Literary Scene: September Nonfiction, Confidence Creator, by Heather Monahan

by Ryan G. Van Cleave

I confess—I’m leery when I see 50+ five-star-average ratings for a book on Amazon; either the author has a lot of friends or the book is a borderline phenomenon. Well, I’m happy to report that Heather Monahan’s Confidence Creator does not seem propped up by insincere ratings. nonfiction

Her story about how she shattered the glass ceiling in corporate America, was unexpectedly fired and ended up in a scary-but-common life crossroads? It’s relatable, compelling and well-written. When deciding between getting back into the corporate world or taking a gamble on herself, she chose the latter, plunging headfirst into running Boss in Heels, her lifestyle brand “that teaches ambitious women to take full control over their careers, relationships and lives, and to create their own future.”

Confidence Creator shares the strategies and wisdom she learned throughout the years, which included a rocky childhood, being the second of four kids to a young mother in a bad marriage. “She had the courage to leave but had nowhere to go, so when I was six years old, she moved us all into a trailer behind my grandparents’ house in Worcester, Massachusetts. We did the best we could to get by.”

While the book is packed with actionable advice and useful tips, it’s the candid stories that resonate with readers. One of my faves? When hustling to get her son to school, he stopped and asked her to write “You can do all things” on the bottom of his basketball shoes with a Sharpie. In response to her blank look, the nine-year-old explained that “no matter how good or talented you are, once in a while, you need to remind yourself. When you’re in a tough spot, you have to remember who you are. You can’t feel confident every minute of every day.” nonfiction nonfiction nonfiction

And that’s largely what this book is about—making the daily choice to be confident, regardless of the circumstances or challenges before you. That’s a lesson that can’t be learned early enough in life.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

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