
Rise Above
Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential
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Narrated by:
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Scott Barry Kaufman PhD
About this listen
An empowering call to reject the victim mindset and become the hero of your life, by the renowned psychologist and host of The Psychology Podcast
Does life feel smaller than it used to? Does it seem that the people around you have taken a step back from doing hard things, preferring to stay in their comfort zone? In the era of TikTok as therapy, it’s tempting to see ourselves as damaged and powerless—defined by our past traumas, our emotions, and the struggles we face. But it’s more important than ever to rise above the limiting beliefs and widespread anxiety that puts us in boxes, lowers our expectations, and holds us back.
In this empowering book, renowned psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman unpacks the dangerous myths and misleading buzzwords swirling around the popular imagination—revealing the truth about managing our emotions, the double-edged sword of self-esteem, the surprising gifts of sensitivity, and, ultimately, the power each of has to overcome challenges and to shape the course of our own lives.
Urgently needed, Rise Above speaks to what ails us, offering not just empathy, insight, and a dose of humor, but also actionable solutions to own your life and reach your full potential.
©2025 Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD (P)2025 Penguin AudioCritic reviews
"Self-actualization is possible for each of us, and there we find a better, happier future. But that means avoiding the traps and barriers we set for ourselves. Scott Barry Kaufman’s brilliant new book Rise Above is the evidence-based manual we need to be free."–Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard Professor and bestselling author of From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want
“Scott Barry Kaufman has made so many contributions to research on creativity, positive psychology, and the science of flourishing. In Rise Above, Kaufman draws on ancient wisdom and modern psychology to address some of the disempowering ideas and mindsets circulating widely in recent decades. Kaufman shows us all how to stand up and walk through the many doors that are always available.”–Jonathan Haidt, bestselling author of The Anxious Generationand co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind
“Rise Above is a welcome and necessary antidote to the victim narrative that plagues our time. Part memoir, part case study, part scientific toolkit, this book provides both inspiration and practical guidance. A must-read for anyone who wants to move from grievance to gratitude for a more fulfilling life.”–Anna Lembke, MD, author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
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