Daring Greatly by Dr Brené Brown is the best book I’ve read on the life-giving power of showing up as your true self. If you’ve read it, then you know what I’m talking about.
But if you haven’t, here’s why:
1. It’s evidence-based
Brown is a social researcher at the University of Houston. Her work is based on thousands of case studies. Real people talking about the collateral damage of shame.
2. It’s full of fun stories
No dry academic prose here. Brown is a natural storyteller and you’ll see yourself (or someone you know) whether she talks about work or parenting.
She’s real and relatable.
3. It explains why never enough is toxic
Brown explains that If we believe that we’re never enough, we stay safe and play small.
But when we feel we belong and we’re enough as we are, we try out new things. We risk failing and, when we do, we still believe that we’re enough.
That daring is how we grow.
4. It frees you to own who you are
Brown equates being vulnerable, being yourself, with creativity, joy, and wholehearted living. She lists all that we lose by being hard on ourselves and not daring to show up fully.
I can’t recommend this book enough, or any of Brené Brown’s work.