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stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what a book! The title comes from an amazing quote by Theodore Roosevelt encouraging us all to give things our best shot("...the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again...who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...")
The basic thesis is that in order to live our best lives, we need to be vulnerable: to go all out in living and loving, holding nothing back. With this comes great reward, but also great potential for feeling shame, heartbreak, criticism and disappointment. This is why most people view vulnerability as a weakness rather than a strength. Our culture greatly values people who project strength, even if it's a false sense of strength.
In order to embrace vulnerability, we need to develop "shame resilience" strategies and supports. The author provides so many great insights into our current (damaged) culture, including the idea of a scarcity mentality(constantly comparing what we have and don't have vs. what everyone else has) and judging others as a deflection of feeling inadequate. The book is packed with practical tips for using vulnerability to become a more effective parent, leader, employee, human. Although chock full of research, the book is incredibly readable and the author very relatable and empowering. The words transformative, radical, counter-cultural, mind-blowing, and perspective-altering come most readily to my mind. I know I'll be mulling this book over for days to come, and hopefully applying some lessons to my own life. I can't wait to check out her other books.
The basic thesis is that in order to live our best lives, we need to be vulnerable: to go all out in living and loving, holding nothing back. With this comes great reward, but also great potential for feeling shame, heartbreak, criticism and disappointment. This is why most people view vulnerability as a weakness rather than a strength. Our culture greatly values people who project strength, even if it's a false sense of strength.
In order to embrace vulnerability, we need to develop "shame resilience" strategies and supports. The author provides so many great insights into our current (damaged) culture, including the idea of a scarcity mentality(constantly comparing what we have and don't have vs. what everyone else has) and judging others as a deflection of feeling inadequate. The book is packed with practical tips for using vulnerability to become a more effective parent, leader, employee, human. Although chock full of research, the book is incredibly readable and the author very relatable and empowering. The words transformative, radical, counter-cultural, mind-blowing, and perspective-altering come most readily to my mind. I know I'll be mulling this book over for days to come, and hopefully applying some lessons to my own life. I can't wait to check out her other books.
jvmilks's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, I struggled with this book. At first, it started slow and felt unrelatable in a sense. The more I listened, the more I found myself doing to jot notes. By the end, I figured I should probably buy the book and reread it do I could really reflect on probs of it to apply the"wholehearted living." I have a long way to go to live a truly vulnerable life and dare greatly.
lwalker932's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
em_grubb's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
arjohnson5623's review against another edition
5.0
This book was given to me by a good friend when I was most ready to receive its message. I can’t believe how much I learned about myself in less than three hundred pages, and that’s an understatement. Brown seems, at the very least, to have some of the answers to life’s important questions; I fully intend to use the tools she’s collected to not only improve my relationships, but become a more wholehearted person.
txpamcakers's review against another edition
4.0
Brown has a way of sharing information in a colorful way that allows the reader to stay engaged.
I could really relate to the contents of this book. I was able to apply this research to my childhood, my job, friendships, and parenting.
I could really relate to the contents of this book. I was able to apply this research to my childhood, my job, friendships, and parenting.
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
4.0
Brene Brown's name has become synonymous with vulnerability in the past several years since she exploded onto the scene with her TED talk, which has gone on to be one of the most viewed TED talks of all time. As a be all remedy for social ills and the challenges of friendships, parenting, leadership, educating, and almost any social endeavor, she declares that "vulnerability is not weakness, and the uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure we face every day are not optional. Our only choice is a question of engagement. Our willingness to own and engage with our vulnerability determines the depth of our courage and the clarity of our purpose; the level to which we protect ourselves from being vulnerable is a measure of our fear and disconnection."
She writes in a conversational and authoritative tone, this book being largely an extension of her TED talk. She's a welcome herald of authenticity, and an eagerness to engage with one another emotionally, in ways that most of us fear to or otherwise don't know how to interact.
While I appreciate her general posture about the emotional life, I kept finding myself thinking as I read, "just kill the ego!" For those who navigate life from the illusion of self and ego, and a focus on personal identity, and self-esteem, or a contemporary Western mindset, she offers a decent toolkit for approaching life's challenges. However, I believe a lot of the problems she raises, are a result of us failing to adopt a more Zen, or overall Buddhist way of living.
Each of her 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted living has an eastern counterpart that amounts to: be present, kill the ego, accept being, let go of the self, you are not your thoughts or emotions, don't mistake the clouds for the sky, and withhold judgment.
I deeply appreciate her work and hope it inspires a higher degree of vulnerability and authenticity within our cultures.
She writes in a conversational and authoritative tone, this book being largely an extension of her TED talk. She's a welcome herald of authenticity, and an eagerness to engage with one another emotionally, in ways that most of us fear to or otherwise don't know how to interact.
While I appreciate her general posture about the emotional life, I kept finding myself thinking as I read, "just kill the ego!" For those who navigate life from the illusion of self and ego, and a focus on personal identity, and self-esteem, or a contemporary Western mindset, she offers a decent toolkit for approaching life's challenges. However, I believe a lot of the problems she raises, are a result of us failing to adopt a more Zen, or overall Buddhist way of living.
Each of her 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted living has an eastern counterpart that amounts to: be present, kill the ego, accept being, let go of the self, you are not your thoughts or emotions, don't mistake the clouds for the sky, and withhold judgment.
I deeply appreciate her work and hope it inspires a higher degree of vulnerability and authenticity within our cultures.