BOOKS
Published
Read Time
9 min read
Reader ratingreader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
4.6
· 47,771 Amazon ratingsShare This Review
You Are a Badass® (Ultimate Collector's Edition) by Jen Sincero Review: A Beloved Self-Help Classic, Collector's Upgrade
by Jen Sincero
Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass®, a #1 New York Times bestseller with over 5 million copies sold, arrives in this 2023 Ultimate Collector's Edition with new content — including an exclusive chapter on intuition, reader testimonials, an updated foreword, and a reader's guide — making it the most complete version of the self-development phenomenon to date. This review covers the book's content and published reception; it does not assess the physical collector's edition first-hand.
Tap to enlargeLuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Readers who have bounced off earnest, academic self-help books and want a direct, humor-laced motivational guide — particularly those encountering Sincero's work for the first time who want the most complete, updated version of the text, or existing fans seeking the new material in a premium format.
Worth it if
The irreverent, frank voice resonates with you and you're willing to actively engage with the hands-on exercises — this edition's expanded content, including a new intuition chapter and revised reader's guide, gives both newcomers and returning readers genuine additional substance.
Skip if
You prefer methodically structured, research-citation-heavy self-help frameworks, or are buying primarily for the collector's physical object — the latter warrants independent verification of production quality before purchase.
What readers & critics say
Independent book blogs retrieved by LuvemBooks reflect broadly positive but nuanced reception: rainyday.blog (3.5 stars) found the book "overall a good read" that felt "inspirational" though noted not all content would benefit every reader, while capturingyourconfidence.com described it as "pretty dang empowering" and distinctively unlike other self-help books in its refusal to linger on feel-good preamble. Bookseller pages including literatibookstore.com and sandmanbooks.com surface blurbs from Self ("It definitely changed my life") and Good Housekeeping ("if you're lacking inspiration, really need a boost, then Sincero does just that with some humour along the way"), consistent with the book's broad commercial reception as a #1 New York Times bestseller with over 5 million copies sold.
Sources: rainyday.blog, capturingyourconfidence.com, literatibookstore.com, sandmanbooks.com, therollingexplorer.com, parnassusbooks.net4.6from 47,771 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
Preview the book
Ask LuvemBooks
Was this helpful?
You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness by Jen Sincero is a #1 New York Times bestselling self-development guide that uses humor, irreverence, and profanity-laced frankness to help readers dismantle self-sabotaging beliefs and take action toward their goals. The 2023 Ultimate Collector's Edition is the most complete version of the text to date, adding a new chapter on intuition, reader testimonials, an updated foreword, and a revised reader's guide. It is best suited to readers put off by solemn, research-heavy self-help — those who prefer a more academic, citations-driven approach are unlikely to connect with its deliberately conversational voice.
- Is it worth reading?
- For readers who have bounced off quieter, more introspective self-help titles, You Are a Badass® has a compelling case behind it: it is a #1 New York Times bestseller with over 5 million copies sold, praised across Forbes, Bustle, Good Housekeeping, The Guardian, and the Associated Press for its rare combination of humor, irreverence, and actionable advice. The 2023 Ultimate Collector's Edition strengthens that case further by adding substantive new material — including a new chapter on intuition and a revised reader's guide — rather than being a mere reprint. The key caveat is that its frank, profanity-laced voice is a deliberate design choice, not incidental; readers who prefer methodically structured, research-citation-heavy frameworks are likely to find it less useful.
- Similar books
- Readers drawn to You Are a Badass® for its frank, irreverent approach to self-improvement will find kindred energy in several titles. Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck shares the profanity-forward, anti-preciousness tone and the goal of cutting through self-deception. Brené Brown's Daring Greatly offers a more research-grounded but equally personal approach to vulnerability and self-worth. For habit-building and actionable frameworks, James Clear's Atomic Habits is a natural companion. Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements and Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way both address belief systems and creative self-sabotage in accessible, practice-oriented formats. Mel Robbins' The Let Them Theory continues the tradition of bold, direct motivational writing.
