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Brave, Not Perfect
- Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder
- Narrated by: Reshma Saujani
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
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Brave, Not Perfect
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Publisher's Summary
International Best Seller • Inspired by her popular TED Talk, the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code urges women to embrace imperfection and live a bolder, more authentic life.
"A timely message for...women of all ages: Perfection isn’t just impossible but, worse, insidious." (Angela Duckworth, best-selling author of Grit)
Imagine if you lived without the fear of not being good enough. If you didn’t care how your life looked on Instagram. If you could let go of the guilt and stop beating yourself up for making human mistakes. Imagine if, in every decision you faced, you took the bolder path?
As women, too many of us feel crushed under the weight of our own expectations. We run ourselves ragged trying to please everyone, pass up opportunities that scare us, and avoid rejection at all costs.
There’s a reason we act this way, Saujani says. As girls, we were taught to play it safe. Well-meaning parents and teachers praised us for being quiet and polite, urged us to be careful so we didn’t get hurt, and steered us to activities at which we could shine. As a result, we grew up to be women who are afraid to fail.
It’s time to stop letting our fears drown out our dreams and narrow our world, along with our chance at happiness.
By choosing bravery over perfection, we can find the power to claim our voice, to leave behind what makes us unhappy, and to go for the things we genuinely, passionately want. Perfection may set us on a path that feels safe, but bravery leads us to the one we’re authentically meant to follow. In Brave, Not Perfect, Saujani shares powerful insights and practices to help us let go of our need for perfection and make bravery a lifelong habit. By being brave, not perfect, we can all become the authors of our best and most joyful life.
What the critics say
“I love this book! A timely message for girls and women of all ages: perfection isn’t just impossible but, worse, insidious. The prose is so clear, so honest - you feel like you’re sitting across from Reshma sharing stories.” (Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and New York Times best-selling author of Grit)
“The perfect is not just the enemy of the good; the pressure to be perfect is the enemy of girls around the world. In this courageous, convincing book, Reshma Saujani shares a bold vision to free girls - and women - from the shackles of social expectations.” (Adam Grant, New York Times best-selling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg)
"For any woman who has ever thought to herself "I just can't...” or "I'm just not...," this eye-opening book will help you showing up every day as brave, not perfect changes how the world sees you, but more importantly, how you see yourself - and what you are capable of. This book is great reminder that having the courage to stare your mistakes and your imperfections in the face is one of the most overlooked sources of power." (Amy Cuddy, Harvard lecturer and best-selling author of Presence)
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What listeners say about Brave, Not Perfect
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pilar M Toronto
- 2023-01-08
The new woman in me just awakened
Powerful, real, life changing book that every woman (and man) needs to read . Thanks Reshma for being our awakening voice
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Alexis Dyck
- 2021-09-24
Loved it! Will listen again.
Great listen, on such a relevant topic in today's world. Interesting insights and easy to listen to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yara
- 2020-04-15
inspired
I'm inspired to leave the perfect woman in the past and start to be brave and help others to do the same.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nansey Sinclaire
- 2019-11-18
Loved it!
I loved reading this book or rather listening to it. I found I couldn't put it down as it caught my attention so greatly.
I definitely could relate to the ways in which we've or rather I'd been brought up to be so called "perfect" based on expectation and the interesting ways it's played out in my life at such an unconscious level.
No one book is perfect I don't think as far perhaps repeating a point several times or repeating point well into the book that was already covered.
Overall I enjoyed the book and found it to be very powerful. Since reading the book this week I encountered a moment myself in which I had an opportunity to express 'bravery' when I was in an uncomfortable situation from a man who thought his humorous comments were just that and not sexually offensive, inappropriate and disrespectful. Taking a stand for myself and overall for women in general I most definitely felt empowered, confident and brave. I believe having read the book encouraged my response and heightened my inner awareness to recognize it was the time to act.
I definitely recommend for women and mothers of young girls to read this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hayley Kew
- 2019-10-21
A Must Read!!!
Very well written. Started many wonderful conversations between my husband and I as we reflected on the messages being shared in our home as we raise our son and daughter.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-10-17
inspiring
Thank you for writing this book Reshma. your words inspired me to be a die hard member of team brave.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2019-07-04
A must read!!!
