Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 825 ratings

Price: 15.75

Last update: 02-25-2025


About this item

International Best Seller Inspired by her popular TED Talk, the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code urges women to embrace imperfection and live a bolder, more authentic life.

"A timely message for...women of all ages: Perfection isn’t just impossible but, worse, insidious." (Angela Duckworth, best-selling author of Grit)

Imagine if you lived without the fear of not being good enough. If you didn’t care how your life looked on Instagram. If you could let go of the guilt and stop beating yourself up for making human mistakes. Imagine if, in every decision you faced, you took the bolder path?

As women, too many of us feel crushed under the weight of our own expectations. We run ourselves ragged trying to please everyone, pass up opportunities that scare us, and avoid rejection at all costs.

There’s a reason we act this way, Saujani says. As girls, we were taught to play it safe. Well-meaning parents and teachers praised us for being quiet and polite, urged us to be careful so we didn’t get hurt, and steered us to activities at which we could shine. As a result, we grew up to be women who are afraid to fail.

It’s time to stop letting our fears drown out our dreams and narrow our world, along with our chance at happiness.

By choosing bravery over perfection, we can find the power to claim our voice, to leave behind what makes us unhappy, and to go for the things we genuinely, passionately want. Perfection may set us on a path that feels safe, but bravery leads us to the one we’re authentically meant to follow. In Brave, Not Perfect, Saujani shares powerful insights and practices to help us let go of our need for perfection and make bravery a lifelong habit. By being brave, not perfect, we can all become the authors of our best and most joyful life.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Elizabeth Stephen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such a great read!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2021
    This book definitely inspires you. Reading this book made me realize how I have already been practicing to be brave but also helped me become more brave. During this book, I was looking for a new position at work and went on interview after interview, not getting the position. It was so hard but I continued to get feedback and improve until I got a new position. This book is needed not only for women but for young girls.
  • ABS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring! A must read for every young lady and woman in the world!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2022
    Easy to read and follow. Heartfelt and down to earth. Accessible to any age.
  • L Kate Bogart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2023
    I found this book quite interesting for the facts, many entailed in long studies, all brought together to make a point I could identify with and then to go in and inspire and outline ideas for change, big and small, that I could implement among friends and colleagues as well as myself. Easily read and pulled me in to find out more.
  • Kindle Customer. Elladean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Information
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2024
    Great book for teen girls and young women.
  • Leah Franklin
    5.0 out of 5 stars BRAVERY, Major Key
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2019
    Haven’t finished reading but I am very close!!! Im in the last second. This book was my jumpstart-ish to get back into reading while also finding out my purpose. This book is relatable, direct, & even sometimes funny. I plan to have my mother read it & my girl cousins
  • Lauren Cowans
    3.0 out of 5 stars Themes vs. Strategic Action
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2019
    I enjoyed the themes of this book, although they seem to be repetitive. It would be great to learn more about tactical ways to break the barriers for women. For example, how do women find a communication balance in a meeting with male executives. What do we say when we raise our hands?

    I think most empowerment books note the observations and themes of encouragement. I think women need more of a how to guise once we posture those themes.
  • Gloria De Leon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2019
    Loved every second! I want to recommend this to all my friends and find myself referencing the book often after reading it. All that was discussed in this book has previously been slightly referenced in similar books, however, it’s nice to have a topic that speaks to all women of all races.
  • J. B. Rauch
    5.0 out of 5 stars My go to gift for female teens and 20 somethings
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2021
    Heard the author on a podcast and had to pick up her book - it is a game changer. Easy to read and powerful

    • Best Sellers in

     
     

    Talyn: Repose: Talyn's Saga, Book 4

    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 408
    43.74
     
     

    Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 618
    17.72
     
     

    The Hellion's Waltz: Feminine Pursuits

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 461
    21.25
     
     

    Ghostly Awakening: Ghostly, Book 1

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,063
    15.3
     
     

    How to Train Your Human Omega: Coveted Bonds, Book 1

    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,436
    29.66
     
     

    Oscar Wilde: A Life

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 563
    27.56
     
     

    The Snowball Effect

    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 3,250
    15.3
     
     

    The Next Chapters: On the Same Page

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,702
    9.77