Brené Brown

"There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period. "

Brené Brown is the widely lauded author behind numerous bestselling self-help and personal development books. Some of her best known releases include Daring Greatly, Dare to Lead, Rising Strong, and The Gifts of Imperfection.

Her works are highly celebrated and often quoted, yet even though they cover deep topics and challenging subjects, they are fun and enjoyable to read from the first page to the last. That’s just part of the reason why her works have been translated into more than 30 languages, and why she has become a renowned name in the development and leadership space around the world.

Meet Brené Brown

Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation-Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work.

Her impressive education includes a Master of Social Work and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in social work from the University of Houston. Overall, she has spent the last two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy, and is now sharing all that knowledge and experience with the world through books, podcasts, training, and talks. Her own struggles with alcohol, smoking, control, and emotional eating have all given her personal experience with some of the subjects she discusses through her talks, podcasts and books. She has now been sober since 1996, and often talks about how this change has improved her life.

She is also the CEO of ‘The Daring Way’, a training and certification program for professionals, and hosts two podcasts. Her TED talk, ‘The Power of Vulnerability’, is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with 35 million views. Additionally, she regularly works as a public speaker, sharing her knowledge and passion with leading global businesses such as Google and Disney.

Today, she lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve, and their children, Ellen and Charlie. Her motto is “courage over comfort”, and her following includes people from all walks of life, from all over the world.

What genres and themes does Brené Brown write about?

Brené Brown writes primarily in self-help and personal development with strong application to leadership. Her work focuses on courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy, belonging and resilience.

Which Brené Brown book is best to start with?

It depends on your interest: The Gifts of Imperfection is a common entry point for personal growth; Daring Greatly focuses on vulnerability; Dare to Lead targets leadership and workplace courage; Atlas of the Heart maps emotions and connection.

Are Brené Brown’s books part of a series or can they be read standalone?

Most of her books are standalone. They share recurring research-backed themes, so you can read them in any order based on the topic you want to explore.

Are her books research-based?

Yes. Brown is a PhD and research professor who has spent decades studying shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy; her books draw on that research and clinical experience.

Does Brené Brown offer other resources besides books?

Yes. She gives public talks (her TED talk The Power of Vulnerability is one of the most viewed), hosts two podcasts, and runs The Daring Way training and certification for professionals.