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  • The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting

  • Raising Children with Courage, Compassion, and Connection
  • Written by: Brené Brown
  • Narrated by: Brené Brown
  • Length: 2 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (736 ratings)

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The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting

Written by: Brené Brown
Narrated by: Brené Brown
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Publisher's Summary

We all know that perfect parenting does not exist, yet we still struggle with the social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. These messages are powerful and we end up spending precious time and energy managing perception and the carefully edited versions of the families we show to the world. On The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting, Dr. Brené Brown invites us on a journey to transform the lives of parents and children alike. Drawing on her 12 years of research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame, she presents ten guideposts to creating what she describes as "wholehearted" families where each of us can continually learn and grow as we reach our full potential.

"It's actually our ability to embrace imperfection that will help us teach our children to have the courage to be authentic, the compassion to love themselves and others, and the sense of connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life," states Dr. Brown. The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting is a practical and hopeful program for raising children who know that they are worthy of love, belonging, and joy.

©2013 Brené Brown (P)2013 Brené Brown

What listeners say about The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting

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A highly worthwhile read

This hits home with a bullseye. Cried the first time I listened, absorbed the second, and called myself to action the third. Thank you Brené.

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14 people found this helpful

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a must read for anyone with children of any age

an easy listen that will have you taking notes, listening multiple times and wishing you had known about this book sooner!

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8 people found this helpful

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Fills your heart whole

I loved Brené soothing and supportive voice! This simple book touches great topics, and provides excellent examples!
I feel inspired! I am now aware of shaming, and methods to be a wholehearted parent

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5 people found this helpful

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Excellent!

Such a great audiobook! Every parent should hear this! I wish I had heard this early in my parenting journey.

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2 people found this helpful

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Simply the BEST

Brene Brown is captivating, honest and impactful.
She tells it how it is, coming from a place of love and care with a genuine desire to nurture meaningful and impactful relationships between parents and children.
The depth of this short text goes beyond parenting, and can truly impact all relationships.

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Learned a lot!

This book is great. The author's short stories and her explanations of our different feelings are what I find wholesome.

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Beautiful and extremely valuable

Brené has the ability to deliver such important information as if she’s right in the same room with you talking directly to your soul. This book is so valuable for so many reasons and definitely every single person whether you have kids or not should have a listen, several.

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Embrace imperfection

A great point that perfection is not what we strive for as parents. Being real, authentic and gentle about our imperfections with ourselves and others... these are my new goals.

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Brene Brown does it again.

Everything I needed to hear in preparation to parent my inner child and learn more who I want to be and want I want to practice in how I engage with the world.

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Not a real audiobook...

To Audible: First, this book is not a real audiobook. There is no chapter, this a single recording with no well defined section.
About the book itself: the author is mostly speaking about her life with her children. There is no bullet point. What it means is that unless you have similar experiences with your children, you can hardly relate to her own examples. This is very dispappointing especially knowing that she got a ph.d. At this of your academic training, you must be able to organize and transfer the information in a much clearer manner.
For me, listening to this "recording" was no different than listening to any regular mother during a BBQ.

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  • Filazafer
  • 2015-06-06

A very good refresher, but not her best book.

Brene Brown truly changed my life. I will buy everything she does without regrets. This is not really a book, but more of a spoken word recording. It is good, but you will get so much more out of her audible book called "The Power Of Vulnerability." That is her masterpiece and it will explain the ideas presented in this book in much greater detail. This is more of a refresher and goes in more depth about how the ideas apply to parenting. like I said before this is a spoken word talk and she is an excellent speaker. And when I say excellent I mean maybe the best I've ever heard. She is very engaging and easy to understand. But, it's not just some touchy-feely junk like some reviewers have stated. Her ideas are backed with real research that she conducted herself. Like I said before she changed my life and I now understand what I need to do to make positive changes in relationships and parenting. This book is good, but it's not the best starting point.

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117 people found this helpful

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2013-10-05

You will add dimension to your parenting skills!

What did you like best about this story?

Since Brene Brown took TEDtalks by storm, I've been following her work. I believe this is a "game-changer" for lack of a better term. We can all improve continuously, and Brene's ten guideposts are to the heart and readily accomplished. I changed my communication immediately and I thought I was pretty aware of the top parenting skills. I learned! A must listen... a "hallpass" to have made mistakes and turn relationships around without shame.

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32 people found this helpful

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  • NBC
  • 2016-06-06

Fabulous!

I am a new grandmother and so wish I had heard this teaching by Brene Brown on whole-hearted parenting! But I am sure it is never too late!

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  • Jean
  • 2019-12-16

listen to the Power of Vulnerability instead

I wish I had known this book was so similar to the Power of Vulnerability. I read the Power of Vulnerability.... The same examples, and information. and there's a lot more information to get out of the power of vulnerability.

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  • Tracy. B.
  • 2015-08-06

I would recommend this book

If you could sum up The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting in three words, what would they be?

Definitely worth reading!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting?

There was a story in this book where Brene Brown talked about how she spoke with her daughter about how her daughter felt like she was an "other" at school, and Brene communicated that she knew how her daughter felt and that she wasn't alone and it was OK to feel that way. I was able to use some of those strategies with my own 5 year old. It was incredible how well it worked! I will continue to use this way of communicating to allow my kids to be OK with expressing their feelings in a comfortable, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment.

What about Brené Brown’s performance did you like?

Everything. She's one of my all time favorite researchers and I thoroughly enjoy the work that she does. It's just so easy to listen to her. Her tone of voice and the way she tells stories makes you feel like she speaking right to you.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How to get your children to finally be OK with expressing their feelings without judgement.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2016-06-01

very good book

Great information. Must read for all parents. it gives you a sense of direction in parenting. I loved the real life examples used by the author to make a point. Very good narration. Hope there are more on this topic by this author.

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  • Timothy
  • 2015-03-09

good stuff all the way through

enjoyed the conversational way it was presented. well worth the listen. have a good day.

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  • stacie ibuki
  • 2015-03-01

Exactly the things I needed to hear

I've been looking for ways to deal with some challenges my family has been having. She gave me insights and tools for those and more. I'm buying and sending this to no less than 5 friends and recommending it to many more!!!!

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  • S.K.
  • 2014-07-15

Brene is brilliant

Would you consider the audio edition of The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting to be better than the print version?

N/a

What did you like best about this story?

I love everything about it. I love how approachable it is, how naturally she speaks, the personal stories she shares that really help to give context to the lessons. It's all just beautiful.

What does Brené Brown bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't have time to sit down and read with a new baby (10 month old) while trying to work, fit in time for the gym, my creative hobbies, and of course family time. I don't believe I would have liked it as much if somebody else narrated. It's her life. Her stories. She speaks from the heart.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting?

As much of everything that I can. I intend on referencing it several times over the years.

Any additional comments?

I hope Brene has more of these to purchase in the future. I'm a huge fan....xo

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2020-11-03

Great listen!

This is an easy listen and gave me some really great insight into practices and mindsets I can use in parenting my two young daughters. I love Brene Brown!

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Ayda Sheridan
  • 2020-11-15

nice reflections and interesting tips

a quick listening that help as parents but not only. it helps to understand our kids our parents.

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