. This book simply explains why yours is low.
if that's what you want to know, then this is a good book. Note how many books this author has written on this topic......

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  • Steve
  • 21-06-2008

Look Elsewhere

I barely made it halfway through this audiobook and couldn't take any more. Maybe it is just personal taste, but I found it very longwinded and repetitive. When I reached the part where the author started rambling on about his obsessive relationship with Ayn Rand, I knew this wasn't the tape for me. On a positive note, this tape did cause me to look elsewhere, and I eventually ended up purchasing "Ten Days to Self Esteem" (workbook, not audio) by Dr. David Burns. I recommend this workbook highly, as I am already seeing great improvements in my mood and self esteem. I hope this helps.

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  • Dreama
  • 03-08-2017

Do not recommend

Really regret this purchase. Content was so dry that it was difficult to pay attention. I found out in 2nd to last chapter the author had committed infidelity and felt as if I had wasted so much time listening to anything he had to say. Glad he learned something from it but I have no respect for that and definitely wish I had saved my money!

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  • Anca
  • 21-07-2015

Not very motivational

High expectations

The book was not very engaging nor motivational, too scholastic and dry as presentation.

The ideas are on another hand precious and useful, would apply some.

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  • Coffee please
  • 05-08-2016

Really DULL!!!!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who is having trouble getting to sleep - believe me this will help!!!

Any additional comments?

Very boring. The narration was dull but the actual script he had to work with was so boring! ok i did get a few things from it but generally this was no help at all. It was written like it was for a child, not an adult with actual self-esteem issues. Waste of money! :(

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  • Kelly RN
  • 25-05-2014

So So

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Wasn't real crazy about this book. There may have been a few good suggestions in this book, however overall the book was of very little use. The best part of the book was the last chapter. Other than that I can't say I would recommend this book.

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  • Ian
  • 20-12-2016

Not for me.

Any additional comments?

Like a lot of other reviewers, I found this very old fashioned and boring, not really anything new or relevant to the world we live in today.

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  • Open Ears
  • 02-10-2016

Very bad, no help at all, made me feel worse.

What was most disappointing about Dr. Nathaniel Branden’s story?

It was so old fashioned. Full of advice that is now PROVEN to be nonsense and unhelpful, even harmful at times.

What didn’t you like about Dr. Nathaniel Branden’s performance?

Narration was ok I guess, bit dull tho.

Any additional comments?

Not happy at all. Maybe this book was good years ago, but times have changes. It was horribly old fashioned and completely irrelevant. It made me feel worse if anything.

Much better books out there than this.

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  • Lola
  • 06-06-2019

Boring Voice!

The most boring voice! I kept on rewinding and after so many tries, I quit.

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  • W1992
  • 18-11-2016

Totally bored me, so old fashioned and horrible

What would have made The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem better?

Being written more recently. So much of the advice is out of date and has been proven to be nonsense these days.

What was most disappointing about Dr. Nathaniel Branden’s story?

I just found it incredibly dull, it put me to sleep.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Very boring, made me want to fall asleep.

Any additional comments?

I really found this was no help at all. It took me 3 attempts to make it through the whole book, but it did make me want to fall asleep rather than help with my esteem issues!

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  • Ben T.
  • 15-04-2015

Informative but dull

I can see how this may help people develop there own self esteem and others around them. However I think the book may have been better than the audio as unfortunately I found Brandan's voice tedious.

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  • ListenEveryday
  • 22-12-2016

Old fashioned

Any additional comments?

It was written many years ago and the author even passed away a few years ago, so you need to understand this is very very old fashioned and therefore mostly outdated advice.

Avoid.

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  • Audioaddict
  • 29-11-2016

I didn't like it.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I didn't like it. I wanted help with self esteem issues but instead i appear to have got a book written many many years ago. It felt very out of date and out of touch with the world how it is today.

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  • Open Ears
  • 03-10-2016

DULL.

Would you try another book written by Dr. Nathaniel Branden or narrated by Dr. Nathaniel Branden?

Never again. Not unless I want to go to sleep.

Would you be willing to try another one of Dr. Nathaniel Branden’s performances?

NO.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not much. I guess i picked up a few points, but most of it is just repeating stuff you have all read on the internet. In a very dull tone.

Any additional comments?

Very boring, Sorry, I have to be honest, i thought it was terrible and did nothing at all to help me with my esteem and confidence issues.

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  • Coffee please
  • 10-08-2016

Old fashioned nonsense!

Would you try another book written by Dr. Nathaniel Branden or narrated by Dr. Nathaniel Branden?

NO.

Any additional comments?

Old fashioned nonsense. Maybe in 1976, this book made sense but not in 2016. The world has changed and so to has the understanding of self-esteem. Horrible book, very patronising and offered me no hope whatsoever. Not for me.

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  • Ben Buffery
  • 30-06-2019

Terrible audio

Although the sample is ok you can’t focus the way this guy speaks is horrendous the sssssss sounds everywhere goes straight through you making you cringe like someone is scraping nails down a chalk board is making my skin crawl. I listened for 35 minutes and couldn’t do any more

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  • StudentOfLife
  • 17-04-2014

Taken advantage of often or act fake? Read this

What did you like most about The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem?

In depth discussion of why people doubt themselves. A bit heavy for a first read if you're finally taking a step to change your life. Come back after the second or third book, then it's pure magic (Steve Peter's chimp management and Paul Mcgee's Self Confidence are good starters the Brene Brown's The Gift of Imperfection). Awful audio though but it's worth it.

What other book might you compare The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem to, and why?

Paul Mcgee Self confidence, Steve Peter's Chimp management.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Dr. Nathaniel Branden?

Andrew Macmillan

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It's talk on self acceptance and self assertion are nothing short of life changing. Self responsibility seems helpful for those who feel they don't have a habit on life, but if you're buying the book for you, i'm guessing you're aware that you "can" change your life.

Any additional comments?

If you have self confidence issues, and have actively been trying to address it buy reading and making life changes this is can be final nail in the coffin for your self doubt and lack of self worth. Along with it's much long awaited burial ceremony.

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  • Sebastian
  • 10-10-2018

Unhelpful, unfounded

The worst snake oil and Mumbo jumbo, I’ve ever come across. Ridiculous far fetched nonsense

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  • D
  • 03-07-2010

A classic on its subject

This is a clear exposition of Dr Branden's views on self-esteem (what it is, what is isn't, how to develop it, how to lose it and how to try and get it back) set out in a logical structure and well read (by the american author). More an exposition of the subject than a self-help guide, it is nonetheless packed with insights and an absorbing listen. Far from the usual run-of-the-mill, insubstantial single-note self-help stuff available from well-meaning non-experts, this material is dense enough to warrant re-listening (probably several times). (The author's other audio-book, 'The Psychology of Self-Esteem' is more theoretical and slighly less accessible - I would suggest starting with The Six Pillars, and then trying The Psychology if you want to pursue the subject.) Recommended.

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  • Stelios
  • 25-11-2021

The voice is giving me a headache

Can't listen to this for more than 10min. The voice is giving me headaches.

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