Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK - A timely and important book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture, from the #1 bestselling author of Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection
Don't miss the five-part HBO Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart!
"True belonging doesn't require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are." Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, MSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives--experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging. Brown argues that we're experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, "True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that's rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it's easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it's a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It's a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts." Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, "The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand."
Don't miss the five-part HBO Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart!
"True belonging doesn't require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are." Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, MSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives--experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging. Brown argues that we're experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, "True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that's rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it's easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it's a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It's a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts." Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, "The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand."
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Community Reviews
This was another one for the Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation book club. It was an interesting read that made me think about my own beliefs and whether I “brave the wilderness” & stand alone by standing true to my beliefs or whether I sacrifice my true beliefs in order to “fit in” or “keep the peace” It really makes you think about the benefits of having those uncomfortable conversations & staying true to yourself.
WOW! Just amazing journey that we are all on. The sense of belonging vs. fitting in. It truly is an eye opening book!
Well, she tried. It’s just... it makes sense in theory and not so much in practise. She repeats the same lines A LOT. It feels like she struggled to write this and was just trying her hardest to do this thing about bridging divides because that’s the thing they talk about now. Yeah, it’s a noble thing to want to do, it’s just.. you can’t speak about privilege and then tell someone they’re being insulting when they stand up for themselves the wrong way. Also, she’s forgetting the level of stubbornness and difficulty certain people have & why expressing your opinion to them is asking to be attacked over and over. I mean, I do really like the idea, and would like to practise some aspect of it, its just she doesn’t even really go into how very well.
3 stars.
This was up and down for me. I definitely connected with ideas about belonging (if you work in higher education you know how much we say belonging) and leaning into joy, fear, and vulnerability.
But she lost me at times when essentially saying we should all just be in joy with others even if we disagree with them. Certainly we can do this but for me, there is a line that needs to be drawn between just a disagreement and all out hate and violence against others. I find this argument very easy to say as a white woman (a shared identity with the author) but she does not explore the privileges associated with being able to say these things. After the events of the last year, meeting in the middle rhetoric is just not hitting for me personally.
This was up and down for me. I definitely connected with ideas about belonging (if you work in higher education you know how much we say belonging) and leaning into joy, fear, and vulnerability.
But she lost me at times when essentially saying we should all just be in joy with others even if we disagree with them. Certainly we can do this but for me, there is a line that needs to be drawn between just a disagreement and all out hate and violence against others. I find this argument very easy to say as a white woman (a shared identity with the author) but she does not explore the privileges associated with being able to say these things. After the events of the last year, meeting in the middle rhetoric is just not hitting for me personally.
As someone who often has felt they were in the “out” group, Brene brings her beautiful double edged sword of scientific research and relatable anecdotes to explain what true belonging is. Not molding yourself to please others, but being so boldly and bravely authentic that those who appreciate us come in time.
The idea of being alone - of refusing to conform to one group, of refusing to change your authentic self for others - is one that I believe so many people need to hear.
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