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  • The Gifts of Imperfection

  • By: Brené Brown
  • Narrated by: Brené Brown
  • Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (880 ratings)

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The Gifts of Imperfection

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

Brought to you by Penguin.

The 10th-anniversary edition of the game-changing number one New York Times best seller, featuring a new foreword.

For more than a decade, Brené Brown has found a special place in our hearts as a gifted mapmaker and a fellow traveller. She is both a social scientist and a kitchen-table friend whom you can always count on to tell the truth, make you laugh and, on occasion, cry with you. And what's now become a movement all started with The Gifts of Imperfection, which has sold more than two million copies in 35 different languages across the globe.

What transforms this audiobook from written word to effective daily practices are the 10 guideposts to wholehearted living. The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way.

Brené writes, 'This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, "My story matters because I matter." Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance.'

©2020 Brené Brown (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about The Gifts of Imperfection

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It all makes sense to me now!

This book might as well have been personally written for me. I have gained a great deal of insight into my struggles and gremlins. I have listened to the various chapters and guideposts multiple times and keep finding more valuable information the more I listen to it. I much prefer Brené narrating her own work, as I am struggling to keep going with another of her titles which has been narrated by someone else.

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So perfectly imperfect, I could cry

I actually cried, laughed, lived all the book. So good that I just want to listen again.

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A valuable read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Brene describes herself as a storyteller researcher. Her writing is based on her research findings interwoven with personal anecdotes. An easy listen and a valuable read.

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Great book

Love all of Brene Browns books. Her site says start with this one. But I like them all so far. In general I much prefer to listen to authors read their own books too. Not sure why that is but in this case I like the way Brene speaks and explains things.

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Awful

Self indulgent rubbish… such profundity in the mundane, making herself the story… I had high hopes, it was unbearable to listen to

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Loved this book. I'd recommend to perfectionists.

This book also has other great book recommendations. It's an easy book that anyone can understand.

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Fantastic!

Changed my life in the most wonderful ways. It all makes so much more sense now.

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Inspiring

Absolutely loved it. Exactly what I needed to hear at this point in my life.

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Closed this book, and opened it up for a second read

Brené is a loud, proud and courageous Texan, which is everything I am not. However, Brené is so inspirational I feel the power to challenge myself on ideas, beliefs and embrace my thoughts that I perceive as imperfections.

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Love this audio

easy to listen to and love her work, straight to the point and a great reference guide

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  • kalmen
  • 16-10-2020

Another touched imperfect life!

I finally have answers for WWWH for all the voices in my head that brought so much pain that not only stopping me to grow but most importantly blocking me to live a free, wholehearted meaningful life that can come from my own worthiness of love and belonging. A must read !

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  • Ciprian
  • 12-01-2022

oh wow

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU WOW AAAGGGG GGGRRRRR PLAY GAMES

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  • Rikki Sheterline
  • 17-10-2021

Such insights

Having this book read by the author made a massive difference to me. Hearing the book in Brown’s voice gave it extra strength. The book showed the chinks in my armour that I thought were chinks, but which are really imperfections that I need to live with, accept and work on.
I followed the book on audible and in hardcopy as part of a reading group / book club and it has made a huge change to my understanding of myself. I cried a lot.
I would recommend this to anybody - individually or shared in a group.

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  • Kazeriel
  • 06-07-2021

A sense of being understood and empathised with

I have always loved Berne’s work. It has allowed me to understand and change so much of myself. I started of reading Rising Strong. This book is the fundamentals what wholehearted living is.

It’s engaging, heartfelt and fun to listen to with Brene narrating it herself. I can not wait for the next book.

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  • Paola
  • 18-06-2021

My First and Definitely Not My Last

I've been a fan of Brené Brown and her work for a while but have been mainly following video talks and podcasts. I don't know why it took me so long to read her work - maybe because I was afraid it would be too textbook-y and hard to follow or too abstract on the page. Thank God for Audible. Finally, after so long, I "picked up" a book and was so happy I did. I was able to go deeper and get my "fill" of the concepts and ideas she studies and explores since she can really go into it, take her time, and give many examples and illustrations (it's her book and her time, afterall). Also having Brené narate it gave me that same anecdotal, casual and disarming experience I enjoy so much when watching or listening to her. Thanks Audible and Brené! On to the next!

