50 pages 1 hour read

Brené Brown

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2021

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“For children, it’s easy for everything to become a source of shame when nothing is normalized. You assume that if no one is talking about it, it must just be you.”


(Introduction, Page xiv)

This quote introduces Brown’s key theme of vulnerability and courage. Throughout the book, she highlights how isolation destroys vulnerability by convincing us that our experiences are not connected to others and there is something deficient about us. Part of why Brown is so passionate about sharing emotional experiences is she believes it is part of the antidote to shame and isolation.

Quotation Mark Icon

“In a world where perfectionism, pleasing, and proving are used as armor to protect our egos and our feelings, it takes a lot of courage to show up and be all in when we can’t control the outcome. […] Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”


(Chapter 1, Page 14)

While we might intuitively think perfectionism is a way of becoming better and better at something, Brown believes perfectionism hinders us. She ties this to her theme of vulnerability and curiosity and explains that when we are so afraid to fail, we will never take risks and advance. By risking failure, shame, etc., through vulnerability we are actually demonstrating more strength than when we cling to perfectionism.

Quotation Mark Icon

Comparison is the crush of conformity from one side and competition from the other—it’s trying to simultaneously fit in and stand out. Comparison says, ‘Be like everyone else, but better.”


(Chapter 2, Pages 22-23)

Throughout Atlas of the Heart, Brown shows the importance of self-compassion to connect with ourselves and others. When we are preoccupied with being better than others yet afraid to stand out too much, we create unnecessary anxiety and belonging uncertainty. Only by resisting negative comparison can we celebrate others’ successes without feeling like we are less for doing so.

Related Titles

By Brené Brown

Study Guide

logo

Braving the Wilderness

Brené Brown

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Brené Brown

Study Guide

logo

Dare to Lead

Brené Brown

Dare to Lead

Brené Brown

Study Guide

logo

Daring Greatly

Brené Brown

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Brené Brown

Plot Summary

logo

Rising Strong

Brené Brown

Rising Strong

Brené Brown

Study Guide

logo

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Brené Brown

Study Guide

logo

You Are Your Best Thing

Brené Brown, Tarana Burke

You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience

Brené Brown, Tarana Burke