Braving the Wilderness
"It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared."
— Brené Brown, Braving the Wilderness (2017)
Introduction
| Braving the Wilderness | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full title | Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone |
| Author | Brené Brown |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Belonging; Social psychology; Personal development |
| Genre | Nonfiction; Self-help |
| Publisher | Random House |
Publication date | 12 September 2017 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover, paperback); e-book; audiobook |
| Pages | 194 |
| ISBN | 978-0-8129-9584-8 |
| Goodreads rating | 4.1/5 (as of 27 October 2025) |
| Website | penguinrandomhouse.com |
📘 Braving the Wilderness (2017) is a nonfiction book by Brené Brown, published by Random House, that argues “true belonging” means standing alone with integrity while staying connected to others.[1] Drawing on two decades of social-work research, Brown blends social-science findings with storytelling and direct guidance to address polarization and disconnection.[2][1] The book advances four practices of true belonging—move in, speak truth with civility, hold hands with strangers, and cultivate a “strong back, soft front, wild heart”—and organizes its chapters to show how to apply them in daily life.[3] Reviewers describe the voice as conversational and pragmatic; Kirkus called it “an enthusiastic, practical guide” to building connection across difference.[4] On release it became a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Reese’s Book Club pick, and it reached No. 2 on *Publishers Weekly*’s Hardcover Nonfiction list the week of 25 September 2017.[1][5][6]
Chapter summary
This outline follows the Random House first-edition hardcover (12 September 2017; ISBN 978-0-8129-9584-8).[7] Publication information per publisher catalogue.[1]
🌐 1 – Everywhere and nowhere.
🧭 2 – The quest for true belonging.
⛰️ 3 – High lonesome: A spiritual crisis.
🤝 4 – People are hard to hate close up. Move in.
🗣️ 5 – Speak truth to bullshit. Be civil.
🎶 6 – Hold hands. With strangers.
🦁 7 – Strong back. Soft front. Wild heart.
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Braving the Wilderness: Reese's Book Club". Penguin Random House. Penguin Random House. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "About Brené". Brené Brown. Brené Brown. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "Making the Most of Our Time". Library Journal. Library Journal. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "BRAVING THE WILDERNESS". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone". Reese’s Book Club. Hello Sunshine. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lists — Hardcover Nonfiction". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "Braving the wilderness: the quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone". WorldCat. OCLC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.