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On Self-Hatred Spiral-Bound | 2023-04-11

The School of Life

★★★★☆+ from 101 to 500 ratings

$21.19 - Free Shipping

"The School of Life: On Self-Hatred may be the most essential of The School of Life's essential philosophy handbooks: it reminds us, yet again, that we are not alone, that much more connects us than divides us and that self-acceptance is one of the most important keys to peace of mind." - Emma Thompson, DBE British actress and screenwriter

A guide to emotional healing and living a more self-accepting life.


Behind many of our problems lies an often ignored factor: we don't like ourselves very much. We are sufferers of self-hatred. We tell ourselves the meanest things. It's because of self-hatred that we tend to neglect our potential at work and get entangled in unfulfilling relationships, that we lack confidence in our social lives and suffer from anxiety, despair and imposter syndrome.


This is a book that, with immense compassion and fellow feeling, investigates the phenomenon of self-hatred while giving pragmatic advice on how to overcome it. It asks where the feeling comes from, what it makes us do and how we might become kinder and more compassionate towards ourselves.


We have probably spent far too much of our lives disliking ourselves and attacking everything we say, do or feel, while not even realizing what we're up to. It's time to overcome our masochism and move towards a more self-forgiving and accepting stance. The School of Life: On Self Hatred is a guide to the more compassionate and gentle relationship we should have had with ourselves from the start, and can all achieve now.


  • IDENTIFIES THE ORIGINS AND CONSEQUENCES OF SELF-HATRED: and provides advice for living a more self-accepting life.
  • ENCOURAGES US TO DEVELOP ASSERTIVENESS AGAINST SELF-LOATHING: and gives us the tools to challenge our inner critic and deal with imposter syndrome.
  • ACCESSIBLE AND PRAGMATIC: with a compassionate and realistic tone, outlining the importance of self-care.
  • PART OF THE SCHOOL OF LIFE'S SERIES OF GIFTABLE ESSAYS: other titles include: Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person, On Confidence, How to Find Love and Self-Knowledge.

Publisher: Ingram Publisher Services
Original Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 144 pages
ISBN-10: 1912891875
Item Weight: 0.45 lbs
Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.6 x 7.3 inches
Customer Reviews: 4 out of 5 stars 101 to 500 ratings

"The School of Life: On Self-Hatred may be the most essential of The School of Life's essential philosophy handbooks: it reminds us, yet again, that we are not alone, that much more connects us than divides us and that self-acceptance is one of the most important keys to peace of mind." - Emma Thompson, DBE British actress and screenwriter

"A beautiful, wise and truly helpful guide to what goes wrong when we turn on ourselves." - Will Storr, author of Selfie

"The School of Life: On Self Hatred reveals the subtle poison of self-hatred that permeates our psyches and points us towards principles and pathways of self-liberation. I highly recommend this book!" - NetGalley review

"The School of Life has once again provided a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human. This exploration of "gentle sorrow" goes directly to the heart of what is often dismissed, ignored, or diagnosed as disorder and suggests a different view that embraces melancholy and the gifts it brings. I particularly enjoyed the art accompanying each of the explorations and the direct exploration of common experiences such as Sunday evening melancholy, gardening, and parties." - NetGalley review

"Excellently written and presented, I will recommend this book to [those] I see struggling and may benefit from it." -NetGalley review

"The School of Life: On Self-Hatred is a beautiful book that helps guides readers on their journey to self-actualization. It's an uplifting guide for those who struggle with self-image and teaches ways to combat the difficult and paralyzing thought patterns that can surface. Highly recommend!" - NetGalley review

"Powerful and provocative brief book on an important and timely topic. The insights could be life saving and certainly offered an opportunity to reflect on the implication of self-directed criticism and contempt." - NetGalley review

"Reading this book made me look deep inside myself and my past and see some of the things I did wrong and remember fondly the things I did right. It also allows you some peace and comfort. Highly recommended!" - NetGalley review


"It is difficult to be self-accepting if you make a mistake or feel that you are not worthy. This book relates to me when it comes to self-hatred, but it provides the tools to feel empowered. It helps me to overcome fear and move on no matter the challenges that we might face. Highly recommended." - NetGalley review


"I loved reading this. It hit home for me in so many different ways whether I could personally relate or not. It was so well written and thoughtful and I honestly felt so understood." - NetGalley review

The School of Life is a global organization helping people lead more fulfilled lives. Through our range of books, gifts and stationery we aim to prompt more thoughtful natures and help everyone to find fulfillment.
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The School of Life Press brings together the thinking and ideas of the School of Life creative team under the direction of series editor, Alain de Botton. Their books share a coherent, curated message that speaks with one voice: calm, reassuring, and sane.