Daring Greatly
How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Brené Brown
“Researcher and thought leader Dr. Brené Brown offers a powerful new vision in Daring Greatly, the #1 New York Times Bestseller and TED talk hit that encourages us to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly and courageously. Daring Greatly is the culmination of 12 years of groundbreaking social research, across the home, relationships, work, and parenting. It is an invitation to be courageous; to show up and let ourselves be seen, even when there are no guarantees. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly.”
I recently finished Daring Greatly and while it wasn’t my first time reading one of her books, it still gave me plenty to think about. The core idea? That vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s courage. In a world that often celebrates keeping it all together, the author flips the script and makes a strong case for letting your guard down, showing up fully, and embracing the mess of being human.
The author is great at unpacking big emotional stuff like shame and fear without sounding preachy. Instead of handing out generic advice, she uses everyday examples and real stories to make her points land. She talks about how men and women experience shame differently, how people try to numb tough feelings with things like work, alcohol, or scrolling on their phones, and how true connection only happens when we’re willing to be seen—even when it’s uncomfortable.
That said, a lot of the content felt similar to her other work. If you’ve read any of her books or seen her TED Talk, this one might not feel groundbreaking. I also found myself wanting more practical “how-to” steps. The author really drives home why we should “dare greatly,” and she’s clear about what gets in the way, but when it comes to the “how,” things get a bit fuzzy.
The tone is super relatable. It feels like a chat with a friend who’s been through it and isn’t afraid to say, “Yeah, me too.” The author doesn’t position herself as some untouchable expert—just someone who’s done the research and wants to share what she’s learned.
Overall, if you liked the author’s TED Talk or you’re curious about how vulnerability and shame show up in your life, this is a solid read. It might not change your life overnight, but it’ll definitely make you think differently about what it means to be brave. 3.5 – 4 stars.
