Bossy Italian Book Review: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Image from Brenebrown.com

After reading her first book, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't), I knew that Brene Brown was a genius of sorts. Well, Brene Brown, you've done it again. This book goes just a little bit further than her last book and it also has a lovely brush up on shame (which is the subject of her first book), so I dare say that if you didn't read the first one, you could go for this one anyway.

This is book is chocked full of great empowerment goodies. And no, it's not necessarily a self help book. You could certainly derive a lot of great life skills from everything Brene Brown talks about, but this stuff is meant to be a process, not a quick fix, and it isn't the simple easy stuff that promises to fix your life.

What Brene Brown is talking about is how to live. If that sounds simple to you, congratulations. For the rest of us, this book is the permission you need to stop being perfect and start really thinking about what makes you happy and joyful. It's a guide to living fully with your whole heart.

If being authentic sounds daunting and generally scares the crap out of you--this book is for you. If you are always trying to be perfect--this book is for YOU! If you are obsessive in any way (which, let's be honest is everyone) this book is for YOU!!!

Since I have been practicing releasing myself from a cycle (and culture) of shame since I read the first book, I was ready to tackle my ridiculous need to be perfect all the time. I am happy to report that since I read this book, I have been less perfect and LOVING it. I didn't set the table until right before dinner several times (which, is--hello--a big accomplishment.) I left chipped nail polish on my fingernails THREE times. And, admitted twice when I was just too tired to make dinner. These things are hard for me. They may seem small, but small is a good place to start.

Being who we are is the greatest gift we can give the world, and Brene Brown gives you the tools the do just that. It won't be easy--and in fact she is the first to say that it might freak people out--but it's worth it!

Now where do I go? Well, on to the next book of course---Daring Greatly by Brene Brown is next and can't wait to see what else she has in store!