A Review: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

Brené Brown’s viral Ted Talk made her the darling of social media, but it was her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, that made her the darling of social workers everywhere. We “prescribe” this book to so many of our clients!

This 2010 bestseller is all about being calm, still, and present while overcoming self-doubt and it beautifully describes the essential task of experiencing vulnerability in order to heal from trauma.

A decade after publication, Gifts is still relevant to today’s self-help readers and our distressingly pervasive (but still unique to us) problems. It doesn’t read like a typical self-help work because it feels authentic. Brown relates her personal life stories to important mental health topics through brilliant storytelling. She doesn’t preach or talk at you, she speaks as if she is right beside you, experiencing it with you.

Brown shows us what perfectionism can look like and how we can cope with it. She makes it clear that we are all human and that our imperfections actually help us in cultivating courage, compassion, and connection. She encourages us to overcome our shame and vulnerability, to let go of the things we cannot change, and to dig deep to find our true, authentic selves.

You are sure to find yourself lost in (and comforted by) her words, and before you know it the book will be over. You will struggle to put this read down, simply because you will want to know what wisdom Brown has to share next. Her witty humor and keen insight will have you one step closer to reaching your goals and achieving the highest level of resilience and self-compassion possible!