- Who should read this?
- You Are a Badass® is most clearly aimed at two groups: existing fans of the original who want the complete, updated text with new material in a premium collector's format, and new readers encountering Sincero's work for the first time who want the definitive version. Beyond those groups, the book is particularly well-suited to readers who have bounced off quieter, more introspective self-help titles and want something that, as Bustle put it, matches the energy of a real motivational push rather than a gentle suggestion. Readers who prefer methodically structured, research-citation-heavy frameworks — or who are put off by profanity and irreverent humor — are unlikely to be the right audience.
- What makes the voice unique?
- Sincero's voice is the quality critics return to most consistently: the Associated Press described her as 'the Royal Badass' of life coaching, Forbes called the book 'like having a personal pep talk in your hands,' and Bustle highlighted its 'blunt and sassy advice' and 'a whole lot of hilarity.' The irreverence and occasional profanity are deliberate tools designed to keep readers engaged where more solemn self-help books lose them — the effect, across multiple outlets, is described as the advice of a candid, encouraging friend rather than a distant authority. The Guardian noted 'a sassy brand of positivity,' while Good Housekeeping credited Sincero with delivering inspiration 'with some humour along the way.'
- Is the collector's edition worth the premium?
- The content case for the Ultimate Collector's Edition is solid: the new chapter on intuition, reader testimonials, updated foreword, and revised reader's guide make it a substantively expanded text, not merely a repackaged reprint. However, as LuvemBooks' review notes explicitly, the physical object — paper quality, binding, and production values — cannot be assessed from this review first-hand. Prospective buyers motivated primarily by the collector's format should seek out commentary from sources who have handled the physical edition directly before committing to the purchase.
- Where should I start with Jen Sincero?
- You Are a Badass® is Sincero's flagship title and the natural starting point — it establishes her voice, core philosophy, and the full toolkit of exercises that her later work builds on. The 2023 Ultimate Collector's Edition is specifically recommended as the definitive version for first-time readers, since it includes the complete original text plus the new intuition chapter and revised reader's guide. Readers who connect with it and want to go deeper into a specific life domain can then move to You Are a Badass at Making Money, which applies the same irreverent, direct approach to money mindset.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
What makes the voice unique?
Is the collector's edition worth the premium?
Where should I start with Jen Sincero?
Summarize this book
You Are a Badass® is a self-development guide built around 28 bite-sized chapters that walk readers through identifying and changing self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors, connecting with a larger sense of purpose, and taking concrete action toward goals they have been avoiding. Sincero's approach — described by the Associated Press as that of 'the Royal Badass' of life coaching — blends frank motivational advice with humor, irreverence, and hands-on exercises. The 2023 Ultimate Collector's Edition, published by Running Press Adult, expands the original with an exclusive chapter on intuition, inspiring reader testimonials, an updated foreword, and a revised reader's guide, making it the definitive version of the text.
Follow up
What's new in this edition?
How long are the chapters?
Does it include exercises?
Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review
Press Enter to ask. Answers come from our editorial Q&A — start typing to see related questions.
Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Adult
Reading level
Adult
Content to know about
frequent profanity throughout
Skip if you prefer methodically structured, research-citation-heavy self-help frameworks over experiential and anecdotal advice.
Our Review
A book that reshaped how millions approach self-doubt, this collector's edition brings Sincero's definitive self-help work into its most expanded form yet — and the record of its impact makes a compelling case for the upgrade.
