The preface explained that Much contemporary theorizing depicts people as onlooking hosts of internal mechanisms orchestrated by environmental events.

[7] In Contemporary Psychology, James E. Maddux wrote that "Bandura's aim is to 'document the many ways in which efficacy beliefs operate in concert with other socio-cognitive determinants in governing human adaptation and change' (p. vii).

Although the book is scholarly in purpose and tone throughout, it is liberally sprinkled with humor and, more important, wisdom.... [and] offers numerous suggestions for improving our personal lives and restructuring our social, political, and educational institutions and numerous insights into the nature of personal and social change"[2]: 601–2  He also wrote that "the final chapter on collective efficacy.... is the most thought-provoking chapter in the book and deserves the widest possible readership.

"[2]: 602 In the Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Richard Lightsey wrote that one may "enter the term 'self-efficacy' in the on-line PSYCLIT database and you will find over 2500 articles, all of which stem from the seminal contributions of Albert Bandura.... Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control is the best attempt so far at organizing, summarizing, and distilling meaning from this vast and diverse literature,"[3]: 158  and that "Self-Efficacy is one of the most significant books of the last 50 years.

It is essential reading for psychologists and will also be of immense value to teachers, school administrators, corporate managers, coaches, psychotherapists, vocational counselors, and indeed to anyone interested in enhancing motivation, self-management, and performance.

"[3]: 165  Furthermore, "despite Bandura's cautions, it remains to be seen whether his very fruitful theory may be stretched to encompass psychological traits, subjective well-being, and other general but highly meaningful aspects of human life" that are "not referenced in the text.

"[4]: 802  Locke stated that "No self-respecting I/O psychologist or OB scholar should fail to read this book,"[4]: 803  adding that "I consider Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory to be one of the greatest achievements in the history of psychology.

"[4]: 801 In the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, Gillian Butler wrote that "There is hardly a single aspect of life, personal, social, cultural or political, that Albert Bandura does not attempt to consider in some depth – and for which he cannot cite a wealth of research relevant to his general model of self-efficacy.... Much that would otherwise have to be sought for at length has been brought together in one volume, with the consequence that this is one of the weightiest theoretical books on a subject of such wide general interest... to be published this decade.

Hoy listed 6 reasons before exploring them in detail (e.g., "a teacher's sense of self-efficacy is one of the few variables that is consistently related to student achievement").