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Temper

Practicing Freedom in an Unfree World

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Pub Date Nov 10 2026 | Archive Date Nov 24 2026

St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Essentials / Sounds True


Description

Begin the journey to freedom, even when the way is uncertain

“Every page in Temper sizzles with ancient truth and brand new, desperately needed hope. The world is on fire—it’s true. Temper is our Emergency Exit.”—Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed

“Temper is challenging and heartbreaking, mystical and invitational, ancestral and glorious.”—Dr. Resmaa Menakem, New York Times bestselling author of My Grandmother’s Hands

Freedom isn’t a distant, political goal, but rather something we can practice right now. Drawing on the ancestral wisdom of Harriet Tubman and other fugitives, the lineage of Black Feminism, and the discipline of martial arts, Autumn Brown teaches us how to temper our bodies and spirits for this resilient practice of freedom―exactly where we are.

In this urgent and soulful book, Brown teaches you to:

• Shift from a fugue state of trauma-induced dissociation to a fugitive state of alertness and agency to navigate the ever-changing world.
• Stop the exhausting attempt to control your environment and start the practice of conditioning for the unknown.
• Discover how your deepest sources of pain can connect you with ancestral wisdom.
• Experience how falling apart together can create a sense of life-saving connectedness.

Autumn writes, “We ask ourselves, with every choice we make, how are we building capacity, fortitude, strength, intuition, and resilience that births a future freedom we could all live and thrive in?” Step onto the fugitive path and discover the truth: you were made for this crossing.

Begin the journey to freedom, even when the way is uncertain

“Every page in Temper sizzles with ancient truth and brand new, desperately needed hope. The world is on fire—it’s true. Temper is our...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781649634511
PRICE $21.00 (USD)
PAGES 256

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Average rating from 1 member


Featured Reviews

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This book is ideal for peacemakers and leaders—consultants, teachers, community organizers, and family members alike. In a time when uncertainty is high, trust is scarce, and survival feels paramount, it offers many valuable ideas. However, I couldn't fully embrace it. The concepts of gatekeeping and maintaining sacred boundaries are important to me: earning and preserving trust requires respecting that some access is not meant for everyone, and that this is not personal. One does not need to speculate about these practices or demand entry—simply acknowledge that certain spaces are closed while exploring other ways to connect. While the book conveys this message, it includes a caveat suggesting that boundaries could be pushed, which I find concerning. Overall, the text serves as a practical guide, offering breathing exercises, reflection questions, and theories to explore, and I do recommend it.

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