Shame is a difficult emotion, and most of us do what we can to avoid it. But veteran psychologist Joe Burgo shows us how we can use shame – which is an inevitable part of being human – as a tool for better understanding ourselves and our relationships with others. Encounters with embarrassment, guilt, self-consciousness and remorse are an unavoidable part of everyday life, and they sometimes have lessons to teach us – about our goals and values, about the person we expect ourselves to be. Richly illustrated with clinical stories from Burgo's 35 years in private practice, Shame suggests that this often excruciating emotion tells us a lot about our own self-awareness, and should not always be considered a toxic influence in our lives. Joseph Burgo takes an intimate look at the full spectrum of shame - often masked by addiction, promiscuity, perfectionism, self-loathing or narcissism – and offers a new, positive route forward on the road to authentic self-esteem.