Review: Daring Greatly
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené BrownMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that people have been telling me about and that I just didn't get around to until I launched into full self-improvement mode at the beginning of this year. I am so glad that I finally got around to reading Daring Greatly, or listening to it. This is one of those self-help books that highlights a lot of things that most of us understand intuitively with a few twists that perhaps we hadn't thought of.
Brene Brown's premise is that vulnerability is characterized as a sign of weakness in our society, but it is actually what makes it possible to be truly courageous; if there's nothing at stake, what's the risk? She carefully breaks down what vulnerability is and what it isn't, and how we can prepare ourselves for difficult conversations and cope with setbacks without compromising our own ability to connect with others in a genuine and compassionate way.
Brown draws from her own research as well as the research of famous psychologists like Kristin Neff to support a vision of a kinder, more connected, and more compassionate life. She also discusses how vulnerability can be an asset in the parenting relationship as well as work, not just life approach and intimate relationships. I think that cramming all of those settings into one book made some parts a bit repetitive and perhaps not as deep as some might like, but it's a good starting place for discussion.
I now recommend this book to all of my clients and friends.