Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead By Brene Brown I was first introduced to Brene Brown on the website TED.com when I watched her videos on shame and vulnerability. Since then I have been a huge fan of all her work. Somehow she always manages to deliver a message that is very healing and nurturing. In her new book Daring Greatly, Dr. Brown wants us to challenge everything that we think we know when it comes to the subject of vulnerability. The truth of the matter is we are all vulnerable every single moment of our lives, some times we may be more than others. However, we should not run from this feeling, or we will lose.
This 256 page book is actually based on over twelve years of research. She mentions within the book that she is only comfortable talking about topics that she has thoroughly researched. As you read you are offered a powerful new vision that is meant to encourage you to dare greatly. Her argument is that vulnerability is not weakness, instead it is the easiest way to achieve courage, engagement and meaningful connection with people around us. Vulnerability is something that we have to embrace in our lives. Quoting from the book, Dr Brown writes "Vulnerability is the the core, the heart, the center of meaningful human experiences." Altogether there are seven chapters that end in the 'Final Thoughts' section. This is followed by the Appendix which is longer than the usual and is very detailed. She uses it to explain her research method, as well as her Grounded Theory research and how one should practice the act of gratitude. As you read from one chapter to the next, each one builds on the earlier chapters. This helps her build a stronger argument as to why it is important for each one of us to take steps that allow us to open up and leave us vulnerable.
Who is Brene Brown? She is a research professor based at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Having won many awards she has also written three other books The Gifts of Imperfection, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't) and Connections. She has spent the last twelve years of her life studying four human feelings these are vulnerability, shame, worthiness and courage. As a result of her amazing research she has been featured in newspapers such as the New York Times and even on the popular news network CNN.
Daring Greatly will appeal to many different people. She covers many areas including vulnerability in the workplace, in relationships, in art, expression, creativity and even in being a parent. Dr Brown is an expert at taking these very complex emotions we as people have and then talk about them from many different angles. This helps us when it comes to understanding how these emotions are affecting our relationships and our lives. She uses her comfortable writing style to incorporate her own personal stories as well as those of people she has interviewed over the last ten years into the book. Overall, Daring Greatly is a guide for everyday life that inspires you. She reveals to us that being perfect is not the important thing, just be a risk taker, regardless of the outcome. This is one of those life changing books. Simply reading it can make you stronger and braver. It is different from other books in the self help area, in that it is not written as a 'how to' book. Vulnerability is not something that is easy to describe or write about. However Dr Brene Brown does a pretty amazing job with this book. At the end of the day, neither you nor I can avoid being vulnerable. It is time that we embrace it, in order to live a fulfilling and connected life.
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