Research Professor and Author
Brené Brown is an American research professor at the University of Houston whose work explores courage, vulnerability, and empathy. Her books, including Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection, have become bestsellers and her TED talk on vulnerability is one of the most viewed of all time.
by Brené Brown
Brown maps 87 distinct human emotions and experiences, arguing that precise emotional vocabulary is not academic nicety but the infrastructure of connection, we cannot share what we cannot name. Drawing on two decades of her own qualitative research plus the broader emotion-science literature, she offers a taxonomy designed to replace vague feeling-words with actionable distinctions.
The books Brené Brown references, cites, and recommends most frequently.
by Daniel Goleman
Goleman argues that EQ matters more than IQ for success. Self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation are skills that can be developed and that predict real-world outcomes.
by Bessel van der Kolk
Van der Kolk reveals how trauma reshapes the brain and body, storing itself in physical sensations. Recovery requires approaches that engage the body, not just talk therapy.
by Carol Dweck
Dweck argues that believing talent is fixed leads to stagnation, while a growth mindset, the belief that abilities develop through effort, unlocks potential. How you frame challenge determines whether you learn or quit.
by Angela Duckworth
Duckworth's research shows that passion and perseverance predict success far better than talent alone. Grit can be cultivated through interest, practice, purpose, and hope.
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Csikszentmihalyi identifies the state of total absorption where time vanishes and performance peaks. Flow is not random, it arises from clear goals, immediate feedback, and matched challenge.
Who Brené draws from, and who draws from Brené — aggregated across every book in this collection. Counts show the number of citation links, not the depth of each one.