Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Written by Brené Brown
Narrated by Karen White
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About this audiobook
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly." —Theodore Roosevelt
Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable, or to dare greatly. Whether the arena is a new relationship, an important meeting, our creative process, or a difficult family conversation, we must find the courage to walk into vulnerability and engage with our whole hearts.
In Daring Greatly, Dr. Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability. Based on twelve years of research, she argues that vulnerability is not weakness, but rather our clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection. The book that Dr. Brown's many fans have been waiting for, Daring Greatly will spark a new spirit of truth—and trust—in our organizations, families, schools, and communities.
Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times best sellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her titles include Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With Tarana Burke, she co-edited the best-selling anthology You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience. Brené’s TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with over 60 million views. Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix, and in March 2022, she launched a new show on HBO Max that focuses on her latest book, Atlas of the Heart. Brené spends most of her time working in organizations around the world, helping develop braver leaders and more-courageous cultures. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie, and a weird Bichon named Lucy.
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Reviews for Daring Greatly
538 ratings53 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Provided some food for thought and dovetailed nicely with the research on 12 step programs and how their success lies in the recipe for authentic connection rather than abstinence itself. Jazzy formatting notwithstanding, there's a lot of nuance packed into it making it a slower read than I expected.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5If you've heard/seen Brené's videos from TED or elsewhere, it's interesting to hear this in audiobook form, and not read by the author. It's also largely expected content; Brown fleshes out the ideas that you've heard her speak. She's a good storyteller (after all, "stories are just data with a soul"), and engaging as a writer. But I sort of think that I've reached saturation on this particular book. It's good, but would have been better if I'd read it a few years ago when it was more in the zeitgeist.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brene Brown, a social worker and TED conference speaker, praises the transformative power of vulnerability. Citing psychological and sociological studies, she demonstrates that living "wholeheartedly" (truly open to criticism, our own fallibility, and the discomfort of others' vulnerability) creates better families and organizations. Convincing and engaging.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In Daring Greatly, Brene Brown borrows the words of Theodore Roosevelt to encourage us to find the courage to be vulnerable. Vulnerability, which she says encompasses uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure, “sounds like truth and feel like courage”. The book takes a very common sense, practical approach. Findings from the author’s extensive research are presented, and this is done in a way that is engaging and didn’t feel like reading about research.The author challenges several myths about vulnerability, including the idea that it is a weakness. She points out that daring greatly requires challenging shame and the gremlins it fills our heads with. She has come up with term “gremlin ninja warrior training” to describe how to build shame resilience; this includes recognizing shame, talking about how you feel, and reaching out for help.She identifies varies strategies (e.g. perfectionism and numbing) that we use to shield ourselves from vulnerability, and ways that we can break down those shields that are holding us back. She believes that disengagement underlies many social problems, and this is influenced by the gap between our the values we practice and the values we aspire to. She offers “minding the gap” as a daring greatly strategy to combat this.The section on rehumanizing education and work resonated particularly strongly with me, as I have experienced workplace bullying. A culture of shame in the workplace may be demonstrated through behaviours such as blaming, gossiping, favouritism, name-calling, and harassment. It can be even more overt when shame is used as a management tool through the use of “bullying, criticism in front of colleagues, public reprimands, or reward systems that intentionally belittle people.” This kind of shaming “crushes our tolerance for vulnerability, thereby killing engagement, innovation, creativity, productivity, and trust.”There is also a chapter devoted to parenting. Parenting has been shown to be a key predictor in how susceptible children are to shame, and children need to experience compassion, connection, worthiness, and belonging, not fear, blame, shame, and judgment. None of the recommendations she makes are new and earthshattering, but they are all powerful and remind us to be aware of the messages we are conveying and behaviours we are modelling.Society often tells us that being vulnerable is a sign of weakness. This book does an excellent job of challenging that and demonstrating how courageous and powerful being vulnerable really is. Mental illness in particular tends to make us fearful of being vulnerable, and this book offers some very good food for thought.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5some good stuff; some of it seemed oversimplified
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brene Brown's view on living wholeheartedly is one that needs to be explored by all and practiced on a regular basis. I'm still amazed that this entire book stems from so many years of detailed research that she put into it. She is honest (and vulnerable) in calling out where she has missed the boat in her research previously as she calls herself out and opens up her research to include a wider perspective, which is impressive and earned my trust immediately. I have never been one to read a lot of self-improvement books in the past, but have read more in the past year, so although many have been reading Brene Brown for years, this was my first book of hers, and I am truly impressed by her candor, intelligence, views, and perspective. This is a book that everyone would benefit from, no matter what age or life circumstance.