Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

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Brené Brown's wisdom is a salve for this violently divided age. Full of funny, relatable life stories, the power of Braving the Wilderness lies in its reminder that we are all human, and we all deserve humanity.  Recommended By Lucinda G., Powells.com

Social scientist and three-time #1 New York Times bestseller Brené Brown has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives – courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In her new book, Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines our understanding of 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 out a clear path to true belonging.

She writes, "True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness in both being a part of something, and 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. But 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."

In her important and timely new book, 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.

“With a fresh perspective that marries research and humor, Brown offers compassion while delivering thought-provoking ideas about relationships— with others and with oneself.” Publishers Weekly

“It is inevitable — we will fall. We will fail. We will not know how to react or what to do. No matter how or when it happens, we will all have a choice— do we get up or not? Thankfully, Brené Brown is there with an outstretched arm to help us up.” Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last

“[Brown’s] research and work have given us a new vocabulary, a way to talk with each other about the ideas and feelings and fears we’ve all had but haven’t quite known how to articulate....[She] empowers us each to be a little more courageous.” The Huffington Post

Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation–Brené Brown Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past sixteen years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of three #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, and Rising Strong. Her TED talk — "The Power of Vulnerability" — is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with more than thirty million views. Brown lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve, and their children, Ellen and Charlie.