Author: Mariann Edgar Budde (narrated by the author)
Year published: 2023
Category: Adult nonfiction
Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Location: (my 2025 Google Reading map): USA (CO, DC, MN, OH), Honduras
Summary: The decisive moments in life are those pivot points when we’re called on to push past our fears and act with strength. With How We Learn to Be Brave, Bishop Mariann Budde teaches us to respond with clarity and grace even in the toughest times. Being brave is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day.
Here, Bishop Budde explores the full range of decisive moments, from the most visible and dramatic (the decision to go), to the internal and personal (the decision to stay), to brave choices made with an eye toward the future (the decision to start), those born of suffering (the decision to accept that which we did not choose), and those that come unexpectedly (the decision to step up to the plate). Drawing on examples ranging from Harry Potter to the Gospel According to Luke, she seamlessly weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to underscore both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive.
With Bishop Budde’s wisdom, readers will learn to live and to respond according to their true beliefs and in ways that align with their best selves. How We Learn to Be Brave will provide much-needed fortitude and insight to anyone searching for answers in uncertain times.
Review: Have you watched the video of Bishop Budde's inaugural service? If not, here it is. The direct and brave message to President Trump begins at 12:26.
I immediately decided to read her book. Let me preface this review by saying I am not a religious person, but I was looking forward to reading a Bishop's book and hearing her insights on being brave and saying what needs to be said.
Budde's writing is clear and well done and hearing her voice read her words was enjoyable. She talks about bravery appearing in deciding to leave, deciding to stay, and the journey to get to both. Bravery in the small and the large are both topics of discussion, and her life examples show the way.
There is quite a bit of Christianity and scripture in this book, which I see appealing to people of various Christian faiths. However, she also calls on those denominations to be accepting, supportive, and brave when it comes to topics (the role of women, LGBTQ, etc) that the churches are often not good about. I enjoyed hearing about her struggles, when she has messed up, and how she (tried to) fix her wrongs. She is humble and human.
I am glad she is getting the attention she is from her inaugural sermon since it will bring to light the idea of kindness, acceptance, and lovel.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Alphabet Author--E
- Cover Lovers--The author has a common name that is spelled in an unusual way (both Mariann and Budde)
- Literary Escapes--Minnesota, Ohio, Honduras
- Nonfiction--Health (mental health and well-being)
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