Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 1,313 ratings

Price: 15.75

Last update: 11-06-2024


About this item

The Olympic runner, actress, filmmaker and writer Alexi Pappas shares what she’s learned about confidence, self-reliance, mental health, embracing pain, and achieving your dreams.

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by Real Simple

“Heartbreaking and hilarious.” (Mindy Kaling)

“A beautiful read.” (Ruth Reichl)

“Essential guidance to anyone dreaming big dreams.” (Shalane Flanagan)

“I couldn’t put it down.” (Adam Grant)

run like a bravey
sleep like a baby
dream like a crazy
replace can’t with maybe

When “Renaissance runner” (New York Times) Alexi Pappas - Olympic athlete, actress, filmmaker, and writer - was four years old, her mother died by suicide, drastically altering the course of Pappas’s life and setting her on a search for female role models. When her father signed his bereaved daughter up for sports teams as a way to keep her busy, female athletes became the first women Pappas looked up to, and her Olympic dream was born. At the same time, Pappas had big creative dreams, too: She wanted to make movies, write, and act. Despite setbacks and hardships, Pappas refused to pick just one lane. She put in a tremendous amount of hard work and wouldn’t let anything stand in her way until she achieved all of her dreams, however unrelated they may seem to outsiders. In a single year, 2016, she made her Olympic debut as a distance runner and wrote, directed, and starred in her first feature film.

But great highs are often accompanied by deep lows; with joy comes sorrow. In Bravey, Pappas fearlessly and honestly shares her battle with post-Olympic depression and describes how she emerged on the other side as a thriving and self-actualized woman. Unflinching, exuberant, and always entertaining, Bravey showcases Pappas’s signature, charming voice as she reflects upon the touchstone moments in her life and the lessons that have powered her career as both an athlete and an artist - foremost among them, how to be brave.

Pappas’s experiences reveal how we can all overcome hardship, befriend pain, celebrate victory, relish the loyalty found in teammates, and claim joy. In short: how every one of us can become a bravey.


Top reviews from the United States

Caroline C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly beautiful
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2021
I finished Bravey last week – in about two days because I couldn't put it down – and it's still on my mind. I'm neither a runner nor a creative, but I found Alexi's writing, reflections and lessons touching, relatable and haunting.

Bravey is made up of a series of varying length personal essays, with titles like "Dad-Sad", "The Mentor Buffet", and "Four Memories of My Mother" (a few of my favorites). Some of the content is extremely difficult, like the fractured memories of her mentally ill mother and Alexi's vivid recollections of her own battle with depression many years later. There's also lots of pragmatic life advice embedded throughout that I've already adopted, like understanding that willpower is a finite resource, which must be managed to accomplish our biggest goals. But mostly, this book is filled with wisdom and beauty and optimism and compassion and love – for her family, for braveys, for the mentors who guided her along the way and for her younger self.

All in all, I highly, highly recommend this book and feel grateful for having read it.

(I listened to Bravey on Audible & also ordered a copy of the physical book to have on my bookshelf; both are highly recommended!)
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021
Beautiful. Tragic. Hopeful. Helpful. Inspiring. Magical. I could not get enough. Your words will mentor so many runners and non runners alike. Hi I am in awe. There were times I had to force myself to stop reading because I simply didn’t want it to end. I laughed, I cried, I related, I reflected, I understood, I learned, I believed. Thank you. Thank you for being so honest and raw. Thank you for fighting so hard to overcome every obstacle, and then in turn inspire and lead others through their own challenges.
I hope there are more books (of any kind) to come! ❤️❤️❤️
Vanessa R Corcoran
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful book
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2022
I loved this book, in part because so many of my own anxieties were so clearly articulated by Alexi. I could relate to her post-Olympic depression because I struggled with similar feelings after I completed my Ph.D. After what felt like a lifetime of working toward one singular goal, what is there to look forward to? Alexi describes both the highs and lows of her running and film careers, intersecting these stories with her own personal development.

This is a book that belongs in the hands of young women, especially those with perfectionist tendencies. I think it is a book that will ultimately save lives, as there is something relieving to see that the insecurities, anxieties, and thoughts of depression that can so often plague us are not ours alone and that it is possible to work through these problems. Alexi does not promise total healing but offers a path towards relief and how to live with mental health issues.

I had a lump in my throat while reading a lot of it because I so identified with her. When my daughter is old enough, I hope she'll read it too.
Juan Pablo Gomez
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring in a novel way
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2021
From the beginning is quite noticeable Alexi’s ability to write , but more specifically her ability to draw the reader into her way of thinking. I wasn’t aware of her mental health difficulties that she had to surpass until I stumble into the couple of chapters dedicated to this stage in her life, however she shows an impressive awareness of herself through her writing that is evidence of how well did therapy worked for her. It’s easy reading, intriguing and most importantly: real. Nice book!
Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars A universal message delivered in a poignant and witty package
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
Bravey is a poignant, insightful, entertaining collection of anecdotes and wisdom that will resonate with practically anyone—from the budding runner to the seasoned athlete; the struggling artist to the ambitious creator; the grief-stricken to the healed and optimistic. Its greatest appeal is in its universal relatability. This book is for anyone who’s ever struggled with doubt, grief, vulnerability, confidence, and finding their way forward. In other words, this book is for anyone human.

Pappas perfectly epitomizes the title of her autobiography—Bravey—in the way she unabashedly shares intimate deals of her struggles with loss, depression, and forging her path forward in the face of adversity. Not only is her no-bull honesty staggeringly refreshing, but the humor and beauty with which she writes is addictively charming. Her snippets of poetry and constant use of vivid, figurative language to describe her emotional states make them palpable to the reader. Her words, like the message behind them, are beautiful.

Although technically an autobiography, this book could easily fall into the “self-help” category. Rather than offering her readers stale platitudes or quick-fixes, Pappas equips them with the type of practical advice I myself have gotten from my own down-to-earth therapist. The way she talks about her own struggle with depression peels away its stigma of shame and presents it as a puzzle that takes time, patience, and proper attention to solve. And she helps the reader see how all the pieces fit together.

As a runner, writer, mother, woman, and individual who is currently in therapy for a decades-long eating disorder, I could NOT put this book down. It has already inspired me to take further steps in my own mental health recovery, and I often find myself internalizing parts of it on long runs or hard workouts. This one’s a gem, and I wish I could give Alexi a huge hug for putting it out there.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Motivating and captivating
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021
I loved this book cover to cover. I enjoyed the motivational aspect of a runner but also just a female athlete and woman in general. I found the struggles of an elite athlete relatable, as a "normal" person just trying to get back into running, which I found surprising. I applaud Alexi for discussing her struggle with her mental health and how she was able to seek help and find the strength to come back and improve. She didn't gloss over it and say "oh it's fine" or make it more glamorous. I fully appreciated her honestly discussing everything from her relationships to her ups and downs with running. The quotes/ poems at the beginning of the chapters also give the book a nice feel. Highly recommend investing in this book.

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