Once described in the Daily Express as "the Queen Bee of British life coaching", Harrold wants you to be ambitious. And physical health is part of success and confidence. She has interesting views on eating disorders and regards overeating, smoking and drinking to excess as low self-esteem factors. Her systematic exercises--and the attitudes and affirmations she recommends--take you step by step through a radical rethink of who you are, what you want and where you are going at every level.

Although she advises that acceptance of the existence of a cosmic force outside yourself will enhance your sense of personal worth, she has controversial thoughts about the central tenets of some religions. You should, she suggests, rethink your relationship with any teaching which requires you to regard yourself as a worthless miserable sinner. She blames such deeply conditioned cultural attitudes for much of the low self-esteem in Western Europe.

Some of her ideas are intensely liberating and encouraging. "You are as attractive as you think you are", she says and she teaches you how to change your view of yourself. Or consider how actors insinuate themselves into roles then "Act, talk and behave like the person you want to be and you will become that person". --Susan Elkin