Preview
  • Unlearning Shame

  • How We Can Reject Self-Blame Culture and Reclaim Our Power
  • By: Devon Price PhD
  • Narrated by: Devon Price PhD
  • Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (40 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Unlearning Shame

By: Devon Price PhD
Narrated by: Devon Price PhD
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Learn to identify—and combat—Systemic Shame, the feeling of self-hatred and disempowerment that comes from living in a society that blames individuals for systemic problems, with this invaluable resource from the social psychologist and author of Unmasking Autism.

Systemic Shame is the socially engineered self-loathing that says we are solely to blame for our circumstances. It tells us that poverty is remedied by hard-working people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, that marginalized people are personally responsible for solving the problem of their own oppression, and that massive global crises like climate change can be solved with individual action. Feeling overwhelmed? That’s your problem, too. The more we try and ultimately fail to live up to impossible societal standards of moral goodness, the more shame we feel—and the more we retreat into isolation and despair.

Social psychologist Dr. Devon Price knows firsthand the destructive effects of Systemic Shame; he experienced shame and self-hatred as he grappled with his transgender identity, feeling as if his suffering was caused by his own actions rather than systems like cissexism. And it doesn’t just end with internal feelings of anguish. It causes us to judge other people the same way we fear being judged, which blocks us from seeking out the acceptance and support we need and discourages us from trying to improve our communities and our relationships.

In Unlearning Shame, Dr. Price explores how we can deal with those hard emotions more effectively, tackling the societal shame we’ve absorbed and directed at ourselves. He introduces the antidote to Systemic Shame: expansive recognition, an awareness of one’s position in the larger social world and the knowledge that our battles are only won when they are shared. He provides a suite of exercises and resources designed to combat Systemic Shame on a personal, interpersonal, and global level through rebuilding trust in yourself, in others, and in our shared future.

By offering a roadmap to healing and a toolkit of actionable items, Unlearning Shame helps us reject hopelessness and achieve sustainable change and personal growth.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF which contains exercises, tools, and prompts from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Devon Price (P)2024 Random House Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“With the authentic voice I’ve grown to expect from Devon, he raises an issue that could not be more timely. This book articulates a feeling that has lurked in the dark corners of so many minds and brings it into the light where it can be faced, embraced, and, ultimately, healed. Stop doomscrolling and read this book. You’ll feel better, I promise.”—Celeste Headlee, journalist and bestselling author

What listeners say about Unlearning Shame

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    34
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    35
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievably great book

Recommending to anyone who cares too much just about everything in this world🩷 I love this book so much. There is so much packed information and practical advise and real real compassion. You will love it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another life-changing title from Dr. Devon Price

Every time he publishes a book Devon Price, PhD manages to speak to exactly what I need to hear. My relationship to work needed to be shaken when he published Laziness Does Not Exist. Unmasking Autism was a personal awakening for me that can’t be understated. And now he has given me an answer for the unbearable angst I feel as I oscillate between self-important saviorism and frustrated nihilism. If he happens to read this review, I would want him to know that his work is has been so meaningful to me. Thank you for your books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Yes!

Devon Price is among my favorite pragmatic philosophers and this book is an incredible fusion of personal discovery, liberation theory, cultural psychohistory, and oh so much more. His innovative concept of Expansive Recognition introduced here has huge potential for conceptually grasping and practicing the idea that individualism ain’t gonna get us out of our angst but together we can messily change big things here and there. Devon Price’s wise humanity shines again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Systemic Shame

the author is very clear and I see better how systemic shame has affected many - particularly me and my family.

he spent a lot of time discussing activism within various marginalized groups. this included some tips and pointers on establishing activist groups and protests. I thought this detected from the overall thesis of shame.

I appreciated his personal stories of shame regarding LGBTQI and neurodivergent issues.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life affirming and life changing read

The way this book weaved a web in my mind and heart! So powerful. So grateful to have read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Price delivers another banger

This is my 3rd purchase of books by Devon Price, though technically the 6th because after the audible versions, I bought the physical books. I always appreciate when audiobooks have label d chapters and a PDF, so also a win.

This book is incredibly reaffirming, wherever you’re at. If you’re die-hard consumer activist, read this. If you’re like me and held the “no ethical consumption under capitalism” belief… read it. It’s great if you’re struggling to prioritize your efforts, find where you fit in the community, or even want to take comfort in knowing that your existence in any capacity matters… read it.

I am so thankful to have the opportunity and spare cash to surround myself with love and knowledge he has throughout every brilliant chapter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Researched explanations & concrete applications.

A heartfelt reading by Dr. Price filled with insights I believe I can apply to my own way of thinking. I was compelled to immediately text my therapist about new insights into a recent experience of mine upon completing. I will surely be chewing over this content for some time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deeply Meaningful

I have read each of Devon Price’s books (and excited for the 4th in 2025!) — each one has been uplifting, informative and moving for me as a therapist, a mom of a trans son, and as a human on this Earth. Unlearning Shame is filled with excellent research, insights, and helpful worksheets to explore themes in more depth. I sincerely appreciate Devon’s efforts to educate, validate and inspire his readers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An injection of hope

I love all of Dr. Price’s work and this book stood out as especially comforting and hopeful exactly when that is needed in our culture. It’s full of relevant examples of people working to change systemic problems and has suggestions for the kinds of roles we can play to help the collective movements we desire to support.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Much needed

Price’s unique lived experience and approach to unlearning shame is a much needed cure for what ails us.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!