leonore_book's review against another edition
4.0
This is a quick read, but it has such meaning and power behind every word. Great advice and can't wait to read more books by her.
stxr_mx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
monkeybookworm's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
sassymean's review against another edition
2.0
There were things within this book that I really liked, but overall felt that there was a lot...missing? I also wasn't sure exactly what this book was supposed to be, is it a memoir, a self-help book, a presentation of Brown's research? I'm still not entirely sure. I also do agree with a lot of the other reviews on here who stated (better than I ever could) that it is overwhelmingly evident Brown speaks from a very privileged place and she doesn't even know it. Some of the comments made by Brown were a little cringey and tone-deaf.
sarahlisbeth84's review against another edition
5.0
"Sometimes the most dangerous thing for kids is the silence that allows them to construct their own stories--stories that almost always cast them as alone and unworthy of love and belonging."
"True belonging is not passive. It's not the belonging that comes with just joining a group. It's not fitting in or pretending or selling out because it's safer. It's a practice that requires to be more vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are."
"For the moment, most of us are either making the choice to protect ourselves from conflict, discomfort, and vulnerability by staying quiet, or picking sides and in the process slowly and paradoxically adopting the behavior of the people we're fighting."
"People are hard to hate close up. Move in."
"It's easier to be pissed off than it is to be hurt or scared."
"Anger is a powerful catalyst but a life-sucking companion."
"Most of the criticism comes from people who are intent on forcing these false either/or dichotomies and shaming us for not hating the right people. It's definitely messier taking a nuanced stance, but it's also critically important to true belonging."
"When all that binds us is what we believe rather than who we are, changing our mind or challenging the collective ideology is risky."
"Belonging is being accepted for you. Fitting in is being accepted for being like everyone else."
"True belonging is not passive. It's not the belonging that comes with just joining a group. It's not fitting in or pretending or selling out because it's safer. It's a practice that requires to be more vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are."
"For the moment, most of us are either making the choice to protect ourselves from conflict, discomfort, and vulnerability by staying quiet, or picking sides and in the process slowly and paradoxically adopting the behavior of the people we're fighting."
"People are hard to hate close up. Move in."
"It's easier to be pissed off than it is to be hurt or scared."
"Anger is a powerful catalyst but a life-sucking companion."
"Most of the criticism comes from people who are intent on forcing these false either/or dichotomies and shaming us for not hating the right people. It's definitely messier taking a nuanced stance, but it's also critically important to true belonging."
"When all that binds us is what we believe rather than who we are, changing our mind or challenging the collective ideology is risky."
"Belonging is being accepted for you. Fitting in is being accepted for being like everyone else."
libraryleslie's review against another edition
5.0
I want to go back and re-read the section about political division. It was really interesting how polarizing we have become and how lonely it makes us. How we have become more isolated by surrounding ourselves with people who think like us and how negatively it affects us. People tend to only watch news and shows and read things that support our beliefs and ignore whatever doesn't fit in. How people in the extreme right have more in common with the extreme left than they do others in their own party. All or nothing is a falacy. It is not either you are with me or against me.
wahine2748's review against another edition
3.0
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. -Maya Angelou
Books tend to find you at the right time when you need them. This book found me at a book exchange within months after my move to a new state. North Carolina felt like a wilderness to me, but the experience of finding yourself and your tribe again in a new place is nothing new. It's a scary undertaking that forces you to look at yourself, your needs, and what you want from others.
This book, while not necessarily revealing any new concepts, reminded me of the importance to find true belonging in yourself first before anybody else--something I especially struggle with when making new friends.
Because of this struggle, I wanted a little more from this book about how to find that belonging and to further explore the BRAVING concept Brene touches on a couple times. Yet even with this desire for more, I enjoyed the author's references, inspirations and experiences and look forward to attempting to brave the wilderness in my own life.
Books tend to find you at the right time when you need them. This book found me at a book exchange within months after my move to a new state. North Carolina felt like a wilderness to me, but the experience of finding yourself and your tribe again in a new place is nothing new. It's a scary undertaking that forces you to look at yourself, your needs, and what you want from others.
This book, while not necessarily revealing any new concepts, reminded me of the importance to find true belonging in yourself first before anybody else--something I especially struggle with when making new friends.
Because of this struggle, I wanted a little more from this book about how to find that belonging and to further explore the BRAVING concept Brene touches on a couple times. Yet even with this desire for more, I enjoyed the author's references, inspirations and experiences and look forward to attempting to brave the wilderness in my own life.