In ‘The Big Ego Trip: Finding true significance in a culture of self-esteem’, emeritus professor of psychiatry at Bristol University, Glynn Harrison, presents the case against a whole mindset that has undermined society on an individual and community level. Pursuit of narcissism and self aggrandisement has, he shows, led us into a psychological cul-de-sac that offers no way through and does us more harm than good to stay there.

The only escape, he argues, is a complete U-turn onto a new highway towards healthy psychological development, and a route to fulfilment that comes from seeing ourselves not as complete in isolation, but as a part of something much bigger. The only way to achieve the sense of significance and purpose we long for, he explains, is to find a new worldview capable of generating that meaning and purpose.

For Harrison, only the Christian gospel - calling us beyond the goal of self-centred self-esteem, empowers us to stop judging ourselves, to find our identity in God’s bigger story and to embrace a worldview that looks outwards in pursuit of his glory. With good humour, and many helpful examples, he makes accessible the foundation of biblically assured optimism that lets us rebuild the confidence and personal resilience needed to make the change, and get off the Ego Trip’s dead-end road.