The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman Summary
Overview of The Confidence Code
Unlock the science of self-assurance with this New York Times bestseller that's earned 4.6 stars from 40,970+ readers. What makes men more confident than women? Blending neuroscience with real-world strategies, discover why Cosmopolitan's Editor-in-Chief calls it "a book every woman in America needs."
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Key takeaways
The Confidence Paradox: Why Competence Isn't Enough
Imagine spending your entire career striving for excellence, only to discover that something else matters more for success. This was the shocking revelation journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman uncovered when investigating confidence. What began as a search for practical advice evolved into a profound discovery: confidence is the essential bridge between thought and action, and it correlates more strongly with success than competence does. For two accomplished women who had built careers on being good at their jobs, this was a paradigm shift. The confidence gap appears everywhere-from professional basketball courts to the highest levels of government. At Washington Mystics practice, star players admitted struggling with confidence despite their obvious talent. Coach Mike Thibault identified women's tendency to dwell on failure as their biggest psychological impediment. Even Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel cope through zealous overpreperation, assuming "we don't have the level of expertise to grasp the whole thing." This isn't just anecdotal. Research shows women initiate salary negotiations four times less often than men and ask for 30% less when they do. At Hewlett-Packard, women applied for promotions only when meeting 100% of qualifications while men applied at just 60%. Most dismaying is Berkeley psychologist Cameron Anderson's finding that confidence matters more than competence for achieving status and influence. The genuinely self-assured-not the arrogant or blustering-are those who sway others and achieve their goals.
The Action Principle: Confidence Is What You Do, Not What You Think
Nature vs. Nurture: The Biology of Confidence
The Gender Gap: Why Women Struggle More with Confidence
Failing Fast: The Counterintuitive Path to Confidence
Nurturing Confidence: How to Build It in Others
Your Authentic Confidence: The Code for Success
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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