Women & Shame: Reaching Out, Speaking Truths And Building Connection

For me, reading this book was like an epiphany. The knowledge I gained from this book has allowed me to be more open with those that I am close with and more understanding to those who are reaching out. I realized that many of my struggles stem from issues related to shame. Dr. Brown makes this complicated topic easy to understand by providing personal stories from her life along with stories from women who participated in the research. I believe there is something very useful that each of us can gain from reading this book.

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!

I found this book extremely helpful, not only on a personal level but professionally as well. As a therapist I work with women who struggle with numerous issues. This book examines many of these topics like motherhood, sexuality, weight and many of the other issues women grapple with each day. I loved the author's narrative style; I felt like she was talking directly to me. Her personal story coupled with the thoughts and feelings of other women makes for an engaging, and often hysterically funny, read. This book is honest, real and thought-provoking. For me, the best part of reading the book is coming to the realization that all of the thoughts and feelings that I was embarrassed and ashamed about are now in print. This book has the strength of validation; that most of us share the same struggles, but that no one is talking about it. I think this is an important book to read so we can hear others speaking the "truths" that cause their loneliness as well as our own. I'm glad I read it and I plan to share it with the people in my life.

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.

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!