Brené Brown Books

Brené Brown, PhD, is an awarded and renowned research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and has been researching the topic of shame and vulnerability for more than a decade. Her former work includes other books related to the topic such as I Thought It Was Just Me (2007) and The Gift of Imperfection (2010).

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1
 Books: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Daring Greatly

Brené Brown
How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
4.5 (728 ratings)
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What's Daring Greatly about?

Daring Greatly explores how embracing one’s vulnerability and imperfection is necessary for achieving real engagement and social connection. Through explaining our deep-seated reasons for shame, and showing how to embrace our vulnerability, the author aims to provide guidance for a better private and professional life, and to initiate a fundamental transformation in our shame-based society which, according to the author, needs to adapt a new culture of vulnerability.

Who should read Daring Greatly?

  • Anyone who wants to start living courageously instead of hiding from challenges
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to build meaningful relationships with others, and with him or herself
  • Anyone who wants to raise their children so they’ll grow up to feel their own inherent worthiness

2
 Books: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brené Brown
Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be and Embrace Who You Are
4.6 (761 ratings)
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What's The Gifts of Imperfection about?

The Gifts of Imperfection offers an accessible and engaging walk through the ten principles that you can follow to live a more fulfilling life, defined by courage, connection and compassion towards others. Filled with relatable anecdotes and actionable advice, the book is a useful resource for readers both young and old.

Who should read The Gifts of Imperfection?

  • Anyone who wants to live a more meaningful life
  • Anyone who has a  great idea, but is afraid to share it with the world
  • Anyone troubled by feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability

3
 Books: Rising Strong by Brené Brown

Rising Strong

Brené Brown
4.4 (491 ratings)
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What's Rising Strong about?

Rising Strong (2015) is your guide to picking yourself up and dusting yourself off after a failure – and to becoming stronger, braver and kinder because of it. Whether you dream of being an entrepreneur or maintaining a loving relationship, these blinks supply you with the three vital steps to dealing with any struggle.

Who should read Rising Strong?

  • Entrepreneurs struggling with a fear of failure
  • Team leaders looking for new ways to improve communication
  • Individuals seeking guidance in dealing with disappointment, resentment and guilt

4
 Books: I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t) by Brené Brown

I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)

Brené Brown
Making the Journey From “What Will People Think?” to “I Am Enough”
4.4 (630 ratings)
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What's I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t) about?

I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t) (2008) is a guide to the visceral and thoroughly human emotion of shame. These blinks explain this complex feeling, discuss how it arises and describe ways in which empathy and connecting with one another can help humans heal.

Who should read I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)?

  • People who feel shame and want to know how to deal with it
  • People who get angry for no reason and end up blaming others
  • People who want to develop their empathy skills

5
 Books: Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

Braving the Wilderness

Brené Brown
The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
4.2 (429 ratings)
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What's Braving the Wilderness about?

Braving The Wilderness (2017) challenges common notions about what it means to belong. It links feelings of unbelonging to feelings of anger and unrest, both in the United States and abroad. Brené Brown uses a potent combination of scientific research and storytelling to reveal what it means to truly belong. This includes remarkable tales of pain and suffering that show just how far people are willing to go to gain a sense of belonging.

Who should read Braving the Wilderness?

  • Readers interested in tales of courage, bravery, vulnerability and shame
  • Outsiders who feel like they don’t belong
  • Students of the social sciences

6
 Books: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

Atlas of the Heart

Brené Brown
Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
4.6 (1,581 ratings)
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What's Atlas of the Heart about?

Atlas of the Heart (2021) is a guide to understanding your emotions and learning how to regulate them. Everyone experiences strong emotions, but most people can’t identify what it is they’re feeling, or work out where the feelings come from. Developing your emotional vocabulary will transform your relationship to yourself, and the people around you.

Who should read Atlas of the Heart?

  • Curious adventurers interested in exploring their own emotional landscapes
  • Anyone who feels flooded by painful emotions that they can’t understand or control
  • Fans of Brené Brown’s work wanting to learn more about her latest insightful theories of emotion

7
 Books: You Are Your Best Thing by Edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown

You Are Your Best Thing

Edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown
Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience
4.1 (105 ratings)
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What's You Are Your Best Thing about?

You Are Your Best Thing (2021) is an anthology of original essays that explore Black experiences of living, loving, and parenting in America today. It examines concepts like vulnerability and shame, and shows that the key to personal healing lies in confronting white supremacy and the racist systems that make Black people feel unsafe in their communities. 

Who should read You Are Your Best Thing?

  • Black people looking for tools to heal from trauma
  • Psychology-lovers seeking new perspectives on how the personal and political intersect
  • Those who want to deepen their understanding of the impact of racism in America

8
 Books: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Dare to Lead

Brené Brown
Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts.
4.3 (875 ratings)
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What's Dare to Lead about?

Dare to Lead (2018) explores how to find the inner courage to lead a great team. Drawing on Brené Brown’s research and experience as a leadership coach, it shows how you can harness your emotions, quash your fear of failure, and become a daring leader in an increasingly competitive world. 

Who should read Dare to Lead?

  • Business psychology buffs seeking new insights
  • Leaders searching for fresh ways to connect with their team
  • Anyone trying to build their courage in the workplace

9
 Books: The Power of Vulnerability by

The Power of Vulnerability

Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame

What's The Power of Vulnerability about?

In this insightful book, Brené Brown explores the concept of vulnerability and its transformative power in our lives. Drawing from her own research and personal experiences, she challenges the notion that vulnerability is a weakness and instead argues that it is the key to living a wholehearted and fulfilling life. Through engaging stories and practical advice, Brown shows us how embracing our vulnerability can lead to greater connection, courage, and authenticity. This book will inspire you to embrace your own vulnerability and live with a newfound sense of courage and compassion.

Who should read The Power of Vulnerability?

  • Individuals who want to embrace vulnerability and cultivate authentic connections
  • People looking to overcome perfectionism and fear of judgment
  • Readers interested in personal growth and developing resilience