Book Presentation: Paavo Kettunen: Am I Good Enough?

Emeritus Professor Paavo Kettunen presents his new book Am I Good Enough? 1: Challenges of Inadequacy, Self-Esteem and Religious Worthiness. The book explores the roots of inadequacy, the experience of not being enough, and questions about healthy and unhealthy guilt and shame - including shame's protective function. The subject delves into existential questions about human worth and self-esteem.

Kettunen has researched shame, guilt, confession and spiritual care for over 30 years. His research is based on hundreds of personal accounts from Finns on these topics. As a theologian, he also addresses the question "am I good enough for God" and what safe or oppressive spirituality looks like. The book examines feelings of inadequacy in the academic world too, where the researcher, in Kettunen's words, "is constantly compared while struggling for grants and positions".

The second part of the two-volume set will be published later and will address, among other things, gender minorities' experiences of worthiness and challenges posed by the digital age.

The event takes place on 21.9.2026 at 17:00 on the Saarikoski mat (3rd floor). Organizer: Paavo Kettunen.