NEVER GOOD ENOUGH: How to use Perfectionism to Your Advantage Without Letting it Ruin Your Life
by Monica Ramirez Basco
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Book Summary Information
Author: Monica Ramirez BascoEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-03-02
ISBN: 068486293X
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Free Press
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- Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
- Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer
Book Reviews of NEVER GOOD ENOUGH: How to use Perfectionism to Your Advantage Without Letting it Ruin Your Life
Book Review: Not as impressed as other reviewers
Summary: 3 Stars
While it might have a catchy title, I don't think this book is intended for those who already know themselves to be perfectionists. Basco spends most of the text examining scenarios faced by four fictitious perfectionists. I didn't find this to be of any value because I know what perfectionists do and I'm perfectly (ha!) aware of the problems they face every day - I am one and that's why I bought the book in the first place!
Basco's overly-simplistic approach on how to deal with the problems this personality trait creates is clearly from someone who doesn't have a serious problem with the issue herself. It is surprising to me that she has 'treated' as many perfectionists as she claims. It surprises me because she merely scrapes the surface of the problems that perfectionism brings about, and to be quite frank she doesn't show herself to have as good of a handle on this topic as someone writing a book about it should. Did Basco do any real research on this prior to writing the book? Where's the bibliography? While sources are readily available, this book seems to be based on the author's conclusions alone.
If you don't know whether or not you're a perfectionist and you want to find out, then this might be the book for you. And if you're a student of psychology and you want to be able to identify perfectionism when you see it, this book might be of some value. I gave the book three stars because I think it might be somewhat useful under either of those two circumstances. However, if you already know you have a serious problem with perfectionism (as I do) and you're looking for real-world solutions, I think you will probably come away very disappointed with this book. Had I been judging this book for the latter quality alone I would have granted it a single star.
The same day I picked this book up I was fortunate to happen upon a book titled "Overcoming Procrastination" by Neil A. Fiore (ISBN 1-56731-556-9). You may find it under the title "The Now Habit", the name it went by prior to reprinting. Those suffering from serious problems with perfectionism also typically confront issues with procrastination. "Overcoming Procrastination" also deals with perfectionism directly and proposes a workable approach towards getting an upper-hand on it. While the last two or three chapters border on silly, the tools the rest of the book provides makes it very much worth reading. I have used them myself and they have helped me considerably.
In summary, to the true perfectionist I highly recommend passing over "Never Good Enough" and heading straight for "Overcoming Procrastination". Good luck!
Summary of NEVER GOOD ENOUGH: How to use Perfectionism to Your Advantage Without Letting it Ruin Your Life
* Do you feel that no matter how hard you try it is never good enough?* Do you spend too much time trying to get things exactly right in order to avoid criticism?
* Does it seem that at any minute people will find out that you are not really what you seem to be?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be struggling with perfectionistic tendencies. They can serve a positive purpose in your life. But having extremely high standards for yourself and others can leave you feeling let down -- over and over again -- when these expectations aren't met. As psychologist and researcher Monica Ramirez Basco explains, uncontrolled perfectionism can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, fear of failure, and broken marriages and friendships.
In Never Good Enough Dr. Basco helps you understand why you feel driven to get things "just right" and shows you how to make the best of your perfectionism. Filled with practical advice, encouragement, and strategies for self-discovery, this invaluable guide includes Dr. Basco's own thirty-question self-test that will help you recognize and manage the negative side of your perfectionism. You will learn how to stop the struggle with yourself and others, how to evaluate your worth and performance in life, and how to replace the pursuit of perfection with peace of mind.
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