Unlearning Shame

How many times a day do you feel shame? Struggling to pay the bills; buying a top made in a sweatshop; reading the news and feeling - yet again - a powerlessness to the point of apathy?

In today's self-blame culture, it often feels impossible not to carry shame about the choices we make and the values by which we live. When the political is so personal, and the personal is so political, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sense that we're not doing enough - maybe, even, that we're not enough.

In this bold and transformative manifesto, social psychologist and author of Unmasking Autism Dr Devon Price takes an in-depth look at shame and the role it plays in our lives. Systemic Shame traps us into fighting unwinnable battles and judging others for their failures. But it especially affects those who are already vulnerable because they're carrying shame from a difficult past or a complicated sense of self-esteem. This new, radically positive book shows us that there is no such thing as becoming "good enough" to be deserving of love; that we must claim acceptance for ourselves.

Blending the latest social psychology, personal insights and empowering practical exercises, Unlearning Shame is a radical guide to overcoming self-blame and embracing a new culture - one where we take control of the choices we make and the future we create.

About the Author

Devon Price, PhD, is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud Autistic person. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and the Journal of Positive Psychology. Devon's writing has appeared in outlets such as the Financial Times, HuffPost, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, Jacobin, Business Insider, LitHub, and on PBS, NPR, MSNBC, and the BBC. He lives in Chicago, where he serves as an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.