Description

An essential listen for anyone who has encountered a crisis of confidence.Where does self-confidence come from? How does it work? Why are some people more confident than others? On the surface, these seem like simple questions – but answers can feel hard to come by when we need them most.In this best-selling book, Charles Pépin brings to light the strange alchemy that is self-confidence. Pépin examines the role confidence plays in the lives of our most respected public figures including the likes of Madonna, Mozart, Frieda Kahlo, Martin Luther King and Serena Williams and argues that above all, to live a life of confidence is to live a life of action.Drawing on the collective wisdom of philosophers, psychologists and the lives of people we encounter on a daily basis, Pépin invites us to probe the mystery and mastery of self-confidence.Inspired by great figures from Emerson and Nietzsche to Madonna and Serena Williams, this engaging philosophical essay explores the workings of self-confidence and how to develop it. Where does self-confidence come from? How does it work? What makes it stronger or weaker? Why are some people more confident than others? Is it only a question of temperament or the result of conscious self-improvement? How do you get closer to those who stand out thanks entirely to their confidence in themselves? Drawing on philosophical texts, ancient wisdom, positive psychology, and a wide range of case studies that feature famous thinkers, artists, and athletes, but also unsung heroes such as a fighter pilot and an urgent-care doctor, Charles Pépin brings to light the strange alchemy that is self-confidence. In doing so, he gives us the keys to having more confidence in ourselves.Review“An essay that draws from case studies and philosophical texts to break down the nuances of self-confidence and how it develops.” —New York Times Book Review“[Pépin unifies] disparate examples (including Sigmund Freud, and Søren Kierkegaard, Madonna, and Serena Williams) with his own memories of developing self-confidence as a student and teacher…intriguing…punchy.” —Publishers Weekly“A rewarding and intelligent work.” —Le Figaro“Intriguing, profound, and eloquent.” —Elle (France)“An inspiring reflection.” —L’Express“A book full of wisdom and joy.” —France InterAbout the AuthorCharles Pépin is a philosopher and novelist whose work has been published in some thirty countries. He is the author of Philosophers on the Couch, When Beauty Saves Us, and Joy. His latest essay, The Virtues of Failure, has sold more than 65,000 copies and been translated and published in thirteen countries. With the designer Jul, Pépin published the bestsellers The Planet of the Wise and 50 Shades of Greeks. He is also the organizer of the Lundis Philo lecture series at MK2 Odéon in Paris.