Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken: Transform Your Life with the Power of Authenticity (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Robbins, the highly visible lantern-jawed motivational speaker/coach/author/guru (author of Focus on the Good Stuff), returns with a primer on authenticity: what it means, what it can do, and how to achieve it. A master of his craft, Robbins' guide is thorough, direct and carefully organized, with an understanding and enthusiastic voice. Beginning with the reasons we lose our authentic selves, Robbins enumerates the pressures to conform in family, school, religion, politics and the media, as well as the damaging messages we absorb, like "be a good boy," "calm down" and "shut up." Robbins explains how these pressures lead to self-criticism and fear, then how to overcome them through greater awareness and compassion for one's faults. With questions, exercises, action points and sound practices, Robbins provides a map to transforming fear, gaining self-knowledge and celebrating your authentic self, with a measured pace and a minimum of distraction (no sidebars, charts or breakout boxes). Readers looking for a positive, no-nonsense guide to self-actualization should find Robbins an ideal guide.

Review

Robbins, the highly visible lantern-jawed motivational speaker/coach/author/guru (author of Focus on the Good Stuff), returns with a primer on authenticity: what it means, what it can do, and how to achieve it. A master of his craft, Robbins' guide is thorough, direct and carefully organized, with an understanding and enthusiastic voice. Beginning with the reasons we lose our authentic selves, Robbins enumerates the pressures to conform in family, school, religion, politics and the media, as well as the damaging messages we absorb, like "be a good boy," "calm down" and "shut up." Robbins explains how these pressures lead to self-criticism and fear, then how to overcome them through greater awareness and compassion for one's faults. With questions, exercises, action points and sound practices, Robbins provides a map to transforming fear, gaining self-knowledge and celebrating your authentic self, with a measured pace and a minimum of distraction (no sidebars, charts or breakout boxes). Readers looking for a positive, no-nonsense guide to self-actualization should find Robbins an ideal guide (Starred Review, Publishers Weekly)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047039501X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470395011
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,987 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Wisdom from an Authentic Star, April 2, 2009

By	Dave Carpenter "Peak Performance Scholar" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

I am in awe of this book. Absolute awe! Strong words for sure and words I haven't used before in any of my 80+ reviews, here on Amazon, of the best of the best books I have read in the last fifteen months.

I thoroughly enjoyed author Mike Robbins' first book, on the subject of "appreciation." As I wrote in my review for that book, good topic, fine book and an impressive debut for an author of any age, and especially impressive debut for a young author.

For his second book, Mike Robbins selected a much tougher, but even more important topic. In a world where -- every day -- we read about the escapades of two-faced business executives, politicians, and sports "stars," a serious book on the subject of "authenticity" is timely and important to each of us, as well as to our society. But, what a tough subject about which to write. Compared to many other personal development areas, books or even articles on this subject are much rarer. Making it even tougher, claiming to be an expert on authenticity seemingly would invite a hailstorm of personal challenges as to "how real are you Mike Robbins?"

Mike Robbins' approach is NOT to claim to be the world expert on authenticity, or the world's role model for authenticity. Instead, Robbins has written a heart-warming story of one man's search to understand and constructively use the power of authenticity. There is no preaching at the reader, instead the style is more like a fireside chat with a very close friend...much like the Cheryl Richardson style of writing I so enjoy.

Initially, this book was not an easy read for me. The subject of authenticity does not lend itself to easy homilies. My first read through was interesting and worthwhile...but certainly not life changing. But, then the magic started to happen. Suddenly, I was seeing authenticity issues in my everyday live...with my consulting clients, with friends, and even with my own actions. That sent me back to the book to read it more carefully, and to intellectually challenge Robbins' hypothesis as to the five principles that he believes most impact authenticity. Then, I challenged the eight stars in a coaching group in which I participate to a mini-debate about the power of authenticity and its impact on everyday inner peace. Suddenly, the wisdom of Robbins had unlocked an exciting new world for me.

As a voracious reader, I am often reading thoughtful books on business and personal development issues. The best add to my knowledge, and do so in an enjoyable manner. A rare few stretch my thinking to delightful and useful new dimensions of life. This book has done that, and much more. I have already seen impressive results from the wisdom of this book, and I have just scratched the surface of understanding the ways that true authenticity can improve one's life.

This is the kind of subject you would expect the likes of Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, etc. to be serving up for us, not a relatively young second time author. Mike Robbins, I am in awe of what you have accomplished with this book and of what I expect will be the impact of this book.

One final note: Looking to just burnish your image? Be forewarned that this book should not be confused with a marketing or PR primer. This is a Debbie Ford, hold up the mirror to the reader style book...done with beautiful compassion and genuine humility by this author. This is a wonderful primer for a better life, not a quick-fix image makeover tutorial.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever title, critical concept, April 10, 2009

By	T. Androus (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I hated this book...at first. As I now fight to get out of my own way and fully embrace and take on what Robbins is saying, I'm lamenting how right he is and how much I need this book. And so do you. I can't say I love this book. Not yet, anyways. I barely even like it. But I need it. And so do most people. I think it takes courage to follow his advice. I think it's hard to be one's authentic self in this day and age. How many of us go through life trying to be something we're not? Trying to say and do all the right things, to not mess up, be perfect. Not offend. But that is not what leads to growth. That is not the path to fulfillment.

The most ironic part of his book for me was the realization that we all go through life wanting everyone else to be honest, real, authentic with us - yet, how many of us are able or willing to do the same in return? Basically, we all want (and expect) from others what we ourselves struggle to deliver.

This book does a solid job of making the case for what it costs you to not be authentic. It does an even better job of teaching you how to get to get clear on who you are, what you want, and how to achieve this - all the while being respectful of others. I think many of us get caught in the trap of being less of ourselves so as to not offend or make others uncomfortable. I'm realizing as I read his book than anything less than authenticity is the most offensive way of being and that if we really care about and love others, we must first and foremost love ourselves enough to be ourselves, not some feeble facsimile of what we think others want us to be.


Here's my concern - everyone should read this book and follow Mike's teachings. But who among us has the enough humility and self-awareness to acknowledge how full of it we are? I just don't think many people are saying to themselves, gosh, if only I was more authentic...

So even if you think you don't need this book, buy ten copies and give it to everyone in your life who does. At least they'll be happy and more fulfilled, even if you're not ready to do the same.

I didn't want to read this book. I didn't want to like it. But I did and I do and hope you do too.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is THE BEST book I've read in a long time!, April 4, 2009

By	Johnny Fernandez (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mike's authentic voice in this book makes it very believable. As a "self-help" book reader, I have read literally hundreds of them over the years, some have been good, some great, most okay. A lot of self-help books can come across as preachy and pollyanna and too new-agey for me, this book is FAR from that.
I appreciate Mike's real and vulnerable and sometimes raw examples from his own life...it's who he is, how he lives his life, and he provides real insight and tools for doing more of that in my life as well.

I think that now, more than ever, authenticity as a real-world practice can be a bridge to a better world for us all. I'm grateful that an author as accomplished yet humble as Mike Robbins has delivered such a powerful and life-changing message. I encourage everyone I know and work with to read and use the important learning in this book. Full disclosure: I admire Mike as an author, a man, and a dear friend.