An illuminating introduction to the philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir and its relevance to modern life In an age of self-exposure, what does it mean to be authentic? “Authenticity” has become attenuated to the point of meaninglessness; everyone says to be yourself, but what that means is anyone’s guess. For existential philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, authenticity is not the revelation of a true self, but an exhilarating quest towards fulfillment. Her view, central to existentialism, is that we exist first and then spend the rest of our lives creating—not discovering—who we are. To be authentic is to live in pursuit of self-creation and self-renewal, with many different paths towards diverse goals. How to Be Authentic is a lively introduction to Simone de Beauvoir's philosophy of existentialism, as well as an exploration of the successes and failures that Beauvoir and other women have experienced in striving towards authenticity. Skye C. Cleary takes us through some of life’s major relationships and milestones: friendship; romantic love; marriage; children; and death, and examines how each offers an opportunity for us to stretch toward authenticity. While many people don’t get to choose their path in life—whether because of systemic oppression or the actions of other individuals—Cleary makes a compelling case that Beauvoir’s ideas can help us become more conscious of living purposefully, thoughtfully, and with vitality, and she shows us how to do so in responsible ways that invigorate every person’s right to become poets of their own lives.

Whether you realize it or not, every day you are selling something. You might not consider yourself a salesperson and you might slam the door shut on the guy who comes to your house offering a widget. But from interpersonal relationships to job interviews to riffing about politics with your friends, life is a series of interactions involving the timeless skills of salesmanship. We often associate salesmanship with phoniness - used car dealers, telemarketers, snake oil salesmen - but in this engaging and humorous debut, Jeffrey Kirchick, an up-and-coming voice in the world of sales leadership, argues that what's missing in salesmanship is what's missing in life generally: authenticity. With Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning threatening to render whole professions obsolete, authenticity matters more than ever - and not only to people who work in sales. And at a time when groupthink dominates our discourse, authenticity is needed more than ever. In this brisk and engaging work combining entrepreneurial advice, political commentary, and memoir, Kirchick turns conventional business wisdom on its head, explaining why the customer is not always right, why being weird is good, and how being a failure can be admirable.

When it comes to authenticity, is being fully yourself always worth the risk? From the author of Blue Like Jazz comes New York Times bestseller Scary Close, Donald Miller's journey of uncovering the keys to a healthy relationship and discovering that they're also at the heart of building a healthy family, a successful career, and a trusted community of friends. After decades of failed relationships and painful drama, Miller decided that he'd had enough. Trying to impress people wasn't helping him truly connect with anyone--and neither was pretending to be someone he wasn't. He'd built himself a life of public isolation, but he dreamed of having a life defined by meaningful relationships instead. At 40-years-old, he made a scary decision: he was going to be his true self no matter what it might cost. Scary Close tells the story of Miller's difficult choice to impress fewer people and connect with even more. It's about the importance of knocking down old walls to finally experience the freedom that comes when we stop playing a part and start being fully ourselves. In Scary Close, Miller shares everything he's learned firsthand about how to: Deconstruct the old habits that no longer serve us Overcome the desire to please the people around us Always tell the truth, even when it's hard Find satisfaction in a daily portion of real love Risk being fully known in order to deeply love and be loved Apply these lessons to your everyday life If you're ready to drop the act and find true, life-changing intimacy, it's time to get Scary Close.

The hunger for authenticity guides us throughout our lives. People strive for joined-up living, where on the one hand what they say and do reflects what they think and feel, and on the other what they think and feel reflects who they are. Stephen Joseph has pioneered developments in research into authenticity, drawing on the solid science of positive psychology to develop what has become one of the gold-standard tests for assessing authenticity. His and others' findings reveal that when people are in relationships in which they feel accepted, understood and valued, they drop their defences. They naturally begin to examine themselves psychologically, accommodate new information and live more authentically. What's more, the latest studies reveal that it is authenticity that leads to true happiness. In Authentic, Stephen Joseph presents his fresh and inspiring perspective on the psychology of authenticity alongside practical advice and exercises for the reader. Drawing on the wisdom of existential philosophers, the insights and research of psychologists, and case studies from his own and others' clinical experiences, he shows how authenticity is the foundation of human flourishing - as well as how the ideas relate to debates about the importance of happiness.

A collection of essays by fifteen philosophers presenting a thoughtful, introductory guide to choosing a philosophy for living an examined and meaningful life. Socrates famously said "the unexamined life is not worth living," but what does it mean to truly live philosophically? This thought-provoking, wide-ranging collection brings together essays by fifteen leading philosophers reflecting on what it means to live according to a philosophy of life. From Eastern philosophies (Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism) and classical Western philosophies (such as Aristotelianism and Stoicism), to the four major religions, as well as contemporary philosophies (such as existentialism and effective altruism), each contributor offers a lively, personal account of how they find meaning in the practice of their chosen philosophical tradition. Together, the pieces in How to Live a Good Life provide not only a beginner's guide to choosing a life philosophy but also a timely portrait of what it means to live an examined life in the twenty-first century. A VINTAGE ORIGINAL

Wish you had the courage to stand out from the crowd? Discover a legendary athlete's life-changing guide to embracing your inner strength.This book is beyond the physical building of muscles and strength. Rather, this is a motivational book. It teaches readers how to strive for excellence. It's also about the importance of strengthening the mind and emotion to achieve the level of success aimed for. Powers, a self-proclaimed "women's empowerment-event promoter", wants to help readers reach their meaningful goal. The author believes that "discovering who we are and becoming our authentic selves" is an important aspect of our growth process. No matter your shape, size, or status, the book's winning combination of self-care routines and positive psychology can take you from underdog to champion.In this book, you'll discover: ◆An intimate look into Powers' struggles and triumphs to inspire your own journey to success ◆Methods for honing your true passion and purpose ◆Actionable strategies for overcoming obstacles on the path to your dreams ◆Tactics for combating the negative attention of critics to focus on what matters ◆Techniques to cultivate a healthy goal-oriented mindset ◆and much, much more! Beneath the Muscle is your personal trainer in the pursuit of greatness. If you like pushing boundaries, real-world inspirational stories, and actionable advice from a trusted expert, then you'll love the author's heartfelt guide to self-acceptance and lifelong achievement.

Are You Ready to Lead a More Authentic Life and Be Inspirational? With all of the material that is available today on how to improve your life, are you afraid to choose a direction because you might choose the wrong one? Relax. Be Authentic, Be Inspirational! will help you understand some of the common concepts to living a more meaningful, authentic life. Is manifestation different from the Law of Attraction? Is there a fundamental difference between the Universe, God, Goddess, or the Source? As you begin to realize the similarities between these labels, you begin to understand how easy it really is to improve your sense of self. What you need to focus on is what resonates for you. Allow Be Authentic, Be Inspirational! to help guide you on your journey to becoming your authentic self.