I found the tone of this book contrived and condescending, with poorly written dialogue (although hard to know how much of that is due to the translation).

The worst faults for me, however, were the offensive, no compassion, victim-blaming ideas such as 'trauma does not exist' (a heading of a sub-chapter), expanded on to state that a person suffering from agoraphobia is choosing to do so to treated as special by their parents. Second worst would be the poor logic used to 'prove' these ideas.

I loved that this was written in dialogue format. It isn't your normal self help book which I found to be great. I would highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

THE COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga deals with Alfred Adler's psychology and encourages readers to recognize and abandon the need for affirmation, asserting that it is not unlike addiction to physical substances. I have actually been discussing this with another teacher as we watch certain students who struggle with generating their own confidence and self-reliance. THE COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED is written as a discussion involving topics like change and happiness between a philosopher and a young man. While I do not see a place for it currently in our high school collection, some students and teachers may find this title of interest, especially since Ichiro Kishimi is so well-regarded for his other writings and translations of Adler's works.

A fascinating subject, unfolding in a unique and intriguing way. Sometimes a little dense--but never less that original.