Book: Unfakeable Code by Tony Selimi

I found it difficult to tell if Tony Selimi’s book The Unfakeable Code fits in a bookstore or library’s nonfiction, self-help, or marketing section. The book starts out with over 15 pages of praise for the book and Tony’s coaching work. The meat of the book, from the Introduction to the second-to-last page about the fifth principle, is only 156 pages.  More than 30 additional pages follow. In other words, about 20% of the book markets Selimi’s books and coaching services.

Selimi uses his formal computer programming education to initially explain that a person can rewrite the code for their brain, or how they think about their life, yet limits how much he uses this analogy when discussing the five principles a person should use to change their perspective on one or more areas of their life. The five principles reflect sound psychological principles, and words like masks, facades, and personas are more commonly used than computer terminology.

The Unfakeable Code provides sound psychological advice in the areas of cognitive behavioral therapy and emotion regulation. No one disputes that thinking more objectively or positively about a situation will often lead to more positive actions being taken, yet Selimi is not a psychologist, therapist, or neurologist. Thankfully, he does mention that it is okay to use such professionals, yet includes coaches who, at least in the United States, don’t require formal training or certification to demonstrate competence. Selimi is certified in coaching, but how does that compare to individuals with at least master’s degrees and government-issued licenses in these other professions?

As a registered nurse who has worked in neurology and studied psychology, I really enjoyed this book, found the principles practical, and the activities thought-provoking. Yet, I don’t think Selimi was the best person to write this book. Yes, he has anecdotal evidence that these five principles work. He talks about the science and psychological theories that support these principles but barely touches on how their work aligns with the five principles he discusses.

Finally, I cannot give this book the five out of five stars it deserves, as novum publishing bills itself as being a publisher for first-time authors yet lacks the extra support a first-time author would need. I often had to reread sentences to understand what the author was trying to communicate and found “façade” to be a distracting way of spelling facade. The Unfakeable Code is Selimi’s 2^nd full book, along with writing a section in Fit-For-Purpose Leadership #3. I guess popular publishing companies saw The Unfakeable Code as a marketing piece, not a nonfiction or self-help book.