Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
OR
Kindle Price: $14.99

Save $5.00 (25%)

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $17.32

Save: $4.33 (25%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,580 ratings

Following the success of Lean In and Why Women Should Rule the World, the authors of the bestselling Womenomics provide an informative and practical guide to understanding the importance of confidence—and learning how to achieve it—for women of all ages and at all stages of their career.

Working women today are better educated and more well qualified than ever before. Yet men still predominate in the corporate world. In The Confidence Code, Claire Shipman and Katty Kay argue that the key reason is confidence.

Combining cutting-edge research in genetics, gender, behavior, and cognition—with examples from their own lives and those of other successful women in politics, media, and business—Kay and Shipman go beyond admonishing women to "lean in."Instead, they offer the inspiration and practical advice women need to close the gap and achieve the careers they want and deserve. 

Read more Read less

Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

All too often, even the most successful women have indicated that their confidence is fleeting or domain-specific. The gifted authors who were behind Womenomics prove that can change. Discover how you can specifically develop that enduring sense of self-assurance in this remarkable book.

-- "Marshall Goldsmith, author of the international bestseller What Got You Here Won't Get You There"

Kay and Shipman provide a great blueprint...All of this research, as well as the authors' own recounting of experiences with doubt in their professional lives, effectively builds into a comprehensive set of ingredients for the confident woman.

-- "Publishers Weekly"

Kay and Shipman shine a perceptive light on the crucial role that confidence plays in the ability of women to succeed. They offer women practical advice and the vision of a more hopeful future.

-- "Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of Lean In"

In The Confidence Code, Kay and Shipman train a gimlet eye on an unspoken problem among women at all levels of achievement-nagging self-doubt...The pair embark on an engrossing trek through interviews with an array of successful women and seek the counsel of behavioral experts.

-- "New York Times Book Review"

The Confidence Code belongs in the bag of every woman in America. It combines groundbreaking scientific research and firsthand accounts from the world's most powerful women.

-- "Joanna Coles, editor-in-chief, Cosmopolitan"

Women lack the kind of self-assertiveness and self-confidence that propel their male counterparts forward, and the authors examine the reasons behind this phenomenon...An insightful look at how internalizing cultural stereotypes can hold women back from competing with men.

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

[Kay and Shipman dive] into tons of fascinating research and stats that are worth reading...[b]ut most importantly, the book provides some seriously actionable advice from some of the most successful women in the world (authors included).

-- "Self magazine"

[Kay and Shipman] have written an enlightening, fascinating book that explains the relationship between confidence, resilience, risk, and reward...This book can definitely help you learn to boost your confidence.

-- "Success magazine"

How do we make the most of our talents, skills, and interests? This book demonstrates that it's not enough to know what we're doing; our confidence is a key factor in our success. Fascinating reading for every woman who wants to take her life to the next level.

-- "Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project"

With an obvious command of her craft, Sandy Rustin's performance is notable not only for the easy-to-hear sweetness of her voice but also for her keen ability to sound more assertive when the authors have an important point to make. Her approach commands respect and makes this timely book sound as empowering as it is enlightening. With its colorful stories of women in a variety of professional fields, this is a smoothly written and helpful examination of how pervasive self-doubt is among women, especially in the subtle ways they overthink performance situations, fear conflict and disapproval, and have trouble recovering from defeat and failure.

-- "AudioFile"

From the Back Cover

Confidence. We want it. We need it. But it can be maddeningly enigmatic and out of reach. The authors of the New York Times bestseller Womenomics deconstruct this essential, elusive, and misunderstood quality and offer a blueprint for bringing more of it into our lives.

Is confidence hardwired into the DNA of a lucky few—or can anyone learn it? Is it best expressed by bravado, or is there another way to show confidence? Which is more important: confidence or competence? Why do so many women, even the most successful, struggle with feelings of self-doubt? Is there a secret to channeling our inner confidence?

In The Confidence Code, journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman travel to the frontiers of neuroscience on a hunt for the confidence gene and reveal surprising new research on its roots in our brains. They visit the world's leading psychologists who explain how we can all chose to become more confident simply by taking action and courting risk, and how those actions change our physical wiring. They interview women leaders from the worlds of politics, sports, the military, and the arts to learn how they have tapped into this elemental resource. They examine how a lack of confidence impacts our leadership, success, and fulfillment.

Ultimately, they argue, while confidence is partly influenced by genetics, it is not a fixed psychological state. That's the good news. You won't discover it by thinking positive thoughts or by telling yourself (or your children) that you are perfect as you are. You also won't find it by simply squaring your shoulders and faking it. But it does require a choice: less people pleasing and perfectionism and more action, risk taking, and fast failure.

Inspiring, insightful, and persuasive, The Confidence Code shows that by acting on our best instincts and by daring to be authentic, women can feel the transformative power of a life on confidence.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DB368AY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Business; 1st edition (April 15, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 15, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1739 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,580 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
2,580 global ratings
good book
5 Stars
good book
good book, great read
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
As an expectant father, I’ve been considering how to nurture confidence in my soon-to-arrive daughter. I stumbled upon The Confidence Code and found it to be both insightful and practical.

The authors provide compelling examples of the challenges women face that can erode their confidence, ranging from societal expectations to workplace biases. However, they don't leave the reader feeling discouraged. Instead, the book offers practical solutions and a hopeful yet realistic perspective on building resilience.

The personal stories and scientific research interwoven throughout make this a highly relatable and informative read.

Highly recommended for those looking to empower the next generation!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2014
The Confidence Code by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay is a wonderful book. It's funny (Katty Kay learning to kiteboard), relatable (stellar international leaders Christine Lagarde and Angela Merkel comforting each other when male politicians beat up on them), and easy to read. Well researched, the book contains pages of helpful information, not only to understand why we as a gender tend to lag in confidence but also what to do about it. (Although the book would be good resource for any adult who lacks confidence, it's aimed at women.)

