An expert on the psychology of decision making at Berkeley's Haas
School of Business helps readers calibrate their confidence, arguing
that some confidence is good, but overconfidence can hinder growth.
A surge of confidence can feel fantastic--offering a rush of energy,
even a dazzling vision of the future. It can give us courage and bolster
our determination when facing adversity. But if that self-assurance
leads us to pursue impossible goals, it can waste time, money, and
energy. Self-help books and motivational speakers tell us that the more
confident we are, the better. But this way of thinking can lead to
enormous trouble.
Decades of research demonstrates that we often have an over-inflated
sense of self and are rarely as good as we believe. Perfectly
Confident is the first book to bring together the best psychological
and economic studies to explain exactly what confidence is, when it can
be helpful, and when it can be destructive in our lives.
Confidence is an attitude that takes into account both personal feelings
and the facts. Don Moore identifies the ways confidence behaves in real
life and raises thought-provoking questions. How optimistic should you
be about an uncertain future? What justifies your confidence in
something amorphous and subjective like your attractiveness or sense of
humor?
Moore reminds us that the key to success is to avoid being both over-
and under-confident. In this essential guide, he shows how to become
perfectly confident--how to strive for and maintain the well-calibrated,
adaptive confidence that can elevate all areas of our lives.
