Why Smart People Always Doubt Themselves

The gist

1. Confidence is domain-specific, not a general trait, and builds through accumulating real evidence of competence in particular skills.
2. Imposter syndrome often signals growth, not weakness, and is most common among high-achievers who understand how many variables influence success.
3. Manson says narcissism is really about rejecting negative feedback, and a simple test is offering criticism to see if someone wants more or lashes out.
4. The goal is accurate calibration between perceived and actual ability, since overconfidence causes failures and underconfidence stops you from pursuing things you could handle.