Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Boundaries summary
When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life
23 mins
Brief summary
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend is a self-help book that teaches readers how to set healthy boundaries, both with themselves and with others. Through real-life stories and practical advice, they show how boundaries can lead to healthier relationships and a more fulfilling life.
Topics
Table of Contents
Boundaries
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Setting boundaries is an act of kindness.
Walls, fences, No Trespassing signs: when you think about it, your physical environment is delimited by all kinds of concrete boundaries. What’s more, those boundaries exist for good reason. That barbed wire fence around a nuclear power plant? It’s there for your own protection – it prevents you from inadvertently wandering into a hazardous zone.
Boundaries are just as necessary for your emotional and spiritual protection. Unlike physical boundaries, however, emotional and spiritual boundaries aren’t laid out in a way that’s clear to everyone. That can make it difficult to establish your own boundaries and to discern those of others. Worse, enforcing your boundaries can make you feel mean. But it shouldn’t.
The key message here is: Setting boundaries is an act of kindness.
When you set a boundary, you take ownership of your needs, wants, and feelings. Yet when we do this and prioritize ourselves, we often feel like we’re neglecting those of others.
Let’s be clear: setting healthy boundaries doesn’t mean you have no stake in other people’s problems or spiritual concerns. It simply means that you’re not solely responsible for them. As the Bible’s book of Galatians teaches, you are responsible to others but for yourself.
Still confused by this distinction? We can unpack it with the example of a hypothetical family. Let’s call them the O’Rileys.
The O’Riley’s are a loving family, but their son James has lost his way. He’s been expelled from school and developed a drug problem.
The O’Riley’s can take responsibility for their son’s issues by enrolling him in another school and paying the fines when he’s busted for drug possession. But will James solve his problem? Unlikely. Functionally, he doesn’t even have a problem – his parents have shouldered it for him.
Alternatively, the O’Riley’s could own their responsibility to their son without taking responsibility for his problems. They can listen to him, support him, and take steps to facilitate his sobriety – all without stepping in to solve his problems for him. The O’Riley’s are taking care of themselves by setting those boundaries. But they’re also taking care of James. Setting boundaries is not just an act of kindness toward yourself. It’s an act of love toward everyone around you.
Want to see all full key ideas from Boundaries?
Key ideas in Boundaries
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Boundaries about?
Boundaries (1992) is a handbook for those who can’t say no, those who won’t take no for an answer, and everyone in between. Grounded equally in Christian faith and contemporary psychology, this book is an eloquent argument for the emotional and spiritual necessity of firm, healthy boundaries.
Boundaries Review
Boundaries (1992) is a book that explores the importance of setting boundaries in our personal and professional lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Practical guidance: It offers actionable advice on how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, helping us improve our relationships and take care of ourselves.
- Real-life examples: The book uses relatable stories to illustrate the consequences of our boundary-related choices, allowing us to better understand the impact of setting and respecting boundaries.
- Engaging perspective: With its engaging storytelling, the book keeps us captivated from start to finish, making it an enjoyable and enlightening read.
Who should read Boundaries?
- Doormats who let others walk all over them;
- Emotionally unavailable people who never let anyone in; and
- Martyrs who do everything for others but accept no help in return.
Categories with Boundaries
Book summaries like Boundaries
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Boundaries FAQs
What is the main message of Boundaries?
The main message of Boundaries is that setting healthy boundaries is essential for personal growth and healthy relationships.
How long does it take to read Boundaries?
The reading time for Boundaries varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Boundaries a good book? Is it worth reading?
Boundaries is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their personal and professional life. It offers practical insights and actionable steps for setting and maintaining boundaries.
Who is the author of Boundaries?
The authors of Boundaries are Henry Cloud and John Townsend.
What to read after Boundaries?
If you're wondering what to read next after Boundaries, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
- How to Stay Sane by Philippa Perry
- Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
- The Book of Boundaries by Melissa Urban
- The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
- Either/Or by Soren Kierkegaard
- Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- Making Habits, Breaking Habits by Jeremy Dean
- Atomic Habits by James Clear