BLOG TOUR Review: The Imposter Phenomenon by Dr Kate Atkin

I received a digital copy of this book for free as part of this online book tour organised by Literally PR. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Publisher: Pearson Education
Published: July 2025

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About the book

Research indicates that 70-80% of people may experience imposter “syndrome” at some point. Celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Sheryl Sandberg and Tom Hanks have all spoken about their imposter feelings and even Einstein described himself as an “involuntary swindler”.

But self-doubt and a lack of confidence are not the same as imposter syndrome. In fact, it isn’t a syndrome at all, it’s a phenomenon. This book challenges some of the common misconceptions about the imposter phenomenon. Grounded in academic research, you’ll discover what it is, where these thoughts come from, the stresses and impact they cause, and most importantly, what you can do about them.

Build the inner courage to accept how good you are and banish those imposter thoughts.

About the author

Kate’s third, and most personal, book having experienced imposter feelings for much of her life. Coming from a farming background in rural Lincolnshire, Kate was the “shy one” of three girls. Having failed the 11-plus exam and without a first degree, Kate defied expectations later in life as, despite feeling like an imposter, she completed an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology in 2015, and in 2024 she received her PhD for research in the imposter phenomenon, coping strategies and psychological courage.

Working with major corporates, universities, charities and the NHS, Kate is on a mission to explain what the imposter phenomenon is and what it isn’t (it is not a syndrome) and to help individuals and organisations overcome the impact of feeling like an imposter.

My Thoughts…

Who here hasn’t heard about “imposter syndrome”? I’ve certainly been seeing it around a lot, and in fact I’m sure I’ve said I “had it” multiple times. So, when I saw the cover for The Imposter Phenomenon by Dr. Kate Atkin, with that “syndrome” crossed out, I was immediately intrigued.

The reframing of imposterism as a phenomenon instead of a syndrome, and imposter feelings as something a person may experience instead of something they “have” was eye-opening and really made me reflect on how much power the way in which we talk about something has.

Although this book is based on the author’s PhD research, it’s completely accessible and an extremely pleasant read that does need or expect the reader to be an academic, as complex concepts are broken down and practical examples from research participants are used throughout to illustrate the various ways in which imposter thoughts can manifest.

I particularly liked that the author included little spaces for “time in”, offering questions to guide introspective reflections and very practical ways in which a reader could reflect on their own imposter feelings or support someone who is experiencing them. Having been both at some point or another, I found them an incredibly useful tool that I will certainly refer back to in the future. I highlighted a made notes throughout – which I don’t often do to this degree! – as I really wanted to be able to find those powerful quotes again.

I also really appreciated the fact that the author included one’s context as a factor to consider when dealing with imposter feelings. This is something I often find is missing from “self-help” books, which tend to take a very individualistic approach and ignore the ways in which the context we live and work in can affect our thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

The only thing stopping this from being a full 5 stars for me is that I found some sections to be slightly too repetitive, while in a few passages I would have liked to see the book go a bit more in depth. These were fairly minor though and I really enjoyed this overall!