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  • Chantelle G.
  • 06-04-2021

Life changing

Loved everything about it. From cover to back! I could listen to Brene’s voice and her inspirations forever

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  • Erin
  • 02-09-2023

Enlightening

This book changed the way I perceive, act and understand myself and others. Simply wonderful

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  • Brett Lederle
  • 04-08-2023

One of her Best

This is probably one of Brene's best books I have ever read/listened to!! it can be life changing inspiring... It reminds me of who I want to be and what's standing in the way...

fantastic.

in going to listen to it again...

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  • Catherine Nessworthy
  • 01-05-2023

Excellent

Informative, entertaining and packed with the author's own authenticity.
Thank you Ms Brown for sharing your work with us.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 25-01-2023

Embracing Yourself

I loved it. Typical of Brene's books, it's a deep dive into what makes us best function as humans - rest, play, mindfulness, wholehearted living, utilizing one's talents as an appreciation to our Maker. A great book. 👍 I listened to it twice already.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 04-12-2020

Hard to listen to

Some interesting ideas but a little hard to listen to. Author seems very interested in her own achievements and keeps repeating them. I could not finish it.

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  • A Vedder
  • 12-09-2020

Love hearing Brené read it this time!

I bought the book again as it had been a while since I’d listened to it and although the previous narrator was good, I really wanted to hear Brené reading her own words. It didn’t disappoint. The concepts in the book are so simple it makes you wonder why you haven’t properly integrated them into your life before. But Brené packages it in a way that is refreshing and makes you breathe a sigh of relief. You won’t regret listening to it.

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  • Jude Elliott
  • 23-11-2020

Inspiring, deeply emotive at times but incredibly positive

This book is one of the great books that inspires and really challenges you at the same time.. all in a very positive way. I needed this; although many books lead you on the right path; this book woke up really difficult things that I really needed to address... highly recommend

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  • Rebecca
  • 23-03-2022

Great but Ami-centric

Great read. Great messages… Examples were very often focused on American social and political norms / problems… Although much is transferrable to those of us outside of the US… it is not always super easy to see the relevance or parallels in our own social systems… more diversity would have been nice… I think we could learn a lot from sharing our social / political mistakes…

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  • angelique franklin
  • 06-04-2021

This book gave the gift of SELF compassion

I love love LOVE Brené Brown and her work! And I love her narration of this book also! She has a very humble, personable way of talking and explains her work! And her sense of humour makes the book all that much more relatable and there for quicker for you to truly absorb the lessons within it! Get the book! Trust me I NEVER write reviews- you won’t regret buying this book!

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  • Rachel B.
  • 01-11-2020

Most impactful book I’ve read

Would (and have already) recommend this book to anyone who wants to live a fuller life, but doesn’t quite know what to change. I’m new to Brené’s work, I have only discovered the TED/Netflix work this week, and suddenly my life makes more sense to me and I feel like I might have the next steps to living a more wholehearted life!

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  • Anonymous User
  • 24-09-2020

Thank you

Dear Brené Brown,

Thank you for sharing your truth.

Yours sincerely.

An Audible Listener 🙂

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  • Vix
  • 03-06-2022

Ahha moment!

One of those books I kept saying, 'YES that's it!' the whole way through! It's well worth a listen, especially if you have a tendency to people please or be perfectionist. Thank you Brene Brown I loved this book! From an aspiring good-enoughist x

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  • Gemma Boyd
  • 13-12-2020

Refreshing listen

I love the honesty. Thank you. Heart, integrity, joy, appreciation and respect for the arts, too.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 18-11-2020

Best thing i’ve ever listened to

Cant quite believe i’ve never listened to this before. People have suggested it to me but it must not have been the time. Never related more to something, parenting, anxiety, living up to my own and external expectations. This is a must read/listen to.

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