The Tender Heart: Conquering Your Insecurity [Paperback]

Joseph Nowinski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2001

Insight, explanations, and practical solutions for overcoming insecurity and sensitivity -- from a top psychologist

In simple language, Joseph Nowinski explains that insecurity is not a flaw or shortcoming, but rather a personality trait that reflects both temperament and life experiences. And, most important, he shows how insecurity can be conquered so that one can thrive -- especially in work and love.

The first book to investigate insecurity, The Tender Heart sheds light on its common causes and provides guidelines for overcoming the self-doubt, debilitating self-consciousness, and chronic lack of confidence that prevent many people from enjoying life to its fullest. Combining personality quizzes and case histories of people who have conquered their insecurities, The Tender Heart offers expert advice on:

• Healing insecurity
• Avoiding emotional predators who seek out sensitive people
• Coping with a tough-hearted partner or colleague
• Finding your emotional mate
• Raising children who are self-confident

The Tender Heart is for anyone who has experienced times when their own insecurity or the insecurity of others has interfered with valued relationships or prevented them from realizing their potential.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Marcy Calhoun author of Are You Really Too Sensitive? The Tender Heart is an enlightened and practical book of wisdom for sensitive people everywhere.

Thomas Eldridge founder and director of the Center for Highly Sensitive People The Tender Heart offers a new way of understanding why people can have totally different experiences in relationships...A landmark step toward changing the way we see ourselves and the way we raise our children.

About the Author

Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D., is a psychologist at the University of Connecticut Health Center. The founder of the Institute of Interpersonal Sensitivity, he also has a private practice in Tolland, Connecticut, where he lives.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (April 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068487167X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684871677
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Joe Nowinski is a nationally known clinical psychologist. Read his blogs on the Huffington Post and Psychology Today web sites.

JANUARY 2011:
SAYING GOODBYE: How Families Can Find Renewal through Loss.
Written with Dr. Barbara Okun and published by Penguin Books in collaboration with Harvard Health Publications, this book helps families understand the five stages of grief that families can expect to experience when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Filled with practical advice as well as first-hand accounts of family members who have experienced this process, this book will be immensely helpful to everyone who faces one of life's most difficult passages. For more information, reviews, and to access resources visit www.NewGrief.com.

Dr.Nowinski's other recent books are:

The Divorced Child: Strenghtening Your Family through the First Three Years of Separation. It is based on recent research showing that divorce does not need to be traumatic or damaging to children. The divorcing parents' responsibility is to help their child stay on a healthy developmental track. Dr. Joe shows them how.

Stop Dating Jerks! The Smart Woman's Guide to Breaking the Pattern and Finding the Love of Your Life. In this book Dr. Joe offers single women tha advice they too seldom hear: Stop marketing yourself and start being more selective when it comes to investing your time and energy! Learn how to spot a "diamond in the rough" and to avoid men with serious personality problems who do not warrant your investment. This book was a finalist in the 2010 Indi Book Awards.

Dr. Nowinski's other books include:
The Identity Trap: Saving Our Teens from Themselves. This book won a Silver Nautilus Book Award in 2008.

Six Questions that Can Change Your Life: Dramatically, Completely, Forever.
The Tender Heart: Conquering Your Insecurity.

Dr. Nowinski lives in Tolland Connecticut with his family. His favorite place in the world, though, is Mt. Desert Island, Maine, where his family enjoys vacationing in Acadia National Park.

Dr. welcomes comments and questions about his books. For further information visit www.josephnowinski.com or email Dr. Nowinski at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No Substance, June 6, 2002

By 

Jeannie Morezzi (Wantagh, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tender Heart: Conquering Your Insecurity (Paperback)

The subject matter of this book is one which deserves serious exploration. In fact, the subtitle "Conquering Your Insecurity" was a big enticement (if only...). Unfortunately, this book explores and recommends very little. Once the premise is set forth, that tenderheartedness or toughheartedness is a congenital predisposition, and how it comes about, and how it manifests itself in daily life, (career, relationship, etc.) the book goes no further - just keeps repeating and attempting to substantiate that premise. The "case studies" used to demonstrate these ideas are WAY too long and utterly lack substance. It's like when someone says "to make a long story short..." you know you're in for a long, drawn out nothing. If you're looking for concrete self-help, thought provoking substance and engaging reading, this ain't it. See Marcy Calhoun's "Are You Really Too Sensitive?" It's substantive, meaningful and useful on this subject. Best wishes to all who are searching.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tender Heart, May 3, 2001

By 

M. Kendis (Lebanon,, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tender Heart: Conquering Your Insecurity (Paperback)

The Tender Heart focuses on sensitivity as a trait a person is born with. A person is either highly sensitive or hard hearted, most likely somewhere inbetween, as described in Joe Nowinski's new book. For the first time, I feel this is an understanding of human nature that has not been explored before. I feel it puts into perspective, why different people react differently to the same situations, just by their very natures they are born with. It addresses why some people can be so disturbed by a situation, while another is completely oblivious to it. Then added is a layer of security or insecurity, and how it interacts with the sensitive or hard hearted person. This explains a lot of the interpersonal interactions of people. Human emotions are very much multi-dimensional and complex. By understanding the layers in which a person perceives a situation, colored by their emotional make-up, helps shine a light on easing many problems that exist in many relationships. What makes this book such a valuable tool, is that Nowinski is able to help describe situations and give solutions, not only for adults dealing with troubling situations, but to recognize sensitivities in children and how it affects their development. I highly recommend this book.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting overview but not much application, November 12, 2002

By 

timNardoni (Anderson, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tender Heart: Conquering Your Insecurity (Paperback)

The author explains and reexplains *where* how a person may develop tender-heartedness but does little to fulfill the promise of conquering insecurity. The first few chapers were a good overview, but there was not much practical advice for how to deal with emotional predators in, say, the workplace. I'm eager to check out some of the books other users here have suggested instead...