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.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
What It Takes to Heal summary
Prentis Hemphill
How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World
17 mins
Brief summary
What It Takes to Heal by Prentis Hemphill delves into the transformative journey of personal and collective healing. It offers practical insights and strategies for overcoming trauma and fostering emotional well-being within communities.
Table of Contents
What It Takes to Heal
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Vision
A young Black child stands amid a sea of white-wigged George Washingtons and Abraham Lincolns. They themself are dressed as Harriet Tubman, ready for their fourth-grade history presentation.
Hemphill waits for their classmates’ giggles to die down. They then declare, “I am Harriet Tubman. I freed people under your noses.” The room is silent. Hemphill feels the shame leave their body, replaced by a newfound strength.
This early experience taught Hemphill that healing and transformation begin in the realm of vision and imagination. Visioning is an act of seeing beyond the current reality to what could be. It involves dreaming new possibilities and committing to them – much like Harriet Tubman did. Tubman had visions and dreams that guided her actions, leading her and others to freedom despite the brutal reality of her time.
No matter who we are, we are born into other people’s visions for ourselves and the world. These inherited visions shape our expectations, behaviors, and understanding of what's possible. They can stifle our own imagination and prevent us from dreaming our own futures. In Ms. Jefferson’s class, Hemphill learned to internalize negative projections about their identity before they even understood who they were.
The process of visioning allows us to break free from these constraints and imagine new possibilities for ourselves. It’s about uncovering potential, creating unexpected alliances, and believing in a future that isn’t predestined by current circumstances.
At the heart of visioning is longing – a deep, vulnerable yearning that comes from within. Hemphill’s somatic therapist once asked them what they longed for, and after much introspection, they realized they longed to know how to love and be loved. Naming this vision made it feel more attainable, showing that articulating our deepest desires can shape our reality.
Commitment bridges the gap between our visions and the present moment. Harriet Tubman’s unwavering commitment to her vision of freedom, despite the dangers and uncertainties, exemplifies this. Our ability to dream, name our longings, and commit to them determines the likelihood of realizing these visions. In a world filled with limiting and sinister visions, it’s crucial to revisit our imaginations and dream new dreams, conjuring a future that serves us all.
Want to see all full key ideas from What It Takes to Heal?
Key ideas in What It Takes to Heal
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 What It Takes to Heal about?
What It Takes to Heal (2024) explores the interconnected nature of personal and collective healing, drawing on the author’s experiences as a therapist, facilitator, and social justice advocate. It offers insights into how trauma manifests in individuals and communities, emphasizing the importance of understanding your own healing journey in relation to broader societal issues. Through a blend of personal anecdotes, practical exercises, and philosophical reflections, it provides a roadmap for cultivating resilience, compassion, and transformative change.
What It Takes to Heal Review
What It Takes to Heal (2022) explores the journey of healing from individual and collective trauma, offering profound insights into resilience and transformation. Here's why this book is a compelling read:
- Delving into intersectionality and systemic oppression, it sheds light on the complexities of healing and emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes.
- Through vulnerability and personal narratives, the book fosters empathy and connection, inspiring readers to engage with their own healing processes.
- By providing practical tools and holistic approaches, the book empowers individuals to embark on a healing journey that is sustainable and transformative.
Who should read What It Takes to Heal?
- Self-help enthusiasts and mindfulness practitioners
- Social justice activists and organizers
- Community leaders and educators
Categories with What It Takes to Heal
Book summaries like What It Takes to Heal
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
36 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
What It Takes to Heal FAQs
What is the main message of What It Takes to Heal?
The main message of What It Takes to Heal is about the transformative power of healing through community, resilience, and self-reflection.
How long does it take to read What It Takes to Heal?
The reading time for What It Takes to Heal varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in approximately 15 minutes.
Is What It Takes to Heal a good book? Is it worth reading?
With its insightful approach to healing and personal growth, What It Takes to Heal is definitely worth reading for those seeking emotional resilience.
Who is the author of What It Takes to Heal?
Prentis Hemphill is the author of What It Takes to Heal.
What to read after What It Takes to Heal?
If you're wondering what to read next after What It Takes to Heal, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind by Todd Baratz
- Nobody Cares About Your Career by Erika Ayers Badan
- Big Dating Energy by Jeff Guenther
- Electra by Sophocles
- Modern Friendship by Anna Goldfarb
- Red Flags, Green Flags by Ali Fenwick
- The Great Mental Models, Volume 4 by Shane Parrish
- Boost! by Michael Bar-Eli
- The Idea Is the Easy Part by Brian Dovey
- Born For This by Chris Guillebeau