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You Are Your Best Thing

Written by: Tarana Burke,Brené Brown
Narrated by: Tarana Burke,Brené Brown,the Contributors,Mirron Willis,Bahni Turpin,JD Jackson,L Morgan Lee
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Publisher's Summary

New York Times Best Seller • Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown bring together a dynamic group of Black writers, organizers, artists, academics, and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience.

Contributions by Kiese Laymon, Imani Perry, Laverne Cox, Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, and more.

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by Marie Claire and Bookriot

It started as a text between two friends.

Tarana Burke, founder of the ‘me too.’ Movement, texted researcher and writer Brené Brown to see if she was free to jump on a call. Brené assumed that Tarana wanted to talk about wallpaper. They had been trading home decorating inspiration boards in their last text conversation so Brené started scrolling to find her latest Pinterest pictures when the phone rang.

But it was immediately clear to Brené that the conversation wasn’t going to be about wallpaper. Tarana’s hello was serious, and she hesitated for a bit before saying, “Brené, you know your work affected me so deeply, but as a Black woman, I’ve sometimes had to feel like I have to contort myself to fit into some of your words. The core of it rings so true for me, but the application has been harder.”

Brené replied, “I’m so glad we’re talking about this. It makes sense to me. Especially in terms of vulnerability. How do you take the armor off in a country where you’re not physically or emotionally safe?”

Long pause.

“That’s why I’m calling,” said Tarana. “What do you think about working together on a book about the black experience with vulnerability and shame resilience?”

There was no hesitation.

Burke and Brown are the perfect pair to usher in this stark, potent collection of essays on black shame and healing. Along with the anthology contributors, they create a space to recognize and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of black love and black life.

©2021 Tarana Burke, Brené Brown (P)2021 Random House Audio

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Authentic

Real people with real stories speaking their truth. I appreciate the honesty plus hearing how these dear ones are doing what they can to help others. It gave me hope for my own continued healing.

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3 people found this helpful

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heart wrenching, powerful, beautiful

Each story shared with such beautiful honesty. I'm grateful for the opportunity to hear them.

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1 person found this helpful

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I felt seen.

I have never felt more seen by a book in my life. I definitely will be sharing this book with all the Black and non Black people in my life. The Black experience to shame was written and read so well. I felt like I was in a therapy session and I felt comfortable to just be me and discuss my fears with all the authors.

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Heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and beautifully human

The stories told, the vulnerabilities exposed, the experiences shared, and the emotions expressed made this book one of the best reads of my year. At times the reader was invited into some of the most intimate spaces and thoughts, and for that, I thank the incredibly brave writers/authors. The narrators were just as powerful in bringing forth these stories. This is a repeat read, for sure, and one I look forward to sharing with many of my friends, family, and colleagues.

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A must read

The stories in this book are real, raw, eye opening and especially for myself, a white woman, an absolutely necessary read in my journey to understand, empathize with and advocate for black lives. Thank you so much for sharing these stories.

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Best book of 2021

This book was not only timely but the performance of this book was so on point. What a pleasure it was to listen to each one of the contributors express themselves in ways that reflected on my own life experiences. thank you!

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Eye opening

As a white woman I feel this has given me a small understanding of the weight black women carry.

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LOVED this book!

So many great authors in this anthology, with funny, moving and totally real content. An absolutely amazing read that features relatable perspectives on vulnerability from a Black perspective.

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Healing

This audio book healed me and I'm forever grateful for it. Waitting for French version.

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It's just stories

When I first started listening to this book I was super jazzed. I thought there were going to be some great conversations about race, privilege and so much more. It's not bad but it's not what I thought it was going to be.

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  • HeyJude
  • 2021-04-29

Listen up...

The preface provided by Tarana and Brené is critical to understanding the motivation for this book’s manifestation. It helps to improve your listening ear and is precisely what someone like me, a white person, must do with a book aimed at helping Blacks and POC; we just need to shush up and listen. These essays offer the opportunity to feel their specific experiences as it applies to the relatability of Brené’s body of work. Admittedly, Brené states her research and findings apply to every one, but knew it fell short as she only relates to it as a white woman. Here she has Tarana take the lead on bringing it to the Black experience. I hope it serves precisely the group intended. It’s important that we all get to benefit from Brené’s work.

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40 people found this helpful

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2021-05-02

I am humbled from what I’ve learned.

The stories in this book are all incredibly moving. Hearing the voices within this book has touched me deeply. It has exposed my ignorance and true lack of understanding about the depths of the pain that the story tellers hold. I am humbled. As I continue to educate myself and own my part of my ignorance I will continue to speak up and out when I encounter racism. I will listen more closely to those around me. I will continue to create awareness around my bias. Thank you to all the brave story tellers for showing me your authentic selves. I am so moved and inspired by your great wisdom and strength. These stories should be required reading for all of us. I am a better person because of the vulnerability of all of you. Thank you.

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  • Catherine R. Duffy
  • 2021-05-02

A bold reminder that I am my best thing

Thank you to all writers who went to the abyss and proved the only abyss is the one we create. Thank you for showing us we can pull back when we confront the abyss, dwell in it just long enough for us to understand its tendrils can only claim us when we refuse to learn from it.
This book is a gut wrenching awakening to know we are sick and the only way we will heal is by listening to ourselves and taking ownership of our vulnerability and our stories.
Loved every story. So many hit hard. So many have me hope.
With gratitude. I am my best thing.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2021-05-12

Difficult

I found this book to be very difficult. The preface lead me to believe the research of Ms Brown would be discussed from the black perspective. Several essays were in my mind focused on personal directed bias. All tho it was emotional and honest feelings research was not discussed except in one essay.

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12 people found this helpful

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  • Sheila S.
  • 2021-05-29

The Best Thing 🙌🏾🙌🏾

This book has been healing. It was a gift to listen to these words. I felt like I had intimate conversations with each of the contributors. There is something healing and cathartic about listening to someone’s story that is written and spoken by them. They were authentic, vulnerable, transparent and powerful. As a black woman, I feel like I have been in the presence of a community that understands me. I have already referred it to my circle. There is something powerful about hearing the voices. I am literally in tears, because my heart is so full. Thank you for creating this book that gives voice to important issues from our perspective. Thank you Tarana Burke and Beene Brown. I am my best thing.

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  • Sandra Harrell
  • 2021-04-27

A wonderful realization

Thank you! The essays were powerful! This leaves me wanting to share my truth and freeing myself of what holds me captive. Being vulnerable....
I plan to recommend this book to my trapped family members.

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10 people found this helpful

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  • KiaL92
  • 2021-05-16

I feel seen

I have been moved to devastation by some essays. This book is that cathartic.

Just listen to it!

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7 people found this helpful

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  • Monaturally
  • 2021-06-13

it was good yet I'm glad it was free

I love that this book has but me on to folks that I had yet to hear about and I appreciated each story shared. however I did not appreciate when the authors would vote Bremer's Browne's work. It seemed as if it was a requirement and it didn't read authentic.

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  • Whitfield Fowler
  • 2021-08-03

intimately personal, essentially human

Congratulations to everyone who worked on this important project. And a huge thank you to everyone who shared such personal reflections! I can't recommend this strongly enough for anyone seeking to hear voices of individuals facing a culture of shame through candor and vulnerability. Also, the narration is outstanding. For me, hearing the spoken words is even more powerful than reading them on a page.

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Angela Shepard
  • 2021-06-02

outstanding

This book was eye-opening, validating, intense and necessary. I am grateful for representation and voice of a population that needs to be known. Read it!!!

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4 people found this helpful