Atlas of the Heart

So very good. I feel like the bad reviews of this book being a sort of compilation of a lot of her other work missed the whole point that she pointed out in the beginning of the book, which is that this is an encyclopedia of sorts and not as much a self-help book that will guide you to a specific point. I've been reading this for a while and have absolutely been able to recognize more emotions that I feel and accurately define them–language is power for processing so I'm happy about that.

Another “right book, right time” situation for this one. The audiobook is brilliant, it's like a captivating podcast or Ted talk, the author adds so much character and dimension to her book. Emotions seem like such a simple thing, but they are so easy to mess up, misunderstand and miss. This is a quotable, well organized and science based reference to human emotion and how it should function when healthy. If anyone needs therapy, grew up with generational trauma or struggles communicating their needs - this is a book that might help you start digging into that.

I don't love Brown's style (especially when she gets a bit autobiographical) but I do like her overall message. I found myself enjoying this book closer to the end. I liked what she said about anxiety being ‘both a trait and a state'. I said ‘duh' aloud a few times during this book but I have a background in psych and work in ABA so I may not be the general audience.

She talks about ‘protecting the flame' a metaphor I get but don't love. The schools I've worked in use what I assume is an equivalent metaphor of bucket filler for mood/energy. People can be bucket fillers or bucket dippers, you can affect your own bucket as well others.