What the Book Is and What This Edition Adds
You Are a Badass® is a self-development guide structured around 28 bite-sized chapters designed to help readers identify and change self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors, connect with a larger sense of purpose, and take concrete action toward goals they have been avoiding. Sincero, described by the Associated Press as "the Royal Badass" of life coaching, built the original book on a foundation of humor, irreverence, and direct language — including the occasional curse word — as deliberate tools for keeping readers engaged where more solemn self-help books lose them. The Ultimate Collector's Edition, published by Running Press Adult on September 26, 2023, layers new material onto that foundation: an exclusive chapter on the power of intuition, inspiring reader testimonials, an updated foreword, and a revised reader's guide. These additions make this edition both a celebration of the book's legacy and a substantively updated text rather than simply a repackaged reprint.
Interior page of text discussing mindfulness, self-doubt, and connecting with the universe through meditation and presence.
The Book's Standing and Cultural Reach
The raw numbers here are not in dispute: You Are a Badass® is a #1 New York Times bestseller with over 5 million copies sold, making it one of the most commercially successful self-development titles of its generation. That scale of readership is meaningful context for any edition — it signals that Sincero's core approach, blending frank motivational advice with humor and accessible exercises, found an audience far beyond the typical self-help readership. The book is positioned as the first self-development title to reach millions through this specific combination of humor, irreverence, and profanity-laced frankness, and the sustained sales figures over the years since its original publication confirm that it did not fade quickly after its initial moment.
Interior page with motivational text discussing the universe, personal growth, and self-empowerment principles.
Strengths Noted by Published Sources
The book's tonal distinctiveness is the quality critics and media outlets return to most consistently. Bustle described it as filled with "blunt and sassy advice, do-it-yourself exercises in personal transformation, and a whole lot of hilarity," and framed it as a book that works to silence the inner critic. Forbes called it "like having a personal pep talk in your hands" — a characterization that captures its design intent: 28 self-contained chapters written to be motivating in short bursts rather than demanding sustained, linear reading. Good Housekeeping noted that Sincero "does just that with some humour along the way" for readers lacking inspiration or needing a boost. The Guardian acknowledged "a sassy brand of positivity," and Self magazine stated that it "definitely changed my life." Across these sources, a consistent picture emerges: the book's value to readers is closely tied to its voice, which strikes many as the advice of a candid, encouraging friend rather than a distant authority.
Interior page with motivational text discussing mindset, potential, and personal growth principles.
Honest Limitations and Who May Not Connect
The same qualities that make the book resonate for many readers represent a real point of friction for others. The irreverent, conversational voice that Forbes and Bustle praise is a deliberate stylistic choice, and readers who prefer methodically structured, research-citation-heavy self-help frameworks are likely to find it less useful — the book's approach is experiential and anecdotal rather than academic. The exercises are designed as hands-on personal-transformation tools, but whether any given reader engages with them meaningfully depends entirely on individual investment; they cannot substitute for deeper therapeutic or professional coaching work. As a collector's edition, the purchase decision also rests significantly on the physical object — paper quality, binding, and production values — which this review cannot assess first-hand. Prospective buyers primarily motivated by the collector's format should seek out commentary from sources who have handled the physical edition directly.
Front cover of the Ultimate Collector's Edition with bold yellow background and white typography.
Who This Edition Is For
The Ultimate Collector's Edition is most clearly aimed at two distinct groups: existing fans of the original who want the complete, updated text with new material in a premium format, and new readers encountering Sincero's work for the first time who want the definitive version rather than an earlier printing. The new chapter on intuition and the reader testimonials expand its utility as a working guide, while the updated reader's guide makes it more structured for those who want to move through the material intentionally. Readers who bounced off quieter, more introspective self-help titles and want something that, as Bustle put it, matches the energy of a real motivational push rather than a gentle suggestion will find this edition well-suited to that need. Given the #1 New York Times bestseller status and the breadth of positive reception across outlets including Forbes, Good Housekeeping, The Guardian, and the Associated Press, the book's core proposition has been validated at significant scale.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
- 2
- Further reading
- 3
- 4
- 5
Books like You Are a Badass®
Curated picks for readers who enjoyed You Are a Badass®, with our reasoning for each match.
If you liked You Are a Badass®
