Name: Braving the Wilderness
ISBN: 9780812995848

Brené Brown

A life-changing book that uses new research to challenge old beliefs about belonging.

The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Braving the Wilderness

Amelia Pokorny

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A timely and important book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture, from the #1 bestselling author of Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection Look for Brené Brown’s new podcast, Dare to Lead, as well as her ongoing podcast Unlocking Us! REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK “True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, MSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives—experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging. Brown argues that we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.” Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.”

Jennifer

This book is so necessary for everyone (especially Americans) to read today. Not tomorrow, today. The loneliness that I feel at times is so eloquently and succinctly explained. The first 20% of the book was like music to my ears. Five stars for the first 20% of the book. The rest of the book was about the four lessons. There are four principles to remember the next time I want to judge someone or get angry during a conversation: 1. “People are hard to hate close up. Move in.” AKA stop generalizing Democrats and Republicans and don’t dehumanize people. 2. “Speak truth to BS. Be civil.” Be open minded. Assume the best in others. 3. “Hold hands. With strangers.” Participate in collective joy and collective pain. 4. “Strong back. Soft front. Wild heart.” It takes a lot of courage to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. There’s a difference between belonging and fitting in. Though I already try to do these things, which I couldn’t put a name to until this book, it’s nice to feel validated and to continue trying to be a good person everyday. Like I said before, the first 20% of this book gets five stars. The rest of the chapters get four. Brown makes great points and quickly gets to them, but I feel like she’s missing some intersectionality around the arguments. She’s a white woman and I don’t fault her for that but I can see how she’s still hedging around some issues to gain a bigger audience. But because I believe in her messages and I think she’s trying to get her point across without touching upon too polarizing issues, I rate and recommend this book to everyone. Side note: I haven’t read her other books yet so maybe I’ll change my mind later. As an introduction to her, I’m onboard.

Loved many of the points in this, just not a huge fan of writing style. Theory-wise, very helpful and wise! 

taylor miles hopkins

This is a valuable book for anyone to read. Brene has a unique and encouraging perspective on humanity. This one fucked me up in the best way.

Jacob Hopkins

Sarah Schumacher

The fact that this book felt so timely with all the polarization happening right now makes me wonder if it will still feel relevant in 10 years. Not that I have high hopes for the future of discourse in America, but mentioning the current political climate is a good way to date things. Nonetheless, I think it’s a good reminder to step outside the echo chambers. Unfortunately, I think the people that most need to read this book are the people who never will.

The concept behind Braving the Wilderness was nice in theory, but didn’t quite come together for me. The whole book felt a bit short, rushed? And while I thought YES! in the beginning, it felt like it ended too soon, or on the wrong note. While I think it’s worth reading, it’s not my favorite of Brené Brown’s.

Maria

I like how this book is such an easy book to read: it is so relevant in today's age, and it is concise enough in its message. Gosh I have read longer books that should have been 250 pages as well. I also like Brene Brown's prose style: to the point and conversational, no dramatics.

I almost got teary reading chapter 1 where the author recounts her childhood not feeling belonged anywhere. This book was almost written for me. I've come to a lot of conclusions that Brene Brown wrote in this book recently, and to hear her capture concisely what I now think is almost cathartic.

We are in an epidemic of a lack of empathy. While some people might scoff at Brene Brown's ideas, but I truly believe in the power of her message. Even though it will be hard, I will strive to practice belonging to myself and show up with a strong back and soft front.

Michelle

Some good ideas and concepts, but problematic and tone-deaf AF.

Jennifer Eggleston 

“You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all.” - Maya Angelou 

An interesting listen that speaks to the turmoil that a lot of us are feeling in this day and age. The thoughts and solutions are framed in such a way that it speaks to many. Perhaps, our local and world leaders should apply these applications #justsayin

Lately, I have been struggling with all the things and the thoughts and practices found in the book are things that I haven't been doing. Could explain my unhappiness at life.

Gisela Ayala 

“True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” 

I needed this. That is all.

Dom Rupp

Braving the Wilderness was a book of paradoxes — something that hurts even me. Guess what the opposite of belonging is? Fitting in. Shed the chameleon skin and you have a glance at belonging. Well, dang humanity you make it really hard. I guess I gave this book four stars because for some reason I disliked what it said — not because it’s wasn’t true.

“You are only free when you realize you belong no place—­you belong every place—­no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.” -Dr. Maya Angelou

Sonja H

Brown ist eine amerikanische Dozentin und Autorin, die u.a. menschliches Verhalten wie Scham und Empathie erforscht.
In ihrem neuen Werk beleuchtet sie das Thema „Zugehörigkeit“ und wie wir dennoch authentisch leben können.

