Daring Greatly

This next book happens to be my 11th book of my 12 books in 2012 challenge! It looks like I’ll be exceeding my goal this year; hooray!

My most recent read was Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown.

Fun fact about me: I was a Psychology major in college. Books like Daring Greatly make me think, and remind me why I loved Psychology and Sociology courses when I was in school. I think it is important to consider others, yourself, and society in general. And with Daring Greatly, you are faced with a lot of things to ponder.

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The “sub-title,” if you will, for Daring Greatly is a perfect explanation of what the book focuses on: “how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead.” One’s fear of being vulnerable ultimately interferes with creativity, productivity, and the like. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is not only difficult, but it requires a great deal of courage…but can bring about amazing things.

This book is replete with notable quotes/notes…I actually found myself whipping out my highlighter (flashback to college!) to mark up my book so I can go back and remember the points that stood out to me. If you’re questioning why you should read a book like Daring Greatly, think about this excerpt for a moment:

“Society views womanhood and motherhood as inextricably bound; therefore our value as women is often determined by where we are in relation to our roles as mothers or potential mothers. Women are constantly asked why they haven’t married or, if they’re married, why they haven’t had children. Even women who are married and have one child are often asked why they haven’t had a second child. You’ve had your kids too far apart? “What were you thinking?” Too close? “Why? That’s so unfair to the kids.” If you’re working outside the home, the first question is “What about the children?” If you’re not working, the first question is “What kind of example are you setting for your daughters?” Mother shame is ubiquitous – it’s a birthright for girls and women. But the real struggle for women – what amplifies shame regardless of the category – is that we’re expected (and sometimes desire) to be perfect, yet we’re not allowed to look as if we’re working for it.” p.87

There is so much insight in that statement, don’t you think?

I know that reading a “self help” book doesn’t sound interesting to everyone; it can seem like a lot of work. However, Dr. Brown writes with a very easygoing and relatable style. She pulls from her own research, her personal experience, and popular culture in general. I mean, the woman even uses Harry Potter books to explain aspects of shame! In the end, Daring Greatly had me considering the danger of pursuing certainty/control (which I have to say is tempting; security is so easy to grasp hold of) and the importance of acknowledging my fears and embracing vulnerability. Definitely check out this book if you’re looking for a thought provoking read!

To read more about Daring Greatly and to join the conversation, make sure you visit the Daring Greatly page on BlogHer!

…and visit my profile on Goodreads!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.