

So, what has this to do with belonging?īraving the Wilderness is a book not about 'fitting in', but being who we are - no matter what. We are all responsible for this disconnected, uncivil world - and for fixing it. True to form, Brené doesn't single out any individual, political party or creed as being to blame.

Not only a statement of where the human species is failing to live up to its potential, Brené outlines what we can do about it. I'm not talking about political parties or leanings, instead she looks at the big picture, what is happening in our society. Whether Brené intended it or not, Braving the Wilderness is profoundly political - with a small 'p'.

Brené's books seem to largely be about our individual struggles and offer variations of how to become more confident and happy through being our 'selves'. When I began reading Braving the Wilderness, I was expecting it to be more personal like The Gifts of Imperfection - which I loved. "You are only free when you realise you belong no place - you belong every place - no place at all. The subtitle of this book is "The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone." And it revolves around Brené's exploration and understanding of the quote: With over 35 million views it's one of the top 5 viewed TED talks ever. If you're not already familiar with Brené Brown, check out the TED Talk that made her famous here. Brené is also a great storyteller, and has wowed the world with her own peculiar mix of raw authenticity, honesty and strength - which she calls vulnerability. She researches emotions, motivation, the human condition - in particular, courage, shame and empathy.

I have literally just finished reading this, and was excited to write a book review of Braving the Wilderness! I don't know about you but I am a Brené Brown fan.