If you are a parent of a girl or a woman yourself, you need to read this. We need to take ownership for change and be brave! I love this and have listened to it twice now😊
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stephanie
- 2019-04-22
Good starting info
This is a book that has great starting info for women who struggle with perfectionism including understanding how our current culture and environments create and contribute to it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Corey Watts
- 2019-10-08
Good for Husbands Trying Understand their Wives Better
This book helped me dig into the deeper parts of feminine psychology. It’s always been hard for me to connect with my wife to get her to embrace challenges and have confrontations with people, even when she’s right. She also gets more frustrated with things that she’s not automatically good at. And it all makes sense after reading this.
Now, hopefully I can give her some techniques for fighting through her ingrained psychology. Husbands who want to do the same, should consider reading this book. It’s easy, quick, and well written. Ms. Saujani is able to speak on difficult subjects without alienating most readers, and I’m grateful for that. It’s a good book, and I’m glad she wrote it.
10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dana Goodrich
- 2019-02-21
Empowering!!!
I absolutely loved this read! Easy to connect with, kept me engaged, and opened my mind as to WHY women do what we do when navigating thru work, womanhood, and motherhood ♥️
6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- L W
- 2021-01-01
Important Content for Anxious Pleasers
I liked this book. The narration is good. It is filled with important realizations. However, I do not agree with all the choices or ideas of the author like swearing; relying too much on witticisms, cliches, and oversimplifications of deeper truths; and focusing too much on materialistic values that creep into the storytelling and rationales. There are also some assumptions masquerading as truth and some claims about human behavior that are probably only small fixes that pump up some introverts to perform well temporarily before a stressed out future journey and until we find solutions of a more evolved and holistic nature (sustainable). In spite of our philosophical differences, I agree more with this author than disagree, and I found her relatable and encouraging. I enjoyed her story and her thoughts, and I am very grateful for her honesty and genuine insight she clearly demonstrates. It's also great narration. I gave this book as a gift, with no disclaimer, so while I think it's not perfect, "perfect" is not the only thing that matters when it comes to sharing and learning from experiences. It's worth the time and the money for anyone wrestling with a habit of people-pleasing, fearing criticism, and freezing before trying something new.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Lexi
- 2019-10-08
Wish it had more of a storyline
Saujani seems like an amazing and bright person. She has made me become bolder in the classroom but the overall storyline of the book was just eh. I wish that it had more of her life story and how she became the woman she is.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Meddie Finnegan
- 2019-04-25
Very Boring
I began this book and lasted about 10 minutes. The words were empty and very cliche - nothing new here. It is hard to return too.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jennifer
- 2019-07-13
Perfect for Young Girl Power
Some good take aways. This would be a perfect read for a young girl in her early 20's.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-07-21
Missed the Mark
At it's core, this book has a good message. BUT is it longwinded (completely skipped chapters without missing anything) and one-sided. Leave politics and your opinions of politics out.. Refund.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- N. Deen
- 2020-07-10
Incredibly proud
I wasn’t expecting such an empowering, reassuring and reassessing powerhouse book. I was stunned at almost every chapter of how far I’ve come and how far I still have to go. Such an incredible book and eloquently written. I was incredibly proud of team Brave and all the women supporting one another and being a cheerleader instead of catty and shallow, breaking all stereotypes. Exercising best practices to become an authentic and genuine best version of ourselves. Its definitely a great book to have around the house as a quick read to remind the power of courage & how it can change your life and give you the strength to pivot and become better.
#teambrave.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bhavya Kumari
- 2020-05-29
Worth a read
Wouldn't call it a must read book, but certainly enjoyed it and found some interesting new perspectives on gender equality. i would recommend this book for new mom's, specially if raising a female.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sarah E Chavez
- 2019-03-11
Being Brave
The author has some practical everyday tips to use to become braver and teach fellow women to be brave at work, socially and in your family. I don't agree to all of the book as I am a 22 year veteran, Civil Engineer that works in the construction industry and only girl in a family of boys. I didn't play much with dolls ( try and get your brothers play with dolls), rather soccer, playing in the dirt and making forts were childhood past times. I was also one that brought spiders to show and tell.
Being in the military, and in construction I've had to be brave to succeed. I'm a miniority, being 1 of 15 section head female Engineers at a local City. I've noticed in entry level Engineering positions it is about 20% women, first line supervisors about 10% and it reduces going up the ranks. I've also noticed a shift of women working from construction to design moving up the ranks. I want to change this trend.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SP
- 2020-12-27
For all girls, of every age.
No matter what age or job or role in the society, the book contains some very good ideas abd also some practical tips on how leave perfection behind and embrace bravery in everything you do