A Book Review: 'Atlas of the Heart' by Brené Brown
I really, really loved this atlas. I don’t even know if I can keep it in the category or label it a ‘book’ in the way we know books. It is a larger endeavor of a read, it is an experience in storytelling which Brené is so damn good at and it beckoned me to read it like a textbook and I loved that student seat again.
But first, hold that thought, because when I picked this book up at my local bookstore I was steeped in judgement. I flipped through the large print, the pages with quotes and I felt the weight in my hands and was pretty uncertain at the start. How can I read this in my beloved bath? How do you even lay in bed with a book this size?
And wow, I came around full circle and really recommend this read to anyone interested in learning more about the scale and experience of our human emotions as an access point to language that creates our reality, creates connection and curates community.
In this book, Brené Brown covers 87 human emotions (some are emotions, some are thoughts that elicit emotions to clarify) with a clear template of sharing to create structure and flow. The book is divided into 13 parts with an intro and a power punch of a closing chapter one what I imagine will her next book on creating deep and meaningful connection and community. Each part has 5 - 8 emotions she defines, outlines and shares a story for meaning. It is literally an encyclopedia of emotions in book form.
My greatest takeaways as of today are really ruminating on the difference between envy and jealousy, taking a cold hard look at the near enemies of empathy and compassion, the understanding that foreboding joy is intrinsically connected to gratitude or the lack thereof and that denying my anger is actually avoiding a catalyst to change and what is possible. To name only a few.
Here is the deal, the Audible version is avail on Feb. 14, 2022. I am going to tell you this right now, you are going to want the real book. I already flipped through emotions after finishing it this past week and found my eyes trail to underlinings that hooked me right in to what I needed in looking up that emotion. Go old school for the pages to turn back to again and again. You will.
As always, I love to share a few quotes that you know I underlined and re-read again and again:
“Comparison is the crush of conformity from one side and competition from the other—it’s trying to simultaneously fit in and stand out.”
“There are too many people in the world today who decide to live disappointed rather than risk feeling disappointment.”
“We need hope like we need air….Hope is a function of struggle—we develop hope not during the easy or comfortable times, but through adversity and discomfort.”
“Don’t look away. Don’t look down. Don’t pretend not to see hurt. Look people in the eye. Even when their pain is overwhelming. And when you’re hurting and in pain, find the people who can look you in the eye.”
Last one:
“Our connection with others can only be as deep as our connection with ourselves. If I don’t know and understand who I am and what I need, want, and believe, I can’t share myself with you.”
Have you read it?
Thoughts?