Apart from making you feel good, why is confidence important? According to the authors, ..."there is evidence that confidence is more important than ability when it comes to getting ahead," on the job and in life generally. Good compensation, happiness, and professional fulfillment may depend on confidence. Not born confident? Don't worry. "The newest research shows that we can literally change our brains (to make us) more confidence prone."

There's a lot of wisdom in the Confidence Code. One nugget is this: "Most people believe they need to criticize themselves in order to find motivation to reach their goals. In fact, when you constantly criticize yourself, you become depressed, and depression is not a motivational mindset." Also, "...Of all the warped things that women do to themselves to undermine their confidence, we found the pursuit of perfection to be the most crippling...you'll inevitably and routinely feel inadequate."

But most of us are perfectionists. How do we overcome these behaviors?

To get answers, Shipman and Kay interview and cite many thoughtful and engaging experts, who are quoted throughout the book, but the short course is this: Stop overthinking everything. Have courage, take action, congratulate yourself for trying regardless of outcome, and move on. Engage in self-compassion. Practice / do the work. Mastery in one thing spills over into other areas. Meditation can shrink your amygdalae (the region of the brain that amps up fear) and stimulate your prefrontal cortex (the calm, rational area). If that's too much work, concentrate on how you present yourself physically. Practice power positions. Spread out. Take up space. Keep your chin raised. Don't use "upspeak" (i.e. sound like a Valley Girl when you talk).

There's so much more, but here's the thing I want you to remember: the development of confidence is volitional - a choice. Or as Shipman and Kay put it: "Our biggest and perhaps most encouraging discovery has been that confidence is something we can, to a significant extent, control." What an important life skill for women of all ages to learn, and to teach their daughters and granddaughters.
21 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2020
Brought up amazing, life-changing points on why we women have not just been trained to hold back, but how we are co-conspirators in our own bondage.

I would have liked to see more explicit exercises to overcome this, but this is still an incredible read nonetheless. I intuitively know what to do. I've also piled on some other books on my reading list regarding women and confidence: "Playing Big" by Tara Mohr and "Unbound: A Woman's Guide to Power" by Kasia Urbaniak (pre-ordered).

"The Confidence Code" brings up some really poignant psychological, genetic and social observations about how we as women behave and treat power, and it's an eye-opener. You of course may not agree with every little thing. And I have to say the chapter that describes lab rats having a cap of brainwave-reading wires surgically attached to their heads was pretty awful and disturbing. Not gonna lie. Did NOT like that.

But good book.
3 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2024
Great book. Essential reading for every young lady.
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2014
I'm suspicious of some of the five star reviews of this book. If you check out their total reviews, for many this is their only review, and for others, they have just 2 or 3 reviews, all 5 star. And they gush a bit too much about this book. I'm having difficulty getting through this book because it's boring. It's mainly stories about wealthy, highly educated women, or celebrities, who expressed at some point that they felt lucky or unworthy, etc. There are other things in the book, and it is enlightening in some respects. But it's not geared toward helpful advice for the average woman. I agree with the several other reviews for this book that say much the same thing as I am saying. It's not a total waste of money, and if the stats apply to you, you may find it more applicable to yourself.

I did find one thing in the book that I am using, which is that women apologize all the time, whether it's justified or not. I've noticed that I do the same, so am trying to alter this. The response has not been great. The problem is, and perhaps the reason why, women appear to lack confidence and apologize, is because the response when they don't do that is not good. The goal is to get certain things, whether it's a job or a raise or congeniality in the office. I believe that women have learned how to win the end game through experience, and that experience has shown that the best way to do this is to APPEAR more subserviant and pleasant than you are. I saw a documentary once about how girl toddlers & boy toddlers are treated differently, and wondered why girls cry more than boys. You could see in the test that when girl toddlers cried in a child pen area, they got picked up more often than the boys did when they cried. So the girls learned that to cry is to get the result desired, and boys learned that crying did them no good. So the accomplished women in this book, for all their assertions that they attribute their success to luck or whatever, actually did achieve what they wanted, using precisely the things that this book is saying not to use.

Maybe the book changes a bit in the second half. If so, I'll update this review. Don't get me wrong...it's interesting. Just not a practical guide for the average American woman.
252 people found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Natalie
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and knowledgeable
Reviewed in Canada on October 1, 2023
I highly recommend this book to all professional women!
reader2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Resonates at all levels !!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2024
Very through research . Lots of useful insights that make you feel hopeful but also relieved you are not the only one experiencing doubts .
Andrea Riestra Gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars The quality of the book is as expected.
Reviewed in Germany on July 24, 2023
The quality of the book is as expected.
Daniel f.
5.0 out of 5 stars Todo fue de maravilla!!!
Reviewed in Mexico on October 2, 2019
Perfecto, el libro llego en perfectas condiciones al igual que el empaquetado en el tiempo indicado, le doy 5 estrellas ya que fue sin ningún problema, AMAZON sigue sin fallarme.
Customer image
Daniel f.
5.0 out of 5 stars Todo fue de maravilla!!!
Reviewed in Mexico on October 2, 2019
Perfecto, el libro llego en perfectas condiciones al igual que el empaquetado en el tiempo indicado, le doy 5 estrellas ya que fue sin ningún problema, AMAZON sigue sin fallarme.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Eliana Godoy Cerqueira Leite
5.0 out of 5 stars The Confidence Code
Reviewed in Brazil on October 31, 2016
Excelente material sobre confiança. Muito bem escrito e muito importante para a mudança de comportamento necessária para grande parte das mulheres modernas
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?