The Wilderness becomes a best friend because of the powerful, pragmatic and portable tolls Dr Brown gifts us with.

This book has shifted the way I see “true belonging”.

One strange aspect of the book and, it seems, Brown’s persona, is that she keeps talking about how she’s a researcher and how her findings are all research-based, but at no point does she cite any real data. Instead, she keeps referring vaguely to the expressed views of her research subjects. No numbers, no percentages, no specific questions and answers. This leads to the strong impression that she begins with her conclusions and then seeks out opinions to support them. Her message is ok, which is basically that we’re social animals who need a sense of belonging but we shouldn’t sacrifice our values or identity to “fit in.” But it doesn’t go much beyond that, and all her talk of rigorous research to achieve this insight seems bogus.

I highly recommend this text! It’s engaging and offers clarity of current issues and tactics to address them!

The heart of the idea is there but does not deliver in a way that is either new or deeply insightful. I was expecting to gain either a more systemic understanding to the central issues of belonging, or what it means to belong in a boiling climate of divisiveness. Instead it read as simplistic, repetitious folk-wisdom that characterizes the self-help genre. I would love to see the ideas re-cast in a work of fiction, as neither the author’s academic research or ability to present something new served this format.

At the beginning it was descent then it went downhill from there. Very disappointed, just another self help guru trying to sell as many books as possible.

Fantastic book! Very relevant for what’s plaguing our society.

This book is grossly overrated. The writers ego comes out much more than the message she’s trying to make. This book is very political and poorly represents an objective point of view. She tries to give off the impression that she’s attempting to be equal to both sides but her biases are obvious. The points she tries to make about strength and self growth are generic and weak. Honestly It’s not worth it.

The beginning kept me interested then it seemed to fall off into a redundant self help book. Perhaps life experiences of people the author has not seen or interviewed and those who have walked well beyond the lives she describes may find the advice modest and pedestrian. Many autonomic functions we simply have no control over let alone the role hormones manage and control our lives.

Excellent and grounded challenge for us all to look at the state of the world today and step up where we each can. The courage to be alone when belonging comes at price too high to pay for our humanity!!!