The Highly Sensitive Person

by Elaine Aron PhD
The Highly Sensitive Person cover
Good Books rating 3.7
Psychology and Human Behavior
Buy online
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 2954
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-22
  • ISBN: 9780553062182
  • Publisher: Harmony
  • Published: 1997-06-02
  • Reviews: 4

Are you a highly sensitive person? This book by Dr. Elaine Aron, a clinical psychologist and highly sensitive person herself, will help you understand this trait and make the most of it in everyday situations. Through self-assessment tests, you'll identify your particular sensitivities and learn to reframe past experiences in a positive light, gaining greater self-esteem in the process. In The Highly Sensitive Person, you'll find insight into how high sensitivity affects both work and personal relationships, as well as tips on how to deal with over-arousal. Drawing on many years of research and hundreds of interviews, Dr. Aron provides information on medications and when to seek help, and techniques to enrich the soul and spirit. This book will change the way you see yourself—and the world around you.

Reviews
Reddit - r/hsp · 2025-12-22
mixed 3.50

The book is appreciated for its insights but criticized for its labeling of highly sensitive individuals. It is seen as life-changing for some readers.

Reddit users discuss the book's impact, with some appreciating its insights into the highly sensitive trait. However, there is criticism regarding the labeling of individuals as highly sensitive, which some find limiting. Despite this, the book is praised for its ability to change lives, offering valuable perspectives and practical advice for navigating sensitivity in various aspects of life. The community acknowledges the book's strengths while also expressing reservations about its approach to labeling.

Quick quotes

    I think the book is good it's a good book. However, imo it uses the word highly sensitive person in a way to label you.

    Although I do like when it talks about how to deal with certain situations.

    Yes, her books changed my life.

Goodreads · 2025-12-22
groundbreaking 3.80

The book is seen as a groundbreaking work that helps readers identify and understand the trait of being highly sensitive. It is praised for its practical advice and supportive tone.

Goodreads reviews highlight the book as a groundbreaking resource for understanding and thriving as a highly sensitive person. Readers appreciate Dr. Elaine Aron's clinical insights and personal experiences, which make the book both relatable and informative. The practical advice and supportive tone are particularly noted as helpful for readers looking to navigate their sensitivity in daily life. The book is seen as a valuable tool for self-acceptance and personal growth, offering solutions for a happy and fulfilling life.

Quick quotes

    In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Elaine Aron, a clinical psychologist, workshop leader, and an HSP herself, shows you how to identify this trait in yourself.

    The book offers solutions for a happy and fulfilling life.

    Particularly in the way an HSP perceives his or herself: the book helps to 'reframe' past events.

Kara Reviews · Kara Babcock · 2021-09-21
informative 3.00

The book provides valuable insights into the traits of highly sensitive people and offers practical advice on how to thrive. It also helps non-HSPs better understand and support those who are highly sensitive.

Kara Babcock's review highlights how the book offers a comprehensive look into what it means to be a highly sensitive person (HSP). The author provides practical strategies for HSPs to optimize their nature and live fulfilling lives. The book is also beneficial for non-HSPs, offering a deeper understanding of the unique experiences and challenges faced by sensitive individuals. Kara appreciates the book's ability to reframe past events and perceptions, making it a valuable resource for personal growth and self-acceptance.

Quick quotes

    This book, then, is a glimpse into what HSPs are and how to optimize your highly sensitive nature, or better understand an HSP in your life.

    Aron's research and real-life stories make the book both informative and relatable.

    The book helps to 'reframe' past events, offering a more positive perspective.

timesbookshop.co.uk · Unknown · 2010-06-02
insightful 4.50

The Highly Sensitive Person offers a deep dive into the life of comedian David Baddiel, marked by his unflinching honesty and candid reflections on his family's history and personal experiences. The memoir balances wit and tenderness, providing a well-rounded journey through Baddiel's life, from his mother's escape from Nazi Germany to his own experiences with grief and fame.

David Baddiel's memoir, The Highly Sensitive Person, is a testament to his radical honesty and self-awareness. The book delves into his family's history, including his mother's escape from Nazi Germany and his own upbringing in North London. Baddiel's writing is pragmatic and sometimes uncomfortably self-aware, allowing readers to reflect on societal norms and personal relationships. His experiences with his mother's affair, his father's dementia, and the grief that followed are handled with wit and tenderness, making the memoir both humorous and deeply moving. Baddiel's ability to recount fame from the perspective of a 'regular person' adds a unique layer to the narrative, providing a well-rounded tour through the seasons of life.

Quick quotes

    Within six months of graduation I was earning an income from writing and have now performed alongside established writers at some great venues and events.

    The book follows on from Baddiel’s Olivier-nominated stand-up show _My Family: Not The Sitcom_ but goes far more in depth.

    From his mother’s escape from Nazi Germany as a child to his own childhood spent in North London, Baddiel chronicles the details of his family with pragmatism and a sometimes-uncomfortable level of self-awareness.

Appears in Lists