Super You: Release Your Inner Superhero

Written by Emily V. Gordon

Narrated by Emily Gordon

Superheroes don't start from glorious beginnings. Their origins are almost always marked by traumatic events that leave them helpless and scared. Batman witnessed his parents' murder. Superman was sent away from his dying planet with no one to guide him as he grew up. Orphaned Catwoman was forced to steal food to survive on the streets of Gotham.

What makes these superheroes super is their determination to not be defined by helplessness. They embrace their origins, their flaws, and their mistakes, and strive every day to become the best versions of themselves-for the benefit of themselves and others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Sep 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781622319756

Reviews for Super You

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Therapist Emily V. Gordon talks about identity and self-esteem using the framework of building a superhero, all in order to help others on their road to self-improvement.When the COVID-induced stay-at-home order started, Emily V. Gordon and her husband had a podcast to help others through that time. I really enjoyed listening to it and found some comfort in hearing them work through the many difficult emotions brought up by the virus and responses to it (e.g., frustration, fear, sadness, etc.). When it ended abruptly, I looked into what books by Emily V. Gordon were available through my library's digital avenues and found this one.So that is a long roundabout way of saying this book was not really for me at the place I am currently. I'm not arguing that I am the paragon of mental health and need no improvement; rather self-esteem and self-identity are not big issues for adult me. On the other hand, teen-aged me probably would have benefited greatly from this book. Indeed, Gordon says in the introduction that the book is intended for those in their teens through their 40s. She also gears the language towards women, as she notes that is her own lived experience so she can speak to it best.Speaking of lived experience, Gordon uses a mix of made-up examples as well as tidbits from her own life. In some ways, this book almost feels like a mini-memoir in parts, although the focus always comes back around to therapeutic tools to help readers with their struggles.And, while I felt the book's focus as a whole did not necessarily speak to me, there were certainly still parts of it that were good reminders for maintaining solid mental health and keeping stress levels down, such as self-care skills. So, I do think the book could potentially benefit all readers on some level, although it definitely is aimed more at the specific problems of identity and esteem building.The audiobook version is read by the author herself, which I appreciated as I was used to hearing her voice from the podcast.