Atlas of the Heart Book Summary

In 'Atlas of the Heart,' Brené Brown takes readers on an emotional journey through the complex landscape of human emotions. She masterfully maps out the boundaries of feelings, from joy to heartbreak, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared experiences. With her signature blend of research and storytelling, Brown encourages readers to embrace vulnerability as a pathway to connection. Each chapter offers insights that spark reflection, making us rethink how we navigate our relationships and societal expectations. This compelling exploration not only illuminates the heart's terrain but also invites us to cultivate a more empathetic and compassionate world.

By Brené Brown

Published: 2021

"We cannot selectively numb emotions; when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions."

Book Review of Atlas of the Heart

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her latest book, Brené Brown writes, “If we want to find the way back to ourselves and one another, we need language and the grounded confidence to both tell our stories and be stewards of the stories that we hear. This is the framework for meaningful connection.” Don’t miss the five-part HBO Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart! In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection. Over the past two decades, Brown’s extensive research into the experiences that make us who we are has shaped the cultural conversation and helped define what it means to be courageous with our lives. Atlas of the Heart draws on this research, as well as on Brown’s singular skills as a storyteller, to show us how accurately naming an experience doesn’t give the experience more power—it gives us the power of understanding, meaning, and choice. Brown shares, “I want this book to be an atlas for all of us, because I believe that, with an adventurous heart and the right maps, we can travel anywhere and never fear losing ourselves.”

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We cannot selectively numb emotions; when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.

Atlas of the Heart

By Brené Brown