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brene Brown's view on living wholeheartedly is one that needs to be explored by all and practiced on a regular basis. I'm still amazed that this entire book stems from so many years of detailed research that she put into it. She is honest (and vulnerable) in calling out where she has missed the boat in her research previously as she calls herself out and opens up her research to include a wider perspective, which is impressive and earned my trust immediately. I have never been one to read a lot of self-improvement books in the past, but have read more in the past year, so although many have been reading Brene Brown for years, this was my first book of hers, and I am truly impressed by her candor, intelligence, views, and perspective. This is a book that everyone would benefit from, no matter what age or life circumstance.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A book practicing what it preaches: the core need for vulnerability to overcome shame and to prove resilient to shame in order to more effectively life and relate to other people.The book is written in terms of the author's journey as a researcher, only to discover that the very things she was researching proved necessary in her own life. She speaks of "Wholehearted" people, those who developed effective techniques for handling difficulties in life in healthy ways. Wholeheartedness proved strongly related to a willingness to prove vulnerable and practicing shame resilience. The author speaks of vulnerability and its need: the willingness to take risks and to be uncomfortable in openness to others and to experiences. She spends much time discussing shame: what it is, the internalized voice we all have, shame's toolkit, and how we can prove more resilient in the face of shame. Specific applications are made in terms of the business environment and in terms of parenting and child development. Throughout the book one notices how the author seeks to be vulnerable herself and to communicate in ways which do not shame but facilitate openness. Quite worth consideration.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I've been a fan of Brene Brown ever since I stumbled across a video of a TED talk she did a few years back. I initially tracked down a library copy of this book but quickly realized I needed to buy a copy so that I could mark it up.Dr. Brown has done extensive research on the corrosive role that shame plays in human relations. She sees admitting our innate vulnerability as the secret to healing ourselves and connecting with others.Lots of food for thought in this book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another brilliant book from Brene. Highly recommended. It takes the research a step further than the Gift of Imperfection. There are some great insights in this book. Looking forward to reading her latest book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rarely do I give a book 5 stars, but for me, this book was nothing less than transformative. Brene Brown comes across as a regular, flawed person who has found her way out of the dark with a great deal of effort. For her to be able to deliver this information on how she did it and we can too in a funny, uplifting manner is an incredible accomplishment. If you have never struggled with vulnerability, then you are very lucky- but this book might not be for you. If you a person that struggles every day to believe you are good enough, despite your many achievements, I cannot recommend this book enough. Diving deeper into what the underlying causes of that "not got enough" feeling are was illuminating for me. Now that I understand it, I too can muster the courage to Dare Greatly. I am immensely grateful for this book and for Brown's bravery in writing it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent...I am changed in the positive for having read it...highly recommended!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5There are simply not enough good things that I can say about this book. It can be hard to put into practice the principles outline to be Wholehearted, but it's worth the trial. Ever since seeing Brown's TEDtalks a few years ago, I have loved her work and looked forward to reading this book. Getting away from "not enough" and embracing vulnerability are really hard to do, and she stresses that it is a practice and not perfection.
I had been raised by a Wholehearted mother and it reinforces so much of what she taught me growing up. I couldn't put it into words for so long what made her so amazing and why people flocked to her and how she changed the room when she walked into it, but I do now. She is simply wholehearted, even when she's failing. She dares greatly every day, she always has. This book has given me a way to understand her and all the things she's done. It's given me that little bit more of a guide on how to help get to where she is. Maybe I'll get there, maybe I won't. But I'll dare greatly and hopefully I can pass that on to my son as well.
Everyone should read this book and review it every time we feel like we're "not enough". - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brene brown changed my life.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5If more people understood what shame really does to people, there would be a lot less shaming going on. Shame has no positive uses, and as a society we need to learn to stop imposing it on people. I highly recommend this book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a very interesting and thought provoking book. I was pleasantly surprised by the specific attention paid to teaching and parenting. I listened to it on audio, but it had so many intriguing ideas, I plan to reread it in print.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A wholehearted treatise on living (and thriving) with vulnerability, grounded in research but written in an accessible, actionable manner.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic book says I who doesn't really like self-help books and rarely, if ever, have actually ever finished one. But this one is so relatable and well-written with just the right about of humor that I enjoyed it immensely. It also could not have come at a better time in my life when I was on the verge of chickening out or daring greatly and with Ms. Brown's help. I went for it and it was not not as painful as I imagined. I still didn't succeed in the typical sense of the word, but I showed up and sometimes that counts as a victory.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A new favorite quote, from Theodore Roosevelt: "It's not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is in the arena. Whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly ... who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly ..." And this from a person who writes little critical comments about all the books she reads.And is constantly dismayed with the State of the World.A reminder to self: Spend more time in the arena and less in the stands.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Only read about one half the book -- it seemed entirely common sense to me. The "cultural norms" and definitions of femininity and masculinity she applies are very restrictive and not my experience at all. Maybe living in a progressive state helps!