The science of trusting yourself

Can we be optimistic in the face of an uncertain future? Lack of self-confidence leads to missed opportunities. And overconfidence can lead to disaster.

Only science shows how to find the balance to make the best decisions and live a fuller life.

Confidence provides us with energy and courage, and also strengthens our determination when facing adversity. This is what self-help books claim: the more we trust ourselves, the better. But is this true? Not always, because when this excessive self-assurance leads us to pursue impossible goals, we waste time, effort, and hopes, and this can cause us many problems.

Don Moore, an expert in decision-making psychology at the Haas School of Business in Berkeley, has been researching this for decades and reveals how we can calibrate our confidence so that its lack does not prevent us from moving forward nor its excess hinders our personal growth. With the rigor of psychology and economics, in The Science of Trusting Yourself, he explains what confidence is, when it is truly useful, and when it can be destructive. The key to success is to achieve that perfect balance that will benefit both the personal and professional aspects of our lives. And it is within everyone's reach.

Reviews:
«An essential read for anyone who wants to make smarter decisions about their future, both personal and professional.»
Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

«There are two things that make us fail in the decisions we make and the goals we set for ourselves: overconfidence or lack of confidence. Don Moore has studied how to find the optimal balance point, and his evidence-based book shows how to more accurately assess the skills and opportunities available to us.»
Adam Grant, author of Originals and Option B