Name: The Gifts of Imperfection
Rating: 4.089285714285714 (168 reviews)
ISBN: 9781592858491

Brené Brown

An expert of the psychology of shame presents advice on how to overcome paralyzing fears and self-consciousness, and at the same time increase feelings of self-worth, gratitude, and acceptance.

Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

The Gifts of Imperfection

Scott Wilson

Very interesting read by award winning author Brene Brown. This is a definite re-read for me as there were a number of interesting focus areas.

Emily Burns

I started my journey reading Brene Brown’s books several years ago now, but I had skipped this one and gone straight to Daring Greatly, which changed my brain and my life. Backtracking to read this one, at this moment in my life, has been similarly groundbreaking. Brown’s researcher-storyteller style is incredibly digestible and accessible, which is making a real difference in this world, I think.

Lisa Wright

Not your typical self-help, Brene uses actual research to illustrate her evidence that a "wholehearted" approach is the only approach.

In hardcover for the first time, this tenth-anniversary edition of the game-changing #1 New York Times bestseller features a new foreword and brand-new tools to make the work your own. For over a decade, Brené Brown has found a special place in our hearts as a gifted mapmaker and a fellow traveler. She is both a social scientist and a kitchen-table friend whom you can always count on to tell the truth, make you laugh, and, on occasion, cry with you. And what's now become a movement all started with The Gifts of Imperfection, which has sold more than two million copies in thirty-five different languages across the globe. What transforms this book from words on a page to effective daily practices are the ten guideposts to wholehearted living. The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way. Brené writes, "This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, 'My story matters because I matter.' Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance."

Features a New Foreword and Brand-New Tools

The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition

updating my review after recent information, but this book still holds super important lessons for me that I will continue to carry rent free forever

Jacque

Alli

I was going to give this 3 stars until she quoted and said she was inspired by Malcolm Gladwell

Abby

I really appreciate this book greatly. The overall ideas she mentioned and specifically things she quotes from some of her earlier works on shame make me want to dig into all of her oeuvre (which I plan on doing). 
I think the overall principles of this book are simple and profound in a way that I could read it a million times and it would always seem so simple and "duh," but there would always be a takeaway lesson for me exactly where I am and there would always be at least a few parts that would punch me in the face. 
 I also ended up adding about half of the bibliography to my to-read list. Very good stuff. Recommended.

Rachel DeLaurenti

Soooo good!! Such an amazing read. I’m glad I took my time with reading it, as the information needs to be digested well and practiced over time. Definitely one of my new favorite non-fiction books. So insightful! I can really see myself re-reading this in the future.

Ugis

Must read for those who struggle with imperfection, vulnerabilities, fear and shame. Wonderfully written, lot of food for thought and takeaway quotes. [reading time: 4h48m]

Melanie Richards

2.5 stars. I highlighted some bits, but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting or needed at the time. This feels more along the lines of repackaging the same findings she is known for (shame, vulnerability), and sure, these are wrapped up in perfectionism. It didn’t necessarily scratch the itch for me, though.

Analyse Montejano

Life-changing. Truly. I have a short list of books to reread yearly and this is on there. Such a small book but I have to take my time with it!

Julia

Gah! There was so many great nuggets in this book! I am a sucker for a good self growth/self reflective book. Her explaining shame, and anxiety as well as other things, makes you feel very seen.

Some of my notes:
“We cannot give our kids what we don’t have.”

“The parts I love about myself and the parts Ive orphaned.”

“Compassionate people are boundary people.”

“Sharing is a privilege, who has earned the right to hear my story?”

Other beautiful words… Love is a practice, authenticity is a practice.

Namera Nous

Helaas maar weinig hoofdstukken die me aanspraken en waar ik een connectie mee voelde. Verder een prima boek

Dave Konopka

This book gave solid structure to some amorphous concepts like belonging, hope, shame, and resiliency. I’d put this in your queue if you’re interested in building more emotional resiliency and understanding for yourself.

Ivaylo Durmonski

Usually, hearing the words love and compassion in a sentence immediately triggers an eye-rolling effect in me.

I simply can’t stand the conclusion these two words usually lead to. Authentic, self-love, yadda yadda. Yet, this book, despite being full of these commonly loathed words, is somehow readable and realistic. In fact, I believe it’s one of the best self-help books I’ve read in a while.

The author talks about topics like love and connection in a more adequate way, not in terms of trying to trigger fake emotions.

Brené Brown heavily promotes the journey of Wholehearted living which aims to make us accept others for what they are, so we can ultimately accept who we are.

In a society that places blame and finger-pointing on the top, these two qualities are worth exploring.

This is surely a great book for everyone who strives towards perfection and feels not enough in terms of what he does.

The stories and the practices inside The Gifts of Imperfection will give you the strength to do things even if they are not 100% amazing. Additionally, it will help you realize that even experts are often doubtful in their skills.

The key takeaway:

Allow yourself to be imperfect. That’s the only way you can go through your day without feeling regret, unaffected by the outside pressure, and also the only way you can build something worthwhile.

Read full summary: 
https://durmonski.com/book-summaries/...

Ani Velasquez

Florian Schindler

When our embarrassments and fears lie, we often listen to them anyway. They thwart our gratitude, acceptance, and compassion—our goodness. They insist, “I am not worthy.” But we are worthy—of self-discovery, personal growth, and boundless love. With Brené Brown’s game-changing New York Times bestseller The Gifts of Imperfection—which has sold more than 2 million copies in more than 30 different languages, and Forbes recently named one of the "Five Books That Will Actually Change Your Outlook On Life"—we find courage to overcome paralyzing fear and self-consciousness, strengthening our connection to the world. A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living, rather than just the average self-help book, with this groundbreaking work Brené Brown, Ph.D., bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an “imperfect” life and embracing living authentically. Brown’s “ten guideposts” are benchmarks for authenticity that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty—a perfectly imperfect life. Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to “dig deep” and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can’t hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection.

The Gifts of Imperfection Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

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