RISING STRONG

Brené Brown's latest book continues her focus on growing stronger from tough life experiences. She narrates it with a steady sense of urgency that dominates the listening, even when the themes have a lighter, more optimistic tone. But these are weighty issues, especially if you're recovering from difficulties and, overall, they are served well by the drama in the author's performance. Highly personal stories and Brown's gut-wrenching honesty contribute to the intensity and work well to illustrate her step-by-step formula for rising above shame and hurt. She has a remarkably nuanced understanding of how pain makes us internalize blame, avoid personal truths, and lose our openness to life's rewards. This is an invaluable resource that sounds as close to psychotherapy as an audio can be. T.W. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2015]