Book Review: Think Confident, Be Confident for Teens

Back in November, when I was working on my novel for Nanowrimo, I sought out books that teens might access to encourage their self-esteem, since my novel was about a young insecure girl who finds a golden bobby pin and begins to believe it is her good luck charm. I wanted to find out what teens might read to boost their self-confidence and become the kind of teen my character becomes.

This book, Think Confident, Be Confident for Teens: A Cognitive Therapy Guide to Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Unshakeable Self-Esteem, by Marci Fox and Leslie Sokol (faculty members at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research), is a wonderful tool for teens to use to build their self-confidence. It is an outlined plan for replacing negative thoughts of self-doubt with thoughts of affirmation and realistic assessment of situations they are facing.

As the publisher's blurb puts it: "Confidence is like a magnet that attracts people to you and helps you get closer to reaching your goals. When you believe in yourself, you send the message that you have the brains, ability, and talent to handle whatever life sends your way. And the truth is, you do!

"Using powerful skills based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Think Confident, Be Confident for Teens shows you how to tap into your self-esteem so you can be yourself in every situation, no matter how awkward you feel or scary that may sound. The fun exercises and tips in this confidence-coaching workbook will guide you past feelings of self-doubt and encourage you to believe in yourself, strengthen your friendships, and meet every challenge head-on."

Although I don't feel like I gained any insight for enriching the process my character goes through in the novel, it was still a worthwhile book to read for enlightenment on what type of struggles teens are facing and how they might address them with more confidence. I think I'm on the right track in the novel and I think my character changes her life by changing her thoughts (the key truth the book wishes to drive home).