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I do believe that this book can change your life and make our little burdens a little easier to cope with. The book for me was an affirmation of how I try to live on a daily basis. It gave me permission to dare greatly, share my real thoughts with others, and make a fool of myself trying to live well with others (and forgive myself later). I highly recommend it, especially for the sections on organizational philosophy and parenting.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book truly resonated with me. I picked it up on a whim from the library and was immediately sucked in. It gave me new ways to think about vulnerability, shame, courage, and risk. I appreciate that the book is founded on academic research undertaken by the author. I flew through the book and now want to go through it again in order to really absorb all it has to offer.The Teddy Roosevelt quote that inspired the book's title is now one of my favorite quotes. I'll admit I wasn't familiar with it until reading this book.I'm certainly looking forward to reading the author's other works and viewing her TED talks.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is one of those books that come along every so often to fill a gap in the genre. Brown's main point is that people can't truly reach their potential, in performance, in experiences, and in relationships, without making themselves vulnerable. Instead though, we learn at a young age to develop armors like perfectionism, numbing, and cynicism. I like the way her book is backed by real research and life experience. I like the way her applications are balanced across business, personal, and family scenarios. It would be a rare person for whom this book doesn't provoke some amount of new self-awareness.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's hard to do things. Very hard. And for me, I'd rather put everything off until it somehow fixes itself. So this book hit very close to home. Arrow to my heart. But it's what I needed. In fact, because of this book, I got a new job. I took that jump and left a job that I grew to hate and found a new one that I love. I dared to dare greatly and I will continue to do so.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Received this book from Early Reviewers and read the introduction, wasn't moved enough to read further, and just picked it back up over the weekend. After reading into the first two chapters I wondered aloud to my husband why I didn't devour the book when I first picked it up. Read the entire book so quickly the second time around!Since Brown refers to her TED talk in the book, I was excited to watch it (fan of TEDTalks) but wanted to read her book first. I am - I think - one of the kinds of readers that she refers to in the book that is skeptical that a topic on vulnerability or shame is worth reading an entire book about. Consider me reformed. She makes a strong case for considering vulnerability. One lightbulb went off when she explained how so many of us cite joyful moments as vulnerable ones. She has other helpful insights that I'm planning to use in unexpected ways. I'll be using some of the early chapters in her book in my university classes on peer mentoring.I think I would have been uncomfortable with the book if it read too much like a self-help book. It doesn't. It is helpful, I have dog-eared tons of pages, but there is intriguing and substantive research to inform her writing.The thing that I like the best is that she shares her vulnerability in her writing and she writes like a real person... helps that she seems so smart too.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A colleague posted a quote from Brene Brown; another colleague heard her speak at a conference; and a third male colleague I thought was beyond learning from anyone said her thinking on vulnerability changed his life. Then her picture appeared on Facebook; then a link to a TED talk. Who is Brene Brown and why are people so excited about her? And then this book came in the mail from Library Thing Early Reviewers....and I understood the enthusiasm. Her message is timely, clearly stated, delightfully written, and strikes at the fears in all of us.If we've heard all this before, we've never heard it detailed and described in this manner. I particularly like her take on how a scarcity mentality contributes to the unwillingness to be vulnerable. Beyond self-help, this book provides useful research, insight and inspiration for anyone who wants to change their world.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program and have to admit that it took me a while to pick it up. I mean, who wants to delve into a book by an academic on the topic of vulnerability? RIght? It's going to be dry/academic-speak and it's going to be uncomfortable to read, not a combination I was excited about.Well, I couldn't have been more wrong! Daring Greatly is a thought-provoking, well-written, not-dry-at-all book. As Brown points out, "Vulnerability is the core, the heart, the center of meaningful human experiences." Brown's audience is everyone from business executives to parents, and her book focuses on how to be vulnerable in those different situations, and how vulnerability can effect (in good ways!) your business interactions, your management style, your interactions with friends and family, and your parenting.I definitely recommend it - it's a quick read and you'll likely find yourself marking pages and underlining passages.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Warning: reading this book will change your life, so approach with caution! We live in a society that values achievement without showing any leniency for failure. Dr. Brown's book caused a radical shift in my perspective on vulnerability and the power it contains. Without risk, there can be no meaningful progress, no great triumph, no real success, but that requires sacrificing safety. With a title taken from one of the most brilliant things TR ever said, Dr. Brown truly delivers a book that leaves a powerful and lasting impression.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shame. Blame. Vulnerability. Perfectionism. If any of these words resonate with you, this book will make an impact. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown examines how and why we numb ourselves to feeling--both the good and the bad. In it's scholarly yet easily accessible tone, this book makes a perfect compliment to two of my other favorites: The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin and Quiet by Susan Cain. I've not yet read Brown's first book, Gifts of Imperfection, but have now added it to my list.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was interested in this book after watching Brene Brown's TED talks on vulnerability and shame. It's one thing to talk about "being yourself" or "leaning into the discomfort" but it's a much more difficult thing to tackle how to do that and why, which is what she tackles in this book. It is an engaging, interesting read, but more than that, it made me realize what areas in my life need changing, and it gave me some pointers on where to start the process.