Aziz Gazipura

Aziz Gazipura is an American clinical psychologist and author who specializes in social anxiety and confidence, and whose books have helped a large readership of people struggling with shyness, social fear, and self-doubt to understand and transform their relationship with social interaction. Based in Portland, Oregon, Gazipura trained as a clinical psychologist and worked with clients experiencing social anxiety before shifting toward writing, speaking, and online coaching as his primary modalities.

His 2016 book Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, and Feeling Guilty… and Start Speaking Up, Saying No, Ask for What You Want, and Unapologetically Being Yourself argues that the kind of “niceness” that prevents people from asserting their needs, setting boundaries, and speaking their truth is not actually a virtue but a form of social fear that damages both the individual and their relationships. The book was a significant bestseller in the self-help space and resonated particularly with men who had been socialized to suppress emotional needs.

His earlier books, including The Solution to Social Anxiety and On My Own Side, established his voice in the confidence and social anxiety literature. His work combines clinical CBT principles with elements of mindfulness and humanistic psychology to offer practical and accessible guidance. He hosts the podcast The Art of Extraordinary Confidence and runs an online community called Shrink for the Shy Guy.

Gazipura continues to write, speak, and develop programs for people who want to overcome social fear and live with more authenticity and directness. His work has reached hundreds of thousands of readers and podcast listeners worldwide.