Women & Shame: Reaching Out, Speaking Truths and Building Connection [Paperback]

Brené Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

In this compelling and provocative book, Dr. Brené Brown explores the complexities of shame and its silent and secretive influence over women’s lives. Dr. Brown spent four years interviewing over 200 women about shame and its impact on the way they live, love, parent, work and develop relationships. The raw honesty and painful truths of these interviews make it clear that shame continues to play a significant and damaging role in women’s lives. Yet, through a compassionate weaving of informal anecdotes, thought-provoking illustrations, ground-breaking research and personal insights, Dr. Brown delivers a promising message of hope: We are all capable of overcoming shame and of helping other women and girls do the same.

Throughout the book, Dr. Brown shares information, ideas and strategies for understanding shame across a wide range of topics, including appearance, sex, body image, motherhood, parenting, health, aging, family, addiction and religion. In a clear and accessible format, supported by poignant and relevant case examples, the book identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform shame into connection, power and freedom.

Regardless of who we are, how we were raised or what we believe, all of us fight the silent and lonely battles of not being enough, not having enough and not belonging enough. Women and Shame teaches us how to move from isolation to connection and inspires us to reach out to others who also need to hear "You are not alone."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, is a member of the research faculty at the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work. She is a well-respected teacher, researcher, public speaker and workshop leader on women's issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: 3C Press (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975425234
• ISBN-13: 978-0975425237
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful and helpful new book, May 25, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Women & Shame: Reaching Out, Speaking Truths and Building Connection (Paperback)

I just finished reading this book and could not put it down! It is a powerful book about how shame contrains women and what to do about it. The book is based on impressive research, interviews with hundreds of women, who shared their experiences with the author. Dr. Brown shares her personal stories along with her research and it makes for a captivating read. There are wonderful illustrations that make the text come alive. The book covers many topics where women experience the most shame, such as sex, parenting, and appearance. And best of all, the book gives us specific steps to take to develop "shame resilience," like learning to speak the language of shame, to develop skills to resist cultural messages of shame, and to learn to share our shame stories with trusted other friends to diminish the impact of shame. I laughed, I cried. Highly recommended!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute "Must Read" for all women!, June 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Women & Shame: Reaching Out, Speaking Truths and Building Connection (Paperback)

I'll have to admit that when my sister gave me this book and asked me to read it right away, I was a little hesitant. But she told me that she had heard the author speak at a seminar and assured me that I would appreciate it.

Boy was she right. This book is amazing! The author very candidly lays out the things that we have all experienced, but that NOBODY ever talks about. The book makes you realize that EVERYBODY has these same type feelings, no matter how young or old, how rich or poor, whatever race, etc. There are tons of examples straight out of interviews that really helped me understand that shame is a universal thing. (And I thought it was pretty courageous that the author also shared several of her personal experiences.) But beyond just pointing that out, the book goes on to outline skills you can use to process these feelings. This book has really given me a fresh perspective on many of those awkward situations I experienced growing up, and sometimes still struggle with today.

I can't wait to give this book to my daughters and my best friend so that we can all discuss this stuff openly for a change.

C.S.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new context for understanding shame..., June 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Women & Shame: Reaching Out, Speaking Truths and Building Connection (Paperback)

This book has provided me with a new context to consider the power of shame in my own life and in the lives of my therapy clients. Dr. Brown illuminates the impact of shame in the lives of the women she researched and honors their diverse struggles, journeys, and strengths. She makes this often overlooked and usually painful topic accessible by weaving her own insights and struggles in with the poignant stories of the women she studied and the result is an authentic, moving, and powerful read. She also shows the healing power of laughter and humor in the presence of this heavy topic. This book drives home the need for empathy and connection as the tools for transcending shame in women's lives and actually shows us how this can be done by sharing our stories with other women. Thank you, Dr. Brown for giving me this amazing gift for my personal and professional life!