A practical and philosophical deep dive into humility: how it can build confidence, foster honesty about our strengths and limitations, and help us achieve success
Daryl Van Tongeren is a leading researcher on the science of humility. In Humble, he gives this unassuming trait a much-needed rebrand, explaining why the humble enjoy a more secure sense of self, handle challenges better, and, indeed, are often the people we like the most.
That’s not to say Van Tongeren has mastered humility. (When he asked his wife to rate him on a scale from one to ten, she gave him a four.) But in a world where narcissism is on the rise—where the shameless dominate social media and getting noticed is considered key to getting ahead—it’s not surprising that we all have a bit of work to do on our sometimes self-sabotaging egos.
In its true sense, humbleness is the happy medium between self-denial and self-obsession: It grants the holder an accurate view of reality. By seeing where we have room to improve, we can grow. By admitting our doubts, we can learn. And by acknowledging our own worldview as one among many, we can truly connect with others despite our differences.
A thought-provoking call to reexamine our values, Humble signals a paradigm shift—from the “self-esteem movement” run amok to a better world in which we lift up one another.
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“This endangered virtue could bring connection and understanding in a divided and narcissistic world…Readers looking to better understand interpersonal relationships will learn much.”
— Library Journal
“In this lucid and thoughtful book, a leading expert makes a persuasive case for being honest about your weaknesses.”
— Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author“It’s a road map for getting our feet back on the ground.”
— Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD, coauthor of The Molecule of More“Humble can inspire growth and make for a truly rich life.”
— W. Keith Campbell, PhD, author of The New Science of Narcissism“It’s a delightfully ironic fact of science…A superior self through selflessness—who knew?”
— Michael E. Long, coauthor of The Molecule of More“Following the latest science, Daryl Van Tongeren compellingly demonstrates why humility is so necessary in today’s world.”
— Robert Emmons, editor-in-chief, Journal of Positive PsychologyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Daryl R. Van Tongeren, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at Hope College. As a social psychologist, he has published over 160 scholarly articles, coauthored The Courage to Suffer (Templeton Press, 2020), and currently serves as associate editor for the Journal of Positive Psychology. His research has been covered by the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Scientific American, and Men’s Health, among other media outlets.
Alex Boyles has been acting pretty much his entire life. He got his BA in theater–acting/directing performance from CSU Long Beach and his MFA in acting performance from Ohio State University. He started narrating audiobooks in 2019 and hasn’t looked back!