Knowing Yourself: How to Understand Personality, Harness Willpower & Manage Self-Esteem

By: Roy Baumeister

Narrated by: Roy Baumeister

Join Roy Baumeister, celebrated psychologist and New York Times best-selling author, on a journey to answer the most important questions of our lives: Who am I? What am I? What might I become? In 15 audio lectures, Dr. Baumeister draws from his renowned research to explain the origin, importance, and impact of the human self: the source of our self-esteem, self-control, and decision making, as well as our capacity for self-deception and self-destructive patterns.

The human self - self-aware, enmeshed in meaningful stories, sensitive to morality and reputation, and endlessly self-altering - is what separates humans from other animals. These lectures explore the general truths and patterns of our behavior that have been identified by psychologists, while recognizing that each of us is unique.

Individual lectures address the self’s influence on our personal strengths and weaknesses, and how we can leverage our understanding to fulfill our potential. After listening to this series, you’ll have a well-rounded understanding of self that is firmly grounded in scientific research. Perhaps most important, you’ll grasp the interpersonal role of the self, which took shape to help us relate to other people and, ultimately, to survive.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

©2019 Now You Know Media, Inc. (P)2019 Now You Know Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Roy Baumeister is a pioneer in the scientific study of the self-concept and has made a series of landmark discoveries in his decades of research. He’s written hundreds of research articles and dozens of books on the subject, but now you can be in the college classroom with him. Through these engaging lectures, you will learn about yourself and human nature directly from one of the greatest social psychologists of the last 50 years.” (John Bargh, James Rowland Angell Professor of Psychology, Yale University, and author of Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do)

“Roy Baumeister stands out as one of the most influential psychologists of our time. His contributions to social psychology have been remarkably broad and deep. Widely recognized as the world’s leading expert on the scientific study of the self, Roy invariably takes a fresh look at basic questions about human nature and the human condition. A compelling writer and speaker, he captures the attention and imagination of scientists, students, and the broader public with a delightful combination of outstanding scholarship, deep insight, playful creativity, and contagious humor. I always make a point to hear Roy speak whenever I can, and I have yet to be disappointed. What a fun way to learn - and take home food for thought!“ (June Tangney, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, George Mason University)

“Roy Baumeister has been called the greatest living social/personality psychologist. After listening to his lectures on the self, you will understand why. With awe-inspiring expertise, rigorous science, clarity of thought, and an accessible style, Baumeister will inform and inspire you with kernels of wisdom that he has garnered over a long and storied career. You will feel that you are sitting right there with him, having a fun and fascinating conversation about personality and the nature of the self.” (Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness)

good course

the course IS good.
it's rare to have the opportunity to learn from such an established authority in the field.
Delivery did not fully meet my expectations.
Be wary he may offer Olympic judgments that sound like sweeping generalizations because he does not ferret reasons out, EG we no longer use the concept of neurosis or to brush aside Jungian thought as outmoded.
He rightfully picks apart the self-esteem movement of past decades.

Insightful, surprising

Professor Baumeister is clearly an expert on what makes us, as humans tick. Not a professional narrator, he may at times not seems as energetic as some narrators, IMO, his deep knowledge of the research, sincere interest in helping the listen know himself/herself, and his practical wisdom more than make up for this. I highly recommend this series to all those seeking self awareness.

Absolute Gem! A must listen.

Baumeister’s voice is kind and easy to understand. His work in this filed puts him up there kahneman, tversky, and pinker. Baumeister has many wonderful insights on willpower (another one of his fantastic books), on topics ranging from self to rejection to matters faith. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to learn about these topics.

I will be listening to this audiobook for the rest of my life! Just so much to unpack.

Exactly what I needed.

I think living in an era where so many people are trying to "find themselves" through astrology or MBTI or whatever else, it's so refreshing to find a piece like this and get some real answers. Honest answers.

free wheel

i liked the naration some thinks weren't new but it was very inspiring and uplifting

Pompous Windbag Spouting Complete BS

This guy is a joke. This is essentially him stroking off his massive ego into a mic for a couple hours. ..oh, and he really wants you to know he has important friends. Garbage.