In this illuminating book, Dr. Albert Ellis provides a lively and insightful explanation of the differences between self-esteem (which may be considered a sickness!) and self-acceptance. He describes emphatically the importance and benefits of developing and maintaining unconditional acceptance of ourselves, of others, and of life itself when things don't go the ways we think they "should" go! He further examines this theme as can be read in the writings of great religious teachers, philosophers, and psychologists, and provides easy self-help exercises we can practice that enable us to change self-defeating irrational thinking—which creates unhealthy emotions, to healthy, rational and positive ways of thinking—which create unconditional acceptance and life-enhancing emotions. These include specific cognitive techniques as well as emotive and behavioral exercises. He concludes by reminding us that by choosing to create and maintain unconditional self and other acceptance we are powerfully contributing to our abilities to establish healthy relationships, along with creating a holistic and compassionate way of life and living that is anchored in unconditional life-acceptance.

This audiobook is skillfully read by Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis, a licensed psychologist, mental health counselor, adjunct professor at Columbia University, published author, and renowned global presenter on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and related topics. She worked with her husband, the brilliant pioneering and remarkable psychologist Albert Ellis PhD, the creator of REBT which heralded in the cognitive revolution in psychotherapy, giving public presentations and professional trainings on REBT, as well as collaborating on writing and research projects, until his death in 2007. She assisted her husband in the writing of this book, and did much of the research for it. With joy and enthusiasm she continues to present, practice and write about the groundbreaking approach of REBT along with striving to walk the talk!

Audio engineering by Anthony Sallustio. This audiobook was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.