Insight

Why We're Not as Self-Aware as We Think, and How Seeing Ourselves Clearly Helps Us Succeed at Work and in Life

By: Tasha Eurich

Narrated by: Tasha Eurich

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

The first definitive book on the science of self-awareness, Insight is a fascinating journey into everyone's favorite topic: themselves.

Do you understand who you really are? Or how others really see you? We all know people with a stunning lack of self-awareness - but how often do we consider whether we might have the same problem?

Research shows that self-awareness is the meta-skill of the 21st century - the foundation for high performance, smart choices, and lasting relationships. Unfortunately, we are remarkably poor judges of ourselves and how we come across, and it's rare to get candid, objective feedback from colleagues, employees, and even friends and family.

Integrating hundreds of studies with her own research and work in the Fortune 500 world, organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich shatters conventional assumptions about what it takes to truly know ourselves - like why introspection isn't a bullet train to insight, how experience is the enemy of self-knowledge, and just how far others will go to avoid telling us the truth about ourselves. Through stories of people who've made dramatic gains in self-awareness, she offers surprising secrets, techniques, and strategies to help listeners do the same - and therefore improve their work performance, career satisfaction, leadership potential, relationships, and more.

At a time when self-awareness matters more than ever, Insight is the essential playbook for surviving and thriving in an unaware world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2017 Tasha Eurich (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Think of the most cluelessly unselfaware person you know: your boss, annoying neighbor, brother-in-law. How can we avoid being that person? And teach our kids to avoid being that person as well? Eurich summarizes the fascinating science about self insight, but - perhaps more importantly - she studies admirable individuals who are self-aware in a way that is applauded by their peers. You'll benefit from knowing what they know. Buy a copy for yourself and buy another to leave, anonymously, on your boss's desk." (Chip Heath, coauthor of New York Times best sellers Switch and Decisive)

She helped me with a tough spot in my life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Insight?

When I listened to the story about Robert being bullied at school, his mother asked him, "what can he (the bully) teach you?" This helped me learn about my external self awareness and my challenge to stick up for myself.

Any additional comments?

I loved her book so much and her voice is so calming, that I'm listening to it for the second time. Thank you Tasha.

Good “insight” to ones self

Great information and all explained well. Although it was a little bit wordy. I am sure those around me will be happy I listened to it :-)

*** chapter confusion with the paperback version of the book ***

I thought I had purchased the wrong book or that there were two versions of this book because when I started to play charter 1 of the audiobook, the words narrated didn’t match up with what was on the 1st page of the paperback version of the book.

it turns out that Audible switches chapters 1 and 3, so chapter 3 in the audiobook is actually chapter 1 in the paperback book and viceversa chapter 1 in the audiobook is actually chapter 3 in the paperback book. At least that’s the chapter sequence in the paperback version, not too sure about the hardcover version. All the other chapters in the book match up with the audiobook :)

Hope this review clears up any confusion anyone else may have experienced

Game Changing

If there is a better skill or more impactful skill than self awareness, I'm not sure my mind is strong enough to be introduced to it because this book blew me away. Absolutely amazed. I have looked forward to listening at every possible turn. Bought the book after hearing 4 chapters. This will definitely be something that I read again and again to sharpen my saw/mind /spirit /growth. Thank you Tasha. My life is definitely better for your efforts that are now my efforts

Very helpful and enjoyable book

Tasha Eurich provides understanding how and when to try to address unaware people around us as well as unawareness in our selves. Highly recommended.

great book to learn from. fun read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about themselves and how to give and receive feedback better.

Loved most of it

The part(s) of the book that I didn’t like was when she talked about the unicorns. It seemed largely anecdotal. I wish she just did a study on them and relayed the results succinctly.

awesome

my drive time book, it was an eye opener, loved it!
thanks to my boss...

Mostly good

I liked this book for the most part, and appreciated the author’s effort... although I feel that she came across as a bit judgmental at times. I don’t recall her mentioning the ego, trauma, or diving into the source of narcissism and NPD- which I believe that a huge part of gaining self awareness and understanding not just oneself- but also others, with compassion and empathy. She’s dismissive on efforts to raise self-esteem, but I am skeptical... Self-esteem is defined as “confidence in one’s own abilities” and “self-respect” in the dictionary. I see it being closely connected to “self-confidence”, but she chooses to define the them differently. According to my own experience and countless hours of reading books (including Brene Brown, whom she referenced a few times) & researching these topics, taking trauma-informed courses, and working hard to heal from my own past - I understand that the underlying drive of narcissism and NPD is a lack of empathy (oftentimes due to childhood trauma), and an over-inflated ego is usually the subconscious defense mechanism due to deep feelings of insecurity and an attempt to prove one’s own worthiness. Exaggerated grandiosity, arrogance, showboating and boasting are signals of a person who experiences deep feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. People become consumed with themselves because they feel the need to prove themselves to the world to feel important. They have a hard time thinking about others because of the false belief that their worthiness is based on other people’s perception of them. When one is truly confident from within, they have no problem expressing humility, generosity, compassion and consideration. Not just for others- but also for themselves by establishing clear boundaries and letting go of shame and guilt. And judgement.

Self-awareness cannot be achieved without being fully aware of others and the world around us too- without egocentric biases blurring our lens.

Great mix of theory and practical application

Great mix of theory and practical application - will be on the relisten list. Word.