Why We Love It:

In the book, Brown outlines what she calls “the wilderness”—a metaphor for the uncomfortable spaces where we confront our insecurities. She argues that true belonging is not about fitting in or conforming to others’ expectations. It’s about staying true to ourselves and having the courage to stand alone when necessary. Through personal anecdotes, research, and practical advice, Brown provides readers with tools to navigate these challenges with authenticity.

This book is an excellent read for anyone feeling disconnected or struggling with their sense of belonging. Brown’s approachable style and deep understanding make it a valuable resource for fostering personal growth and cultivating a more authentic life.

Favorite Quotes:

“You are only free when you realize you belong no place – you belong every place – no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.” – Brené Brown

“But what we know now is that when we deny our emotion, it owns us. When we own our emotion, we can rebuild and find our way through the pain.” – Brené Brown

“Research shows that playing cards once a week or meeting friends every Wednesday night at Starbucks adds as many years to our lives as taking beta blockers or quitting a pack-a-day smoking habit.” – Brené Brown

Book Jacket Summary:

“True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, MSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives—experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging.

Brown argues that we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism.

True belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.” Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.”