The Big Ideas (and Bunk Advice) from Tony Robbins’ ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ (2024)

Tony Robbins is a larger-than-life superstar of motivation. His book Awaken the Giant Within has been revered as a self-help classic since its publication in 1992. Some call his work and wildly popular seminars life-changing, whereas others deem his approach superficial — more pop psychology than proven theory. Still, for each detractor, Robbins has a devotee willing to shell out thousands of dollars to be coached alongside 2,500 other people.

At its heart, Awaken the Giant Within aims to be a tutorial for self-mastery and fulfillment. Robbins’ lessons, when boiled down, encourage readers to believe in themselves, take control of their lives, commit to taking consistent action, and manage their emotions, to name a few.

While first-time readers might be skeptical of Robbins’ extreme, hyperbolic nature (for example, saying belief systems have “the power to create and the power to destroy”), there are transformational tidbits, particularly within his goal-setting approach.

But you’d be wise to not take everything Robbins writes as gospel. Some of his advice is vague, making it hard to apply in the…