Humble: The Quiet Power of an Ancient Virtue

‘A persuasive case for being honest about your weaknesses – and shows how that can be a source of strength’
Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again

‘Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues’ Confucius

Humility. Understated, undervalued and very much underused; but understood and carried out effectively, it can be the most powerful and influential trait we have at our fingertips.

In Humble, Daryl Van Tongeren, PhD, a leading researcher into the science of humility 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.

It seems that we are becoming more and more polarized, and narcissism is on the rise. We live egocentric lifestyles, often driven inward. Can cultivating more humility be the antidote to a more and more self-centred world?

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 frenzied ‘self-esteem movement’ to a better world in which we lift one another up.