The Gifts of Imperfection ★★★★★

The Gifts of Imperfection (Click Here To Buy)

★★★★★

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown is a nonfiction book about courage, compassion, and connection.

I read this as an audiobook from the library read by the author. I listened to the 10th anniversary edition, which had a great introduction that was just written in June of 2020.

Okay, just so we get it out of the way: I love Brené Brown. As a mental health professional, I deeply appreciate her research on vulnerability and shame in addition to the powerfully truthful way she speaks to people. What I am endlessly learning and re-learning from Brown is that being vulnerable is scary and difficult, but worth it. This is Brown’s second book; I have read everything she wrote after this, so I thought it would be good to circle back.

In Gifts of Imperfection, Brown lays out ten guideposts to what she calls wholehearted living. From practicing gratitude, cultivating calm, to dancing for soul-care, wholehearted living is about changing your perspective so that you can see that you are enough, just as you are. Wholehearted living is about not being perfect or worrying what others think and being okay with that.

To build courage, we have to be vulnerable and put ourselves out there; to build compassion, we have to be kind to ourselves; to build connection, we have to reach out. It sounds simple…because it is. It’s the daily practice of putting the guideposts into action that help us to not just see but believe in our own worth. The book has many acronyms, tools, and personal stories designed for incorporation and deeper understanding of the concepts. It’s the shortest of Brown’s books, so may be a good place to dip your toe in.

I have also read Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and Dare to Lead by Brown and they are all 5 star books in my opinion. (Braving the Wilderness is my favorite).

If you liked The Gifts of Imperfection, I also recommend Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, and Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed.

Happy reading,

Ms.Bjork