Review and reflection for Living Lutheran magazine April 2018. "Radical Belonging in Troubled Times."

I am new to Brown's work, but this wouldn't make me want to read her other books. The first chapter felt really disjointed to me for some reason and I stopped reading.

Brown does a fantastic job of opening our eyes to a different way of taking the proverbial "leap of faith". Essentially, we have all been socialized to protect ourselves from harm by trying to fit in. But, if we are willing to brave the wilderness, where no one stands with you, then you are truly showing courage. Keeping a strong back and an open front allows us to test our courage and convictions in a way that is truly rewarding.

I had the privilege of hearing Brene Brown speak at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago this past summer and really enjoyed her talk. As I was reading the book, I felt that there was a lot of repetition between the talk and the book, which coloured my enjoyment while I was reading, but shouldn't impact anyone else really.

This book is inspiring and thought-provoking and gives specific tips on how to go it alone, how to think about belonging, and how to brave the wilderness. I recommend this to anyone interested in self improvement and mindful participation in modern society.

Brene Brown’s new book “Braving The Wilderness” is her most vital and necessary book yet. The book’s subject is how to build and maintain connections and a sense of belonging while also staying true to ourselves and our beliefs. Through her research studies, personal experiences, and case studies combined with her remarkable perceptiveness and wisdom she provides essential directions through the wilderness of loneliness and disconnection. In today’s climate of divisiveness and separation, this is a book everyone should read. But it’s not some bitter medicine to swallow. As evidenced by her massively popular TED talks and books, her writing style and the accompanying research resonate with people and feed a real hunger for understanding, hope, and healing. Highly recommended.

My review was posted on Goodreads on 9/18/17

Full Disclosure - I have read some Brene Brown books before and they haven't all been for me. However I think that this one I needed to read and to read it now.

Given the current climate of the world, the violence and political situations we need this book now. Ms. Brown doesn't preach, provides research and tells stories so it is easier to digest, understand and apply the theories into your own life.

Thank you, this got me thinking, reaffirmed what I believed and that it is ok to stand alone in your beliefs.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I love this book. I have quoted parts of it in sermons, shared it with the mom of a little girl struggling to make friends, discussed it with friends. It is powerful, insightful, and transformational. Brene Brown draws on her own experiences as well as the words of wisdom from people like Dr. Maya Angelou. Using her data and research, she shares with us what it looks like to have the courage to live in a way that our fear of loneliness no longer gets in the way of walking with truth. Really well done. I appreciate receiving an ARC through NetGalley. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2112872507

Brene Brown never disappoints! This book is so timely given our current discourse. It's full of hard-hitting truths that will help us all become more whole-hearted people unafraid to be ourselves.

BRAVING THE WILDERNESS by Brene Brown was released today (Sept. 12) and she will be speaking locally (at Evanston Township High School, sponsored by Family Action Network) to a sold out audience on September 27.

Brown has subtitled her latest work "The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone" and she spends the first chapter talking about a childhood where she struggled to belong. Perhaps one of the most memorable and poignant sections is her description of frequent moves and her concerted effort to audition for the drill team – that alone should make us all aware of assumptions we make, unintentional hurt we may inflict, and the lasting impact of small choices. It is moving to see that this "valley" for Brown became a positive by igniting her interest and subsequent study of human nature. In fact, her TedTalk on "The Power of Vulnerability" has over 30 million views. I am curious to read more of Brown's insights and know that her previous titles, such as Rising Strong and Daring Greatly, have sparked much discussion amongst educators and concerned parents.

Links in post:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fan-presents-braving-the-wilderness-with-brene-brown-phd-registration-36990171599?aff=es2
http://www.familyactionnetwork.net/
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability

On Goodreads (link below)
One of the pleasures of reading Brené Brown's books--much like one of the joys of reading Anne Lamott's--is her relatability. This is someone, you think, whom you could comfortably have a conversation with. She's smart, funny, outspoken, and empathetic. She's always learning, and open to learning more, and she passes what she's learned on to us. Braving the Wilderness is about showing up and standing up for our beliefs, even when it's uncomfortable, even when it's lonely. It's about the big conversations on human and social issues, and it's about the small conversations about personal needs and boundaries. Brown is clear about the difference between "belonging" and "fitting in," and the courage it takes to reject the latter, which we do at the expense of being true to ourselves.

Brown is always inspirational, but her books are more than simply heartening. In her engaging style she offers the results of quantitative and qualitative research, applying it to issues that are particularly relevant to us now. She's provocative, thought-provoking, instructive, and constructive. (I'm less taken with her practice of finding acronyms for concepts that she wants us to remember--in this case, B.R.A.V.I.N.G.--but this is a minor quibble that doesn't detract from the value of the content.)

I've come to look forward to each new book from Brown. I know I'll come away with useful new information and helpful new perspectives.

Everything by Brene Brown is fantastic; her latest book is no different! Highly recommended!

Brene Brown was "discovered" by Oprah Winfrey and went on to develop a loyal readership. This is the third Brown book that I have read. The author, a social worker and social science researcher, educates by effectively using both of these skill sets. Brene Brown shares her own perceptions, struggles and life story to best make her points. She backs this with academic research that she has conducted .
This is not the best written book but its message is powerful, especially in our current political climate of division, silos and the tendency to have strong "confirmation bias." Brene Brown urges readers to calmly and bravely stand up for their beliefs while being open to having dialogues with those who have opposing views. A short book for such a tall order. It is worth reading.

Buy this book, read it, commit it word by word to memory and they make it your personal mission in life this fall to get everyone you know to do the same. This is Brene Brown raising the bar exponentially in her already perfect writing career of profound research.

Not my favorite of Brown's work, but there are some good points throughout and much to debate and discuss. A bit too political for my taste, I mean can we have a break please?

Brene Brown's latest book is timely and personal. In Braving the Wilderness, she talks eloquently and simply about how to speak and respond honestly and with compassion in the face of contentious disagreement, even when it requires us to sit with our loneliness more than is comfortable. Brown pushes the readers to find belonging by acting and speaking truthfully even when our truth and what is right are in conflict with what someone expects and wants from us. I found this book to be powerful and moving and to challenge me to speak out. Brown gives readers a path by which they can achieve belonging to themselves fully and and how to find the strength and courage to stand alone when necessary as a part of that belonging.