Ich habe den Non-Fiction November mit diesem Buch gestartet in der Hoffnung, die Faszination für diese Autorin, die mir insbesondere in amerikanischen Facebookgruppen immer wieder begegnet, etwas besser nachvollziehen zu können.

Ich hatte bereits zuvor „The Gifts of Imperfection“ von ihr gelesen, fand aber keinen Zugang dazu. Da ich aber vielen Autoren meist eine zweite (und dritte) Chance gebe, griff ich zu „Braving the Wilderness“.

Ich denke, jeder von uns hat früher oder später schon die Erfahrung gemacht, irgendwo Außenseiter zu sein, nicht dazu zu gehören, mit einer Meinung allein dazustehen. Und dennoch wollen wir natürlich auch alle Teil einer Gemeinschaft sein, uns sicher und aufgehoben fühlen in der Interaktion mit anderen.

Diesen inneren Konflikt beleuchtet die Autorin anhand diverser Anekdoten aus ihrem Leben, deren zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen sie lang erforscht hat, um daraus allgemeingültige Aussagen ziehen und Hilfe für alle bieten zu können, die sich ähnlichen Situationen ausgesetzt sehen.

Es fiel mir jedoch sehr schwer, dem Buch konkrete Vorschläge „wenn das, dann das“ entnehmen zu können. Es gibt hier und da ein paar gute Gedanken, die aber leider nicht weiter ausgeführt werden. Stattdessen bleibt Brené Brown bei schwammigen Vorschlägen wie „Strong back, soft front, wild heart“ oder auch „hold hands with strangers“. Für alles gibt es ein paar nette Beispiele, aber keins davon zeigt, was es für Konsequenzen für die psychische Gesundheit haben kann und wie man den inneren Widerstand überwindet, aus sich heraus zu gehen, ohne sich ausgestoßen zu fühlen.

Vielleicht ist „Bravong the Wildnerness“ mehr auf Amerikaner gemünzt, vielleicht habe ich zu viel schon zu solchen Themen gelesen und im Selbstversuch durchlebt – ich fand diese Abhandlung zu oberflächlich und unkonkret.

Rebeca Keren Nuñez

Es muy interesante. Ademas me parecen relevantes las reflexiones que realiza. Ademas es un enfoque muy interesante, el cómo utiliza sus experiencias para hilar dichas reflexiones. El lenguaje es amigable, y uno puede identificarse con alguna de sus experiencias fácilmente

Brigid prior 

Read for a book club; I highly recommend reading the actual book, not listening to the audiobook. I went back and forth and the audio is confusing at times. Generally, I like the idea of the book but there are times when I felt like she either didn’t sum up her point well enough or she went off on a tangent. However, especially considering how quick of a read was, I would definitely recommend reading it as it has some great nuggets of wisdom and insight.

Brittany Harper

3.5 stars. This was good - a lot to think about. Took a while to get through (I guess I didn't really want to hear what Brené had to say... but it was all good to hear).

MEGHAN ABBOTT

A timely and important new book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture, from the #1 bestselling author of Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. ‘True belonging doesn't require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.’ Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives – experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarisation. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping out a clear path to true belonging. Brown argues that what we're experiencing today is a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, ‘True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in both being a part of something, and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that's rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it's easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it's a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It's a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.’ Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, ‘The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.’

The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone

Bailey Sawka

I think this book has incredible lessons and ammounts of vulnerability. One of my favorite things she tells the readers is that when she writes a book, she puts her preaching into practice. I hold this dear because I believe it is one of the most important things a person of great influence can do. I love Brené Brown books. I think she has a lot of wisdom and insight that most people could benefit from.

Nadine 

Excellent read with some great quotable moments. At times a little USA-centric but similar issues with political divisions in many countries these days

Chelsea Breher

This one didn't really stick with me, I didn't feel a pull with this book but still finished it. It just wasn't my cup of tea 😂 but I plan on reading other books by the author and maybe giving this one another chance as so many people in my life love her work.

Les Reynolds

Full of good stuff, a bit hard to stay engaged.

Caitlin Berger

At first, I thought this book would be about how we should all just forget our differences and get along with each other, even if we have different political views and stuff. But then she addressed topics like dehumanization and Black Lives Matter and I realized this wasn't about just us all holding hands and singing songs together. It is about belonging and having tough conversations but all while maintaining the humanity of everyone in this world. It turned out to be a fantastic book (which I expected because hello, it's BRENE BROWN) and I definitely would recommend it!

Braving the Wilderness The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

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