Brené Brown

Based on twelve years of research, thought leader Dr. Brenae Brown argues that vulnerability is not weakness, but rather our clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection.

How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Daring Greatly

The award-winning teacher and author of The Gifts of Imperfection encourages readers to embrace their vulnerabilities in order to live whole, courageous lives, explaining that traits typically regarded as character flaws and weaknesses are actually clear paths to engagement and meaningful connections.

Ani Velasquez

Emily Burns

Very few books actually change the innerworkings of my brain. This one did. Highly recommend. :)

Hannah Yoon

It took me a while to start and finish the book because it's jam packed with so much insight. It's really a life changing book and probably one to read at least once a year.

Marcy Pursell 

Another great audiobook by Brené Brown. Her research and stories make me think and reconsider my own shame and guilt, how I treat others, and how I can try to be vulnerable with others.

Lara Engle

I tabbed so many passages in this book to revisit. In many ways, it allowed me to see how far I've come in my quest to let my guard down. It also gave me some guidance on how to continue my growth. One of the best things it gave me was some perspective on why people act the way they do when they're putting up their vulnerability shields. I think just seeing that will help make me more understanding.

Yeung Man Lung

The book is mainly about vulnerability as the title obviously, but the author also share her opinion on shame and love and joy. The book basically tell you vulnerability is not weakness. Weakness is bad but vulnerability must be good. I would say the book is a good one but most of the things sound too common sense to me and therefore need no further investigation. I guess most of the people know what vulnerability is and how we can achieve it. The problem we don't know the correct way of desire, that's make people want vulnerability and don't want vulnerability or love and hate vulnerability at the same time. And the book didn't give me a lot of insight about it.

Had to read it in bits cause the reflections were so in-depth and generous. Brené not just highlights the personal impact of "daring greatly" and being vulnerable but also how it is structurally influencing and harming us, e.g.: gender roles, within institutions, communities and work life. I could resonate a lot with her research and could take beautiful prompts away from this book. 

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Anthony

This book gave me a new viewpoint on where my reactiveness comes from. I learned more about shame and guilt than I even knew there was to learn. I was not looking for more examples, I found Brené's writing captivating. I think this book is insightful and fun to read.

Shona Tiger

Not super accessible, but learnt some powerful things, and will definitely apply them to my life.

it definitely felt like a product of 2012 sometimes, but most of the sentiment was still relevant and stuck with me

Anna Oeltjenbruns

Pretty straightforward read. Quick. Full of good information. Really illuminating in places.

Jules

**Now on Netflix as The Call to Courage** Every time we are introduced to someone new, try to be creative, or start a difficult conversation, we take a risk. We feel uncertain and exposed. We feel vulnerable. Most of us try to fight those feelings - we strive to appear perfect. In a powerful new vision Dr Brené Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability, and dispels the widely accepted myth that it's a weakness. She argues that, in truth, vulnerability is strength and when we shut ourselves off from vulnerability - from revealing our true selves - we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. Daring Greatly is the culmination of 12 years of groundbreaking social research, across every area of our lives including home, relationships, work, and parenting. It is an invitation to be courageous; to show up and let ourselves be seen, even when there are no guarantees. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly.

How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

An impressive combination of wisdom and humour, Brené Brown offers pragmatic advice on relationships and self-growth through lived experiences and research.

Genevieve Hayes

Dom Rupp

Again we don’t have a God of coincidences so here I go with this review. Honestly, when I first heard about Brene Brown I was knee deep in whatever made me feel safe, comfy, and hidden. Now, understanding what she says comes from a place that deeply resonates with me in my heart. Wholehearted people give themselves without reservations of what’s on the other side. Sure, they might have a few bumps and bruises but this way to live is way more beautiful than the sense of “safe, comfy and hidden.” The key to Wholehearted living is showing up, being vulnerable and understanding that your worthiness doesn’t dictate the situation. Her work comes from a Teddy Roosevelt quote that I would love to share with you all on here. Buckle up:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; 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.” 

“I can honestly say that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as believing that I’m standing on the outside of my life looking in and wondering what it would be like if I had the courage to show up and let myself be seen.” -Brene Brown

Cindy Lieberman

A well-researched book about the importance of being open and vulnerable in order to live our authentic selves, to lead, and to parent “wholehearted” children. This book was recommended by Melinda Gates in her excellent biography, “Moment of Lift,” and I’m glad I followed her advice. The truth is we are all acting in ways that hide or minimize shame, and we pass along these negative behaviors unconsciously. Dr Brown shares actionable examples from her interview subjects and from her own life to help us dare more greatly, connect with and inspire/support others, and live more fully.

Sarah Ryan

One of the best books I have ever read in terms of mental health, sense of self worth, life, love and parenting. I immediately listened to it a second time directly after finishing my first listen and got even more valuable insights out of it. Highly recommended

Josh Clement

Brene wanted to start a national conversation about shame, and she did that with TED. This book dives into her theories she has developed after spending some time interviewing people about topics like shame, vulnerability and guilt.

I got pretty tired of all the grand statements: "hope is a function of struggle." And strategies that didn't truly make sense "normalising discomfort."

Overall, there's enough here to inspire some inner thinking. Basically, connection is really important, and to connect you need to be brave and lower your guard.

Bailey Sawka

I really enjoyed this book. I read it for a small group at my university and at first, I didn't know if I really wanted to read it, it seemed daunting to try to read a book like this amidst the classes I was taking and the homework I had. The idea of reading this book was very uncomfortable for me, I was not looking forward to reading a book about vulnerability because I struggle with being vulnerable, I put up walls and shut people out. I feel uncomfortable when I try to be vulnerable and I think that reading this book was very helpful and eye opening to these traits and what comes from them. I enjoyed reading this once I got over the initial shock of, "did I really just sign up for a book club about vulnerability, what was I thinking?" I love the ideas proposed in this book and I look forward to reading more of her works.

Nadine 

A book that is well worth reading and revisiting. A lot of what she says about shame and guilt and the reasons and suppression of these emotions ran true. I found Chapter 4 to be of particular value where she talks about the vulnerability shields of Foreboding Joy, Perfectionism, and Numbing and the antidotes to each.

Amanda Valentin

You know it is a good book when you have to pause several times so you do not cry while reading it. This was an amazing book and I learned so much! I felt like she was talking directly to me! Also whoever uses Harry Potter examples to explain points get an extra star or two in my book! Love it would highly recommend this book to everybody!

Emily S

I just really think there’s something in here for everyone. Deserves a read!

Jordan Robinson

I really liked this book. Reading about other peoples issues and problems with vulnerability reminded me of my own. I gave it three stars because I found my attention slipping away from the page a few times. It was a bit boring at times. Either way, I'd reccommend this to anyone who struggles with being true to who they are. This is my first self help book.

Paulina R.

What an amazing book! I will definitely be re-reading it and going back to it in the future - it has given me so much hope and wholeheartedness when I really needed it. I hope more people read this marvelous book 😊

The number one New York Times bestseller and TED sensation. Every time we are introduced to someone new, try to be creative or start a difficult conversation, we take a risk. We feel uncertain and exposed. We feel vulnerable. Most of us try to fight those feelings - we strive to appear perfect. But in a powerful new vision Dr Brené Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability, and dispels the widely accepted myth that it's a weakness. She argues that vulnerability is in fact a strength, and when we shut ourselves off from revealing our true selves we grow distanced from the things that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. Daring Greatly is the culmination of twelve years of groundbreaking social research across the home, relationships, work and parenting. It is an invitation to be courageous; to show up and let ourselves be seen, even when there are no guarantees. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly. 'Brilliantly insightful. I can't stop thinking about this book.' Gretchen Rubin 'A wonderful book. I couldn't put it down.' Seth Godin

How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead

Millie Pellsäter

It is not the critic who counts; 
not the man who points out how the strong man 
stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could 
have done them better. 

The credit belongs to the man who is actually 
in the arena, whose face is marred by dust 
and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; 
who errs, who comes short again and again, 

because there is no effort without error 
and shortcoming; but who does actually 
strive to do the deeds; who knows great 
enthusiasms, the great devotions; who 
spends himself in a worthy cause; 

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, 
(so that his place shall never be with those 
cold and timid souls who neither know victory 
nor defeat. )
Theodore Roosevelt




Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar

Traveler, there is no path, the path must be forged as you walk

Alyssa Jacunski

Here's a snapshot of my review. Check out my blog for the full posting!

This book really opened my eyes to the importance of vulnerability and what we, as human beings, do to protect ourselves from it. If there's anything I've learned from Daring Greatly it's that putting yourself in a vulnerable position is a good thing - when done appropriately. Brown shares that "vulnerability is based on mutuality and requires boundaries and trust". Basically, vulnerability is not oversharing and purging information to anyone who will listen. It is sharing feelings and experiences with people who have earned the right to hear them (aka you trust them).

Daring Greatly How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

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