BRAVING THE WILDERNESS

Being a fan of Brene Brown’s previous books, I expected this one to be good. I definitely did not expect it to hit home so hard. Multiple times when reading this book I had to put it down, close my eyes and reflect. Although written in an easy to read way, this was not an easy read. It was not easy because with everything that is happening in the US and worldwide, with the mess on both national and international political scene, the hate people give to one another, I also got pulled into taking sides. It is so easy to disagree with anyone whose opinion differs from our own. It is so easy to become obsessed with the political drama and point fingers at the ‘bad guys’. This book changed me. "The goal is to get to the place where we can think, I am aware of what’s happening, the part I play, and how I can make it better, and that doesn't mean I have to deny the joy in my life." Braving the Wilderness is an eye opener. "Today we are edging closer and closer to a world where political and ideological discourse has become an exercise in dehumanization. And social media are the primary platforms for our dehumanizing behavior. On Twitter and Facebook we can rapidly push the people with whom we disagree into the dangerous territory of moral exclusion, with little to no accountability, and often in complete anonymity." Brene touches upon all the topics that divide our society, if not the world: 2016 US election, the disrespect between Republicans and Democrats, all possible aspects of racism, gun laws, the way social media and anonymity makes it easy to express hateful opinions. But this is not a book about Democrats, Republicans, Whites or Blacks. This is a book about people – human beings coming together, coexist peacefully and get along. It challenges everything we think we know about belonging, not only on the personal level, but also much broader spectrum – the country, our communities, and our cultures. Brene focuses on basic rules, which may not speak to you when you look at them briefly, but make so much sense when you open your mind and think about them deeply. "People are hard to hate close up. Move in." "Speak truth to BS. Be Civil." "Hold hands. With strangers." "Strong back. Soft front. Wild heart." Recommended read for everyone!

Absolutely incredible. Brene Brown once again shows a knack for finding the universal and fundamental aspects of human existence that we, as a society, try to ignore. By baring her own fears, struggles, and insecurities, in this book, Brene Brown gently coaxes us out of the fortresses that we have built around our hearts, showing us that the walls we have built to protect ourselves from pain also prevent us from experiencing joy and connection. Anger and contempt and isolation and clinging to what is familiar does not truly assuage our deep sense of loneliness. I have no doubt that if everyone were to read this book, the world would become a better place.

Easy to read. Brene is a great story teller. Amazing insights into making connections with others. This book offers some understanding for our current world. I think a must read. I wrote notes all over in mine and will keep this on my book shelf. I plan to go back and revisit this book often.

I don't know if this was something that I needed at the time in my life, but I soaked up every page of this book, highlighting and underlining the whole way through. I read this book twice in five days. I have tried to read other Brene Brown before and just couldn't make it through the book. However, this book was totally different. I would definitely recommend this book.

Entertaining, thoughtful and addresses a topic that affects many people. Not as detailed with case studies as her earlier books and at times a little repetitive of things that she has written before.

It so resonated with me that I read through it twice right away. It affected my response to some types of communication immediately, gave me what I needed to understand the importance of one's own need to be clear and grounded, and how to 'respond to BS and stay civil.' (paraphrased). I also appreciated her perspective of how social media has separated us and allowed us to be unaccountable to each other, and that our real longing is for personal connection and contact ('move in, hold hands, with strangers'). This will be a foundation book for me for a long time.

My seller was SSTRBOOKS, aka Colin Walker. I do not want to own this edition of the book, believing it to be an unauthorized printing. It was to be sold only on the Indian subcontinent, and I'm in the US. Its typographical errors (see photos: missing space after comma, Ellenand as one word, invitarions for invitations) are at odds with Brene Brown's product quality. I've contacted Amazon for a refund as well as contacting the author.

Great book! Brene’ Brown is a gifted writer who is speaking truth into and about issues that affect us all. A must read if we care at all about the collision course we’re on in our